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Getting PR after a 1-year study program in Canada — one member's path without LMIA

Canada • Post-Graduation Work Permit • immigration 0 views
By VisaBuddies Communityvia community — compiled from public visa forums

Step-by-Step

An international student in a 1-year program asked whether PR is achievable after just a 1-year study program, and whether an LMIA or extended work permit would be needed.

One member shared their own experience directly answering this: they completed a similar 1-year program (HRM) in Winnipeg, received a 1-year Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) afterward, and successfully submitted their PR application about a year before that PGWP expired — without needing to purchase an LMIA-backed job offer.

This suggests that with the right province, NOC-eligible occupation, and timing (submitting your PR application well before your PGWP expires), a 1-year study program can be sufficient without an LMIA. However, this is a single individual's experience and outcomes depend heavily on your specific CRS score, occupation, and the PNP/EE options available in your province at the time — the original poster's other questions (about age-related point loss and PR options in Oshawa specifically) were not directly addressed in this thread.

Dos, Don'ts & Tips

  • Tip: Submitting your PR application well before your PGWP expires (rather than waiting until close to expiry) worked for at least one member without needing an LMIA.
  • Do: Treat this as one data point, not a guarantee — verify current CRS thresholds and PNP options for your specific NOC and province before deciding whether a second study program is necessary.

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