On-Campus

A job on-campus can be found through the school's employment and careers centre or if you are a graduate student, through inquiries to your department or graduate studies office. For the most part, you can only look for this work once in Canada when you can present yourself for an interview to your potential employer on-campus. However, you can ask for specific listings of the types of jobs available to you before you arrive, which is especially important to do if you are a graduate student. As a grad student positions as research assistants, teaching assistants, lab assistants or markers are available, and are best secured early. As an undergraduate, or in diploma programs, a wide range of employment is available, though usually not directly related to your field of study. Every school needs extra bodies to monitor buildings, work in libraries, do general office work, answer telephones, work in cafeterias and so on.

Work-study

Acquiring one of these jobs can be tough, as there is a limit to the number of positions available, and as often these positions are administered by "Work Study" programs which assess the financial needs of the students applying for jobs and give them to those people in the most financial need. In these programs the employer is sponsored either by the provincial government or by the institution upon hiring students who are deemed "in financial need."

The bonuses of the On-campus job

But these positions do exist and are available to you. On-campus jobs are great as part-time jobs while studying because the nature of your environment nsures your employer will be more understanding thane the private sector to the pressures of school and the timing of the semester system and its holidays.

Exceptions to the rule: Co-op jobs

A number of programs of study in Canada, ranging from engineering to business-related studies, incorporate a term of work into the course of your studies. Each year students spend one or two semesters in classes and follow that by one semester in a placement, a job arranged for by your school and directly related to your studies. These work periods will provide income for you and vast amounts of hands-on experience. Because these programs are viewed as part of your course requirements as a student, and because your university is technically your employer or sponsor, Immigration Canada allows international students to work in this way. These programs are a fantastic way to study and more and more are being developed at universities in Canada.

One Time Offer Only: A Job after graduation

After you have graduated from an institution in Canada, Immigration allows a one-time opportunity for international students to hold a job on a full-time basis for a period of one year. Once again, this employment is restricted: it must relate to the course of study you have just completed and in the field, which Canadian graduates in the same area, would in normal circumstances be recruited. The one-year period cannot be extended unless a search for a qualified Canadian does not yield any results.

Employment Authorization

If you are about to accept an offer of employment after graduation, you must be prepared to apply for an employment authorization from Immigration Canada. This application must be submitted within 60 days of graduation and must include not only proof of your graduation, but also a description of your preceding course-work. In addition, your student authorization must be extended to cover any period of time before your authorized employment begins.

Important Paper Work!

Social Insurance number and Income Tax return

Any income in Canada is taxable even for foreign students because taxation is based on residency not citizenship. To ascertain your status in the country, a Determination of Residency Status form can be completed. Thus students receiving income from either employment, scholarship or bursaries must complete an income tax return each year before April 30. Even if you have no income from Canadian sources, if you want to claim a credit from the Goods and Services Tax or provincial sales taxes, you must file a return. In other words, to get money back from paying sales taxes in the country over the time you spend in Canada, you can choose to file a tax return. To be eligible for this rebate you must have been in the country for at least 186 days of a calendar year. However, the tax credits are not large and if you have no taxable income, the process is hardly worth it. Further information is available through calling the International Tax Services Office in Canada at 1-800-267-5177. If you have children with you in Canada for more than 18 months then you can receive Child Tax Benefits when you file a return.

If you must file a return, a Social Insurance Number is necessary to speed up the calculation of your tax return and most importantly, to be paid by your employer. This application is not difficult, but you must have your passport and student authorization available and it will take at least a month to process. Each major city has a Canada Employment and Insurance Centre where this application can be filled out, or if no location is convenient, it can be processed by mail. In Quebec the SIN must be obtained through the Department of Cultural Communities for an extra fee and with proof of your enrolment.

Bringing Someone with You?

If your spouse will accompany you during your period of

study, more opportunity for employment is available to them. The spouse of an international student may apply for and obtain employment authorization for work anywhere, based only on proof that they are the spouse of a student. If your spouse has passed an Immigration medical examination, then the authorization will be open to any job sector, but if no medical has been taken, then the employment authorization will not allow your spouse to work in some jobs.