Events | Updates | Tips | Community 

February - March 2025 | Edition 20

The International Centre Student Newsletter is delivered in the third week of each month.  

In this issue

• International Centre Events & Programs
• Immigration Updates
• Tips & Reminders
• UM Community Events

International Centre Events & Programs

Final Exam Schedule

This year’s winter final exam period is from Apr. 11, 2025 – Apr. 25, 2025. Log in to your Aurora account February 18 to view the dates and times for your exams, or visit the Final exam schedule page. Exams run Monday to Sunday with three time slots: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Applications are now open for the seventh cohort (2025/26) of the President’s Student Leadership Program (PSLP)

The PSLP is Manitoba’s premier post-secondary leadership development opportunity, funded through a fellowship for successful applicants and housed at the Asper School of Business. Learn more here.

Immigration updates 

The International Centre

International Student Advisors (ISAs) are available for in person and virtual appointments. To book an appointment with one of our student advisors visit our Waitwell booking site. For more information on our drop-in advising schedule, please check our website.

Updates to the Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) requirement

When Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) first introduced the requirement to include a PAL with a study permit application in 2024, they also released a list of exceptions. This list of exceptions was updated effective January 22, 2025 and means that more students now need to include a PAL with their study permit application:

• Students who are accepted to Master’s degree and PhD degree programs are now required to include a PAL when applying for their initial study permit from their home country.

• Now, not all students who are applying to extend their study permit from inside of Canada meet an exception from including a PAL with their in-Canada extension application. Only students who are applying to extend their study permit at the same DLI and the same level of study as their current study permit would not be required to include a PAL with their extension application.

The full list of exceptions from needing to provide a PAL with an application for a study permit can be found on the IRCC website.

Thinking of Voluntarily Withdrawing (VW) from courses?

The Voluntary Withdrawal (VW) deadline for Winter Term is March 19, 2025. If you are planning to VW, or drop, any number of courses, it’s important that you review how the U of M defines full-time status for the purposes of IRCC to ensure that you understand how the institution defines full-time and part-time status at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. For example, if an undergraduate student drops a course before March 19^th, that course will not count towards their full-time status, even though they still have to pay for the course. It is recommended that you meet with your faculty Academic Advisor to discuss any academic challenges that you are facing, as dropping a course should never be the first option. It’s also very important for each study permit holder to stay in compliance with the study permit conditions listed on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website.

Working during the Winter 2025 term

If you are considering working on and/or off-campus during the Winter 2025 terms then it’s important that you review, understand, and follow the strict requirements that IRCC has for international students who would like work legally during their studies in Canada. It’s also important to review our Working in Canada as an International Student page for details such as what is considered work, who can work, how many hours you can work and when you need to stop working. In addition, you should be verifying UM dates, definitions, and policies in our institutional documents. For example, you should review how the U of M defines full-time status for the purposes of IRCC to ensure that you understand how your registration status impacts your eligibility to legally work on and/or off campus in Canada, especially if you are considering dropping courses.

Finished your program in the Fall 2024 term?

If you have completed your program requirements during the Fall 2024 term, then you may be considering applying for the post-graduation work permit (PGWP). The International Centre has detailed information about who is eligible to apply for the PGWP, what documents to include, and step-by-step instructions on how to submit an online application for a PGWP on our website. In addition, the Registrar’s Office has helpful information about how to request a document confirming that you have completed your program requirements, as well as the steps to request an official transcript. Reminder: As of November 1, 2024, all PGWP applicants must provide proof of language ability with their application. Learn more about the new language requirements here. You can find out what your language level is based on your language test skills here. Due to system limitations, you must upload your proof of language ability under "Client Information" in the 'Optional Documents' section of your online document checklist.

Application Processing Times

Estimated processing times for permits and visas are reported on the IRCC website. You can find the processing time for a specific application here. Processing time estimates are updated weekly. As of February 10, 2025, the estimated processing times are as follows for online applications:

• Study Permit extension: 112 days
• Work Permit (co-op work permit, post-graduation work permit): 120 days
• Visitor Visa (Temporary Resident Visa): 40 days

You may need to give your fingerprints and photo (biometrics) with your application. The processing times do not include additional time to give your biometrics. 

Tips and Reminders

Important Dates 

• March 17, 2025 - Registration Access Times available in Aurora for (Spring classes)
• March 19 - VW deadline for winter term classes
• March 24-27, 2025 - Initial Registration Time (Spring classes)
• Mar. 28, 2025 - Registration closes at 12:00am and reopens at 1:00pm (Spring classes)
• April 9, 2025 - Last day of classes for Winter term
• April 11- 25, 2025 - Winter Term examinations and tests
• June 9, 2025 - Final grade appeal deadline for Winter 2025 Term grades

View more dates online.

Things to do in Winnipeg

• Festival du Voyageur runs from February 14-23, which features live music, activities and delicious food. This annual 10-day event is now the largest francophone event in Western Canada, welcoming over 75,000 festivalgoers annually. The festival showcases the arts in a variety of disciplines, including music, dance, snow sculpting and visual arts, with an emphasis on Francophone and Indigenous artists.
  
• Skating Trail at the Forks. Skate rentals available!
• The Windsor Park Nordic Centre has 15km of cross-country ski trails suitable for all levels and they offer rentals for those who need.
• Fort Whyte Alive has beautiful trails suitable for walking or snowshoeing with chances to see snow-covered Bison. 
• Take a break from the cold to visit the Leaf's orchid exhibit, Blooms in Winter: An Orchid Celebration that runs until March 23, 2025.

Visit Tourism Winnipeg for other ideas.

Community Updates

Graduate Student Town Hall

February 28, 10:00-1130 AM, 544/543 UMSU University Centre, Fort Garry Campus

Attend the Graduate Student Town Hall to discuss some of the changes that have occurred that affect international graduate students. Topics will include changes to: off campus working hours, the family open work permit, eligibility for the post-graduation work permit and Provincial Attestation Letters (PAL). This town hall will include the President, Dr. Benarroch, the Vice-Provost of Students, Laurie Schnarr, the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, Dr. Kelley Main, the team from the International Centre, and the Graduate Students Association.  Please RSVP here.