Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced international students will soon be allowed to work up to 24 hours per week off-campus, up from the previous limit of 20 hours per week during academic sessions. The exact implementation date has not been confirmed, but the new rule is expected to take effect this month.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Liberal government temporarily lifted the 20-hour work limit for international students to alleviate labour shortages. However, this exemption expired on April 30. Now, international students, already facing challenges due to the high cost of living, are bracing for more hardships.

'I have to plan myself better regardless of what happens and have a backup plan for what I need to do with my life,' third-year Fashion Design student at Fanshawe College, Jessica Perera, said.

Celia Saldano, a recent graduate of the Public Relations and Corporate Communications program at Fanshawe College, described feeling anxious and frustrated by the frequent changes in immigration rules.

'Every time there's a new decision about the immigration laws and regulations, I feel a little bit more anxious,' Saldano said. 'Maybe not right now, but eventually, it will affect me in other aspects of my life.'

At the same time, Perera mentioned the difficulty of finding relevant part-time jobs in her field and how the cap may affect her long-term plans.

'I had a co-op in the summer, and finding a job in the fashion industry was challenging,' Perera said.

Saldano, meanwhile, expressed concerns about the unpredictability of the labour market.

'Every time you apply now, you don't get an answer,' Saldano said, referring to the difficulty of finding part-time work while studying. 'It's frustrating not knowing why they don't want you or what's missing in your resume.'

Both students agreed that many international students may consider leaving Canada due to the difficulty of balancing education, work, and personal life in a foreign country.

'Unless you have support from friends and family, it's not easy. This is why most people would give up; they have that background support,' Perera said.

Saldano believes these challenges and new regulations may cause many to reconsider their plans to stay in Canada after graduation, including herself.

'I want to take advantage of the opportunities I have right now. But in the worst-case scenario, if Canada is no longer available, somehow, I will look for another country,' Saldano said.

Perera and Saldano said they appreciated Fanshawe's efforts to provide workshops on topics such as taxes and the postgraduate work permit process.

'They do so many workshops to help us navigate that, and I appreciate it,' said Perera.

Saldano highlighted support from the college's career centre and her professors.

'I've been fortunate with most of my professors when it comes to helping with my resume and cover letters,' Saldano said.

Looking ahead, Perera and Saldano hope Canadian policymakers and the public understand that being an international student is difficult.

'Being an international student is not easy. Many people think we come here and want to do the bare minimum and find a way to stay in the country. But it's a lot of work. As fashion design students, we do much daily work to improve our lives and become something. And we're not doing it for ourselves. We're doing it for college, the country, and my motherland,' Perera said.