- Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers visited a protest site in Calgary where international graduates have been demonstrating, checking the immigration documents of some participants.
- The protest involves over 1,000 international graduates, mostly Indian students from Punjab, who have been protesting for nearly 10 days after their Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) applications were widely rejected.
- Alberta Premier Danielle Smith stated that student visas are temporary and emphasized that students should return home after their education.
- The students met with Canadian MP Sukh Dhaliwal, who assured them of his support regarding their PGWP applications.
- The protest is linked to hundreds of international students from India being refused PGWPs due to enrollment in non-credit courses that did not provide a certificate, diploma, or degree.
- Many students are observing hunger strikes, claiming they enrolled in their programs believing they were eligible for PGWPs.
- The issue is reportedly linked to an immigration consultancy based in Jalandhar, Punjab, which has led families to invest heavily in sending their children abroad.
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) clarified that its June 2026 update did not change the core criteria for PGWP eligibility.
Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers conducted checks at a Calgary protest site on Wednesday, where over 1,000 international graduates, primarily from India, have been demonstrating against the rejection of their Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) applications. The protest has included a hunger strike lasting nearly ten days.12
The students argue that they were misled about their eligibility for work permits after completing programs that were marketed as qualifying for PGWPs. Many of these programs were non-credit courses that did not provide a certificate, diploma, or degree, leading to widespread rejections of their applications.
The issue is reportedly linked to an immigration consultancy based in Jalandhar, Punjab, where families invest heavily in sending their children abroad. The affected graduates claim they paid significant tuition fees under the belief that they would qualify for post-study work permits.7
“Our applications were submitted in good faith based on earlier interpretations of the rules and should be reassessed,” said one protester. The ongoing dispute has drawn reactions from Canadian immigration authorities and the Alberta provincial government, as the students seek legal remedies and administrative reviews.
Alberta’s Premier, Danielle Smith, stated, “A student visa is a temporary document to study in Canada... Our universities and colleges were built by Alberta taxpayers, first and foremost for Alberta students.” The protests have gained traction, with students demanding the right to remain in Canada despite not holding valid visas.
The CBSA's involvement has intensified the situation, with reports of officers checking immigration status and taking some individuals for pre-removal risk assessments.
The students have also met with Canadian MP Sukh Dhaliwal, who assured them of his support in their fight for justice.4
“The protest involves over 1,000 international graduates, mostly from Punjab, who have been on a chain hunger strike for nearly 10 days after their Post-Graduation Work Permit applications were rejected. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said student visas are temporary and students should return home after education.”
