NAFTA & students from Mexico
I was in Mexico City last week. And had the unique pleasure to visit some of our incredible partners who help individuals interested in studying in Canada make informed decisions.
It is no secret that many of our students decide to stay in Canada after graduation. Canada is an amazing country and it is no surprise that students choose to make this beautiful land their home after they’ve had a taste. This along with (what I believe are unfair) regulation changes have made public institutions a more attractive choice because of PGWP — Post Graduate Work Permit.
This is not news. I have been grappling with all parties involved regarding PGWP for years now. What surprised me was Mexican nationals worrying about it. I had always thought that Mexicans are luckier than nationals of most other countries if they decide to stay in Canada after graduation because they have a very easy immigration pathway in front of them. Yes, I am referring to NAFTA — North American Free Trade Agreement.
After one special meeting, I couldn’t help running back to the hotel room to formalize what I already knew into an email and send it out. The following is pretty much the exact email I sent this partner.
Please read through it, comment, ask questions, and let’s learn together. After all, I am an educator by trade. This is in my nature.
- NAFTA accepts work experience in co-op – PGWP does not.
- There is no minimum English required at the time of applying for the work permit – PGWP graduates must have an IELTS score of more than 6 to be able to register their names in the express entry.
- PGWP takes at least two years to study – for NAFTA they only need to get a diploma and a job offer.
- PGWP is Much more expensive ( at least 4 times more for a similar program)
- Finding a job with a diploma and lower pay is much easier than a job that requires a degree with a much higher anticipated pay rate