Good News for PGWP Holders: Exciting Updates in 2022!

Good News for PGWP Holders!

goodnewsforpgwpholders!

If your PGWP expired or will expire between September 20, 2021, and December 31, 2022, you may be able to get a new one or extend it.

International student graduates who studied eligible full-time programs can normally get an open work permit for up to three years. However, the great news is that certain PGWP holders can extend their work permit or apply for a new open work permit for an additional 18 months.

Also, while your permit is being extended or issued you will be able to work if you are currently in Canada.

Just keep in mind that if your temporary resident status has expired you must apply to restore it at the same time you are applying for a new work permit.

Due to gaps in the workforce and ongoing immigration backlog issues, Canada introduced a temporary public policy allowing certain former international students to re-enter the labor market.

While many PGWP holders were left without legal work options during the pandemic period, this measure aims to reopen that window by letting applicants reapply even beyond normal restoration timelines. The move aligns with broader federal efforts to retain talent educated in Canada.

One notable update included flexibility around the restoration of status. Previously, individuals had only 90 days after losing their temporary status to apply for restoration. Under this unique policy, even those who missed that window could still apply, provided it was done alongside the new open work permit request. This exception helped those caught in administrative delays or affected by travel restrictions that disrupted their ability to stay compliant.

The rollout involved a series of internal IRCC processing stages, which meant not everyone received communication simultaneously. Some applicants received automatic updates if their documents were valid, while others had to wait for specific instructions before proceeding.

Processing time varied depending on passport validity and the applicant’s most recent contact details, which made it important to regularly check for IRCC emails and portal updates.

Read the following scenarios to see if they apply to your situation:

1. You don’t need to do anything if:

  • Your PGWP expires from October 2, 2022, to December 31, 2022
  • Your address is up to date
  • Your passport is valid through April 2024

By mid-October, an updated work permit will be sent to your mailing address.

2. You need to update your address and/or passport validity if:

  • Your PGWP expires from October 2, 2022, to December 31, 2022
  • Your address and/or passport validity needs to be updated

You will receive an email message from IRCC to update your address. But, you will receive a separate email in September to update your passport validity, if it does not allow IRCC to extend your work permit for 18 months. You will receive this email in September too.

Check your passport validity. If it expires before April 2, 2024, apply to extend it.

3. Apply online to extend your work permit if:

  • Your PGWP expires from October 2, 2022, to December 31, 2022
  • And you won’t be able to update your address or passport validity

4. You are not eligible to have your work permit extended through this special process if:

  • Your PGWP expires from October 2, 2022, to December 31, 2022
  • IRCC didn’t contact you at all

You are not eligible to have your work permit extended, If you do not receive a message from IRCC by mid-September.

5. Apply online for a work permit if:

  • Your PGWP expired or will expire from September 20, 2021, to October 1, 2022.

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We have been helping many applicants become permanent residents for years and have a high success rate. Our clients from almost 20 different countries have experienced this with us and you can be the next successful one. We know how to prepare documents and how to make your immigration process smooth and easy for you. Contact us HERE to start the process today!

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