This reflects a specific historical PGWP online-study allowance and is time-bound — always verify the current PGWP policy before relying on it. A member arriving September 24 for a Fall 2022 intake, whose college allowed flexible (online) classes for the first semester until September 26, asked whether this college-level flexibility would affect their PGWP eligibility.
What the thread clarified, specific to the policy in effect at that time:- The applicable rule stated that online study counted toward PGWP eligibility only up until August 31, regardless of whether you were a first-year or returning student — a college's own internal policy about flexible online attendance beyond that date didn't extend or change this federal cutoff.
- IRCC's PGWP rule was not tied to what your specific college chose to allow. Even if your college permitted online classes into September, that institutional flexibility had no bearing on the federal government's own PGWP eligibility cutoff.
- The consistent advice: don't take the risk — be physically present in Canada before your classes start, rather than relying on a college's flexible online policy to protect your future PGWP eligibility.
The practical takeaway (historical): a college's own flexible online-class policy did not override IRCC's separate, federal PGWP eligibility cutoff — the safest approach was always to be physically present before classes started rather than assume a college's leniency would protect your PGWP eligibility; check the current PGWP rules, since these online-study allowances have changed over time.