International students affected by a faculty strike at Ontario colleges are being reassured by immigration officials that they won't be penalized for a delay that is beyond their control.
Some international students say the work stoppage, which began last Monday, has them worrying about finances as well as their education and immigration status.
Several colleges in the province said they recognized the concerns raised by the strike and hoped it would end before the more than 40,000 international students enrolled in Ontario colleges felt financial or other difficulties.
Officials at Humber, George Brown and Confederation colleges also stressed that other services remain available during the strike, including support for international students concerned about their visas or study permits.
Meanwhile, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada is seeking to relieve international students' fears about the fate of their visas and permits.
International students who need to apply for extensions should include with their application a letter from their school's registrar confirming the impact of the strike.
While students are required to have studied continuously in order to qualify for a post-graduation work permit, the interruption caused by the strike won't affect their eligibility.