During my time as an international student working part-time, I witnessed a fellow student get napped by the authorities for working more than 20 hours per week.
And, it left all of us wondering how they found out.
It didn’t take long before the truth surfaced: the authorities discovered the violation through his employer’s records.
If you’re curious about how the authorities detect students working more than 20 hours a week, here are some of the ways they do it.
How do authorities find out that you worked over 20 hours per week?
Authorities can find out if you worked over 20 hours per week through your employer reports, tax records, tip-offs, random inspections, payroll records, Social Insurance numbers, or random audits.
1. The authorities can find out that you worked over 20 hours through your employer’s report
Think about it, employers keep records of their employees, especially those on restricted visas like international students – that’s how it works.
The records include how many hours you work in a week, wages paid, and every other employment-related information.
The authorities have access to these records and can cross-check them with your visa regulations anytime.
When you work over 20 hours per week, the authorities will find out that you have worked over 20 hours per week when they cross-check your work record.
Once your record shows that you consistently worked over 20 hours per week during the academic term, it will raise red flags.
2. The authorities can find out that you worked over 20 hours through your payroll records
Another way that the authorities find out that you worked over 20 hours is through your payroll records.
Payroll systems track every hour you worked and every dollar you earned.
When your payroll data is submitted for tax purposes, authorities can cross-reference it with your student status.
Read also: What is the maximum working hour in Canada for international students?
If your earnings suggest that you’ve been working more than 20 hours per week, it’ll raise red flags and they’ll come for routine checks or audits.
3. The authorities can find out that you worked over 20 hours through your tax report
Your tax report is another way the authorities find out that you have worked over 20 hours.
All employers report employee (including international students) earnings and hours worked to tax authorities.
Once received, tax authorities will analyze the reported income and hours worked by each employee.
They’ll compare this report with your visa terms which is the allowed 20 hours per week for international students.
Your income per week will show them how many hours you worked within the week in review.
Read also: 10 Reasons why Australia is better than Canada for international students
If your reported income suggests that you’ve worked more than 20 hours per week, they’ll investigate your working hours.
4. The authorities can find out that you worked over 20 hours through a tip-off
Sometimes, authorities don’t even have to work to find out that you worked over 20 hours per week.
They get tip-off reports from people, like your co-workers who just want to do what is right.
Read also: Is there a time limit to enter the UK after getting a visa?
If someone suspects that you work over 20 hours per week, the person can tip the immigration authorities.
When authorities receive tip-off, they take it seriously – they swing into action and investigate it.
They’ll collect every piece of evidence necessary, they can disguise, come as customers in your place of work and monitor you.
While this might seem unlikely, it’s a reminder that you’re not hidden.
If you’re violating the rule, you’ll get caught one way or the other.
Read also: How to find Canadian friends on Facebook
Upon getting a tip-off, the authorities will investigate and if you’re truly working more than 20 hours per week, you’ll face the law.
5. Authorities can find out through Immigration and labour audits
It might surprise you to know that the Immigration and Labour departments do conduct random audits and inspections.
They do this to ensure that students and other workers comply with the law.
Read also: 5 consequences of working more than 20 hours on a student visa
During these audits, they’ll go through every employee’s details to check those who are adhering to the 20-hour work limit.
If they find out that your information isn’t consistent, you’ll be called out for further investigation.
6. The authorities can find out that you worked over 20 hours through student reporting
This is very common and I have seen it happen. Fellow students can report you if they suspect you’re working more than the allowed hours.
Read also: Where to do Biometrics for an Australian visa in South Africa?
You can say this is due to jealousy, or competition, but I won’t tag it that, some people are just genuinely concerned and want the rule to be obeyed.
Upon getting such a report, the authorities take it seriously and investigate further.
7. The authorities can find out that you worked over 20 hours by tracking your Social Insurance Number (SIN)
As an employee, you’re required to submit your Social Insurance Number (SIN) (or equivalent) to your employer.
This number can be used to track your employment and earnings.
The authorities will use it to monitor how much you’re earning and how many hours it takes to earn the amount.
If your information does not match, they’ll investigate further and if you worked over 20 hours, they’ll find out.
8. The authorities can find out that you worked over 20 hours when they get reports from the public
Yes, not only students can report you. Members of the public, like customers or clients at your workplace, can report you if they suspect any violation.
If anyone observes that you work longer hours or that you frequent your workplace more than expected for a part-time employee, the person can report you.
9. The authorities can also find out that you worked over 20 hours during an audit
Some establishments undergo annual audits where the authorities will review their employment records, payment history and practices.
If during the audit, they find any discrepancies related to your work hours and how much you were paid, they’ll investigate your work hours.
In addition, if you worked over 20 hours per week, the authorities can also find out by using data analytics to detect patterns and anomalies in your employment record and payment history.
If your work hours consistently exceed the allowable 20 hours, the system will flag your case.
10. Authorities can find out through checks and inspections
In most countries, authorities are allowed to conduct random checks at workplaces.
They do this to ensure that employees are keeping to their visa conditions.
Read also: Is there a time limit to enter the UK after getting a visa?
They can check randomly or target a workplace based on information that they have or industries that are prone to violations.
If during any of their search, they find out that you worked over 20 hours, you’ll face the law.
11. The authorities can also find out that you worked over 20 hours through a workplace monitoring system
I have seen places with this system. They have monitoring systems, like clock-in and clock-out systems, which track employee hours.
The authorities can review these systems during routine checks or inspections and find out if you worked over 20 hours per week.
12. The authorities can also find out that you worked over 20 hours through your bank transactions
Your bank transactions can indirectly show your work hours.
If you get frequent deposits from your employer, it can suggest to the authorities that you work more than the allowed hours.
When you get large or irregular deport that don’t align with the expected earnings from part-time work, the authorities will investigate.
13. The authorities can also find out that you worked over 20 hours through self-reporting in applications
Yes, this is another means, only that you’ll be the one reporting yourself here.
When you apply for permits or renew your visa, you’ll submit details about your employment history.
During this process, you can unintentionally, disclose information that suggests you worked more than 20 hours per week.
This will lead to further investigation.
14. The authorities can also find out that you worked over 20 hours through your digital footprints
You’re free to doubt this but I wish you don’t.
I also haven’t seen it happen but we have witnessed students get caught in activities they shouldn’t have been caught in because of a post online.
Your online activity can give the authorities a clue about your employment status.
If you make a post on social media that suggests you work more than the allowed hours, the authorities will be there to investigate further.
If you’re working more than the allowed hours as a student, this is a good time to stop.
How to calculate 20 hours per week
To calculate 20 hours per week, multiply the number of hours you work each day by the number of days you work in a week.
For example, if you work 4 hours per day, you would do:
4 hours/day×5 days/week=20 hours/week4 hours/day×5 days/week = 20 hours/week
This formula works in a standard 5-day workweek.
If your work schedule is different, adjust the number of days accordingly.
Read also: 5 consequences of working more than 20 hours on a student visa
For example, if you work 8 hours a day but only 3 days a week, the calculation would be:
8 hours/day×3 days/week=24 hours/week8 hours/day×3 days/week=24 hours/week
Here, you have exceeded the 20-hour-per-week limit for international students.
Final words
As an active student, if you currently work more than the allowed hours, you need to stop,
The authorities are wiser.
Read also: How to report a student working more than 20 hours
They’ll find out sooner or later and the consequences can be heavy.
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