Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced the temporary policy on June 13, 2022, for post-graduate work permit holders. This policy was for those applicants whose post-graduate work permits (PGWP) must have expired or be expiring between September 20, 2021, and December 31, 2022.
Moreover, under this policy, applicants can get a new open work permit if their post-graduate work permit expired or expiring soon between September 20, 2021, and December 31, 2022. The new open work permit is valid for 18 months.
But this temporary policy was closed on December 31, 2022. IRCC not only accepted the applications by December 31, 2022.
Now, applicants have to explore other options to extend the post-graduate work permit. There are 4 ways that help the applicants to extend the post-graduate work permit (PGWP).
Today, we discuss the ways to extend the post-graduate work permit (PGWP).
Ways to Extend the Post-Graduate Work Permit
Actually, there are only a few options that applicants can use to extend the post-graduate work permit.
1. Bridging Open Work Permit
Bridging open work permits lets the applicants keep working while they wait for the decision on permanent residency application.
The people who applied for their permanent residency under the express entry, PNP, and Agri-food pilot programs. They are eligible to extend their post-graduate work permit (PGWP).
Applicants are only eligible for bridging open work permits if they applied the permanent residency application under these programs:
- Permanent residency using Express Entry
- Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
- Quebec skilled workers
- Home Child-Care Provider Pilot or Home Support Worker Pilot
- Caring for children class or caring for people with high medical needs class
- Agri-Food Pilot
Bridging open work permits will only get those applicants whose permanent residency application is under processing.
In addition to that, a bridging open work permit is the best option to extend the post-graduate work permit. You just need to pay little money to get this work permit extension.
2. LMIA-based Work Permit
Labour Market Impact Permit (LMIA) is an employer-specific work permit. It is a closed work permit. You can work for only one employer.
Actually, LMIA is very expensive. You have to pay heavy money to get LMIA based work permit.
Furthermore, if your post-graduate work permit expires soon then you can explore this option. Under the LMIA-based work permit, the conditions you have on the post-graduate work permit changes to the LMIA-based work permit.
With the help of LMIA, you can get a post-graduate work permit (PGWP) extension. Make sure that 30 days before the expiry of the post-graduate work permit (PGWP) apply for a new work permit to restore your status in Canada.
3. TR to PR Work Permit Extension
The applicants who applied for their permanent residency under TR to PR public policy then they can extend the post-graduate work permit.
Under TR to PR policy, the IRCC issued the post-graduate work permit extension automatically to those applicants whose work permits expire in 4 months.
If IRCC will not issue the work permit extension automatically then you have to apply for the extension by yourself.
Make sure to apply for the post-graduate work permit extension 4 months before the expiry of the post-graduate work permit (PGWP).
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Few Options if your Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) Expires Soon
Here, are the few options that help to restore your status in Canada if your post-graduate work permit expires soon. Firstly, you have the focus to maintain a status in Canada. After that, you can explore the options that how to get permanent residency.
1. Visitor Visa
You can apply for a visitor visa from inside Canada if your postgraduate work permit expires soon.
A visitor visa helps the applicants to restore their status in Canada. So, that you don’t become out of status. Valid status is a must in Canada. If you have valid status in Canada then you explore more options to get an open work permit or permanent residency in Canada.
IRCC always recommends that applicants maintain their status in Canada by exploring more options.
2. Enroll in College or university
To maintain a status in Canada, you can enroll in a post-secondary program in some college. Then, you will get a study permit in Canada.
In this way, you successfully restore the valid status in Canada. Without valid status, you are not allowed to work in Canada. So that is why valid status is a must in Canada.
So, these are options that you can explore to maintain your status in Canada if your post-graduate work permit expires soon.