Hi all,

I've graduated last June and was very fortunate to get a job with one of the top field marketing team in North America starting Sept 2006. The only thing with this company is that it will not give me a long contract, so i have been extending my contract every few months. Which cost me alot of $$$

Recently, my company decided to offer me another extension till mid of sept 2007. And this will be the last contract for my post graduation work permit as I have worked for 1 year under PGWP.

I would very much want to stay here with this job and my company also showed interest of continuing my employment, but they do not give full time employment to international candidates unless you have a landed immigrant status.

My Question:
What is my next step? And what status am I applying for after September?

Any tips or directions would be very much appreciated. I thank you in advance.

In order to continue working in Canada following the lapse of a post-graduate work permit, a new work permit must be sought under standard provisions. Depending on the details of the position and the qualifications/nationality of the applicant. This may require Service Canada Confirmation.

Although the above is possible even if the employer only makes short term contracts, the process of continually extending these visas would be onerous, especially if Confirmation is required. In that case you may be forced to start the extension process the day that you are approved.

You may pursue permanent resident status to ensure that you are eligible to work for longer contract periods or permanently, but this is a process that will take at least 14 months, perhaps more.

Thanks for the info David!

I have recently went back to my international student counceller in my University and got this new information and this is so much easier than getting the LMO. He told me this is a new policy he received only 2 or 3 weeks ago.

New Policy Facilitates Hiring and Retention of Foreign Graduates

Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC) has announced a significant national change in policy for foreign students who have recently graduated from Canadian academic institutions. Employers who wish to continue to extend the employment of recent graduates beyond the one or two year initial post-graduate work permit, can obtain additional two-year labour market approvals for these skilled positions. Unlike with other labour market opinion applications, employers of post-secondary graduates are no longer required to demonstrate recruitment efforts when extending the work permits of their employees. However, wages must continue to meet appropriate levels for the occupation and the level of seniority – taking into account that many entry-level professional occupations may have lower starting salaries. Essentially, this means that most foreign students graduating from Canadian institutions can now work for three to four years in Canada following graduation. This provides enough time for the graduate to complete the Canadian permanent residence application process.

What's the name of ur school?

I really wanna see the counselor