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Calgary International Graduates Say Post-Grad Work Permit Refusals Leave Futures in Limbo
Roughly 1,500 graduates in Calgary may be affected by a federal guidance clarification on non-credit programs, prompting some to consider legal action
Published: July 19, 2026
A group of international graduates in Calgary say a shift in federal guidance around post-graduation work permits has thrown their career and immigration plans into uncertainty, with an estimated 1,500 people across the city potentially affected.
The issue traces back to a June 24, 2026 clarification from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada regarding how non-credit programs of study are treated when assessing eligibility for the post-graduation work permit.
Graduates who completed programs that combined credit and non-credit components say they are now being denied permits they had expected to qualify for, upending plans to work and eventually pursue permanent residency in Canada.
An immigration lawyer who has taken on more than 200 similar cases said affected graduates are exploring their legal options, and a coalition called the Portage Students Union has formed to advocate on behalf of those impacted.
Immigration officials have said the clarification was meant to ensure consistent application of existing rules rather than introduce a new policy, but affected students say the change was applied without adequate warning or transition time.
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