Regarding Canada’s international student program, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) released several statements on December 7.
Among these, the agency has stated that Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) holders will not be eligible for any further extensions. PGWP is Expiring.
In recent years, the IRCC has extended PGWP work permits three times. It implemented the measure during the COVID-19 pandemic’s aftermath and the post-pandemic recovery period. It made it possible for PGWP holders to carry on working in Canada while the IRCC postponed Express Entry drawings and encountered processing delays.
Three extensions of the measure were made; the most recent one took place on April 6 for PGWP holders whose permits expire on or before December 31, 2023. For eighteen months, the extension is an open work permit.
The IRCC points out that PGWP holders are still qualified for the extension if their permit expires on or before December 31. PGWPs enable foreign students to complete their academic degree and then remain in Canada to work.
Unless there are specific extensions, the permit is not renewable and is only valid for a maximum of three years, contingent on the duration of the candidate’s academic program.
98,000 PGWP holders obtained permanent residency status in 2022. This amounted to about 82% of all temporary residents who changed their status to permanent that year.
In addition, the IRCC projected that 268,000 PGWP holders would exist in Canada in 2023 and that 127,000 permits would expire when the 2022 data was made public.
How does this impact Express Entry candidates?
One of the most well-liked routes for PGWP holders seeking permanent residency status in Canada is Express Entry. As the expiration of their PGWP draws near, many of them might be worried about the termination of extensions.
Applicants with an expiring PGWP who have not yet received an Invitation to Apply (ITA) may soon lose their ability to work in Canada. Some PGWP holders in the Express Entry pool are under more pressure as a result of the recent, inexplicable halt in draws for the program, which ran from October 26 to December 6. This is because, in the absence of an ITA, they are unable to apply for maintained status or permanent resident status while their application is being processed by the IRCC.
Three draws were held by IRCC between December 6 and December 8. Nevertheless, two of those draws were category-based selection draws for applicants who had worked in STEM fields (5,900) and those who were fluent in French (1,000 ITAs).
With a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 561—higher than in previous all-program draws—4,750 candidates were invited to the all-program draw on December 6.
What to do if your PGWP is expiring?
Express Entry candidates in this situation have a few options to stay in Canada while waiting for a final decision on their application from IRCC. However, they may still require that a candidate stop working while they wait to receive an ITA and while they wait for IRCC to process their application.
Visitor Record
Applying for a visitor record at least 30 days before the expiration of your PGWP will allow you to remain in Canada. An IRCC visitor record is normally good for six months, though this can change depending on the circumstances.
Apply for another work permit
While they wait to be drawn for an Express Entry, candidates may also apply for a new work visa.
Those who want to continue working can look into getting a different kind of Open Work Permit, however, it takes longer and costs more.
To acquire a closed work permit, candidates may also want to seek their employer to obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). This implies that the permit holder may carry on working in Canada, albeit they are not permitted to work for a different company.
If you already submitted a PR application
You might be qualified to apply for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) if you have previously filed your application for permanent residency but have not heard back from the IRCC.
While awaiting the IRCC’s final decision, a PR candidate may continue working in Canada on a BOWP. This pertains to individuals who have submitted applications under economic immigration schemes such as the Agri-Food Pilot Program, Quebec Skilled Workers, the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), and Express Entry.
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