As a new semester starts, many international students may be found looking for helping hands to show them the way forward. 

International students have the added responsibility of maintaining their status in Canada alongside school and part-time jobs.  

Part of this includes ensuring that their study permit is extended on time and applying for a work permit after graduation. This can take time and be stressful for students, especially if they are not well-informed about what to do.  

Some may opt to use immigration lawyers or agents to help them with this process, others may not be able to afford it. For students at George Brown College (GBC), the college has resources that they can access to help navigate them through this process.  

The International Centre has full-time international student advisors to assist students in matters related to immigration and international studies.  

Ali Agha and Min-Jeong Kim are two of five international student advisors available for students to consult and get help from.  

“We assist international students in terms of visas, to some extent we also provide advising services in terms of non-immigration areas. Primarily we work with students who have already registered into their programs,” said Agha. 

The five international student advisors are given responsibility for students going to different academic schools. Agha looks after the Centre for Hospitality and Culinary Arts, and the Centre for Preparatory and Liberal Studies.  

Kim, who is assigned with six schools including the Centre for Health Sciences, says international student advisors provide many kinds of non-academic support including emotional support or being a bridge between international students and their schools.  

The International Centre provides information sessions throughout the semester regarding immigration specifics and international student support at the college. The student advisors can also be reached with appointments or drop-ins for individual inquiries.  

“Depending on the individual case, we provide them solutions, potential options, how they can sort of, resolve the issue or the problem. When it comes to the broader programs, that’s across the board where students from all academic departments can join and then that’s more specific,” Agha added. 

The centre also organizes events for international students to connect with one another and build a community. 

While the advisors admit to providing limited support for the initial study permit, students can expect to get help from them in navigating the extension process and applying for their post-graduate work permit (PGWP). 

“We are all legally authorized to provide immigration related advice and services. But the difference between the external lawyer or authorized immigration consultant and us would be who’s submitting the application,” Kim says. “As college advisors, we provide information, we make suggestions, but what kind of information that would include in their application package is totally up to the student. And students are responsible for the outcome of the applications.” 

Alternatively, students in need of legal help with immigration issues may also get advice through the Student Association.  

William Reid, legal counsel for nearly 27 years with the Student Association, can be reached via e-mail at Legal@SAGBC.ca to set up consultations.  

Agha and Kim add that as international student advisors, they would urge students to follow the info-sessions they provide. While the added stress of navigating through the immigration process can be overwhelming, students may find that utilizing resources provided to them may be able to guide them through.  

Resources from previous information sessions on study permit extensions, PGWP, Co-op work permits, and other immigration processes can be found in the International Student community section on Blackboard. 

Students can drop in at the International Centre locations at Casa Loma campus and the CHCA building at St. James campus.  

To learn which advisor to contact, students can visit www.georgebrown.ca/international/current-students/international-student-advisors-contact.