{"id":2074,"date":"2026-11-10T21:50:35","date_gmt":"2026-11-10T21:50:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lawgicalcorp.com\/blog\/international-student-worked-over-hours-not-studying\/"},"modified":"2026-11-11T01:30:24","modified_gmt":"2026-11-11T01:30:24","slug":"international-student-worked-over-hours-not-studying","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lawgicalcorp.com\/blog\/international-student-worked-over-hours-not-studying\/","title":{"rendered":"International student who worked over the limit or stopped studying: refusals, CBSA reports and your deadline"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Prabhpreet Kaur Sangha<\/a>, lawyer at Lawgical Law Corporation \u00b7 Reviewed November 10, 2026<\/em><\/p>\n

Prabhpreet Kaur Sangha is a lawyer at Lawgical Law Corporation, called to the BC bar in 2019, and a member of the Law Society of British Columbia<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Updated November 10, 2026: sections 186, 220.1, 221 and 228 of the Regulations checked that day.<\/em><\/p>\n

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The fix:<\/strong> a written explanation, with records, before IRCC or CBSA decides; judicial review if a refusal or removal order gets the facts or the law wrong. Once six months have passed since the breach ended, section 221 of the Regulations no longer blocks a new study permit.<\/p>\n

The deadline:<\/strong> the date on the letter. After a refusal or removal order in Canada, 15 days to apply to the Federal Court (IRPA s.72<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Why a lawyer:<\/strong> the Federal Court will not consider an argument you never made to the officer, and restoration is not available for this kind of breach. Why a lawyer<\/a><\/p>\n

Book a consultation<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The lawyers who review these refusals<\/p>\n

\"SundeepSundeep S. Grewal<\/span>Barrister and Solicitor<\/span><\/a>\"PrabhpreetPrabhpreet Kaur Sangha<\/span>Barrister and Solicitor<\/span><\/a>\"PardeepPardeep S. Grewal<\/span>Barrister and Solicitor<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n
\nAbout our lawyers<\/summary>\n
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Sundeep S. Grewal<\/a><\/strong> founded Lawgical Law Corporation and argues immigration cases at the Immigration and Refugee Board and the Federal Court of Canada.<\/p>\n

Prabhpreet Kaur Sangha<\/a><\/strong> focuses on refugee claims, immigration appeals, inadmissibility, detention reviews and Federal Court cases, and has presented at Continuing Legal Education seminars and the National Immigration Conference.<\/p>\n

Pardeep S. Grewal<\/a><\/strong> is an immigration and estates lawyer known for clear communication and practical strategy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n

If IRCC refused your study permit extension because you did not “actively pursue” your studies, or CBSA wrote to you because you worked more than 24 hours a week during classes, you are dealing with a breach of your permit conditions. The two problems have different rules, but both can end in an exclusion order. What helps is a clear, documented explanation before the decision, and judicial review<\/a> within 15 days if the decision is wrong. Restoration usually is not an option here.<\/p>\n

Lawgical Law Corporation<\/a>, an immigration law firm in Surrey, Abbotsford and Vancouver, BC, reviews study permit refusals and CBSA compliance letters for international students across Canada; this guide is by Prabhpreet Kaur Sangha.<\/p>\n

What are the two conditions?<\/h2>\n

Studying.<\/strong> Under section 220.1(1) of the Regulations<\/a>, a study permit holder must enroll at the school named in the permit and “remain enrolled there until they complete their studies”, and must “actively pursue their course or program of study.”<\/p>\n

Working.<\/strong> Under section 186(v)<\/a>, an eligible full-time student may work off campus “no more than 24 hours per week during a regular academic session”, and full-time “during a regularly scheduled break between academic sessions.” Work beyond that is work without authorization under section 30(1) of the Act.<\/p>\n

What does the letter say?<\/h2>\n

The wording I see most in these files:<\/p>\n