r/pgwp

Hello everyone, I just wanted to share my story on here and give hope to someone who might need it, as I was on this platform every day looking for some reassurance.I did two years of college from 2018 to 2020, then went to York University from 2020 to 2024. However, because of my co-op, which was initially 8 months but was later extended to 20 months, I ended up graduating in 2026. I never took part-time courses, but I did work more than 20 hours such as 21-24hrs here and there (only a very few times, almost unnoticeable).

Things got complicated for me when I invited a family member for my graduation, and his lawyer omitted his USA visa rejection in the past which resulted in him receiving a PFL letter and eventually getting a 5-year ban for misrepresentation. I started panicking and thinking, "What if this affects me?" My head was completely messed up.

My co-op employer had already hired me right before I graduated, and I started working after I submitted my PGWP application, but I still felt very insecure. Weeks passed, and every day I came on here and saw people, including my friends, getting their PGWPs in two weeks or at least within a month. The stress and anxiety of waiting just kept getting worse.

I applied in May, and on August 9th, I decided to email my Member of Parliament about my PGWP and how insecure I felt about my job, which I had already started, and my future. Luckily for me, their office address was literally across from my building.

Within a week, on August 17th, my application was approved.

Sometimes we overthink, especially when we see how easy other people's situations seem. But as long as we did our best, the worst will not happen. I saw people who have been waiting for a year and more. So I tried to calme myself and acknowledge mine wasn’t as bad and it was all just in my head

I hope this gives someone who is currently waiting a little bit of hope.

Hi guys,
I am gonna get rejected for the jobs that I am applying if my owp will expire in 2 months but it is extendable? I will extend it but my lawyer said we should wait until 2 weeks left expire to save more time.

Hi everyone,
I’m looking for some advice from people who have been in a similar situation, especially regarding PGWP eligibility in Canada.

I’m an international student in Quebec and I’m currently in the final stage of my program. I have two courses remaining, which are scheduled for Winter 2027.

My situation is a little complicated because during my last semester, my study permit was refused. Because of that, I had to stop/quit my classes while the situation was being resolved. My study permit was eventually reissued/approved on April 16.
After that, I had the summer break, during which I didn’t have any classes.

Now I’m in the current semester and I don’t have any courses that I need to take. My remaining two courses are scheduled for Winter 2027. My school has confirmed that I have a contract for Winter 2027, but I’m concerned about whether my current semester could affect my PGWP eligibility.

My main questions are:
Can my current semester be considered an authorized break if I don’t have any required courses during this semester?

Does the fact that I had to stop my previous semester because my study permit was refused and then reissued on April 16 change how IRCC would assess my situation?

Would the summer period where I had no classes be considered a normal scheduled break?
Could having no courses during my current semester affect my PGWP eligibility?

I just got my pgwp refused and the reason given was this:

Client is requesting a Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) received on July 24, 2026.
However, client engaged in part-time studies beyond the final academic session in the Winter
2023 and Fall 2023 academic session.
To be eligible for a PGWP, applicants must maintain full-time status in Canada during each
academic session of the program or programs they complete.
Client fails to meet parameters of R200(1)(c)(ii) and is therefore refused. Letter sent and open
work permit fee refund initiated.

I was approved academic accommodations by my university which allowed me to take a reduced course load (of 2 classes) while being considered full time. I included all the evidence in my client information during my pgwp application. What do I do? Please help me

I‘m hoping to apply for my pgwp today. My degree was granted on May 22nd and I know I get 90 days of study permit after that. My question is, does May 22nd count as day 0 or 1?

According to 27 [4] of the interpretation act it should be Day 0, but the border guards thought the opposite so I thought I’d check.

PS. I know I fucked up not applying earlier.

thanks!

I have been full-time every semester of my program so far. This upcoming semester will be my final one, and I only need a reduced course load (below the full-time threshold) to finish my degree.

I also worked full-time this past summer, which was a scheduled break. From what I understand, IRCC requires you to be full-time immediately before and after a scheduled break, and to work full-time during the break.

My question: since I'll be under the full-time threshold next semester (though it qualifies under the final-semester exception), does that affect the validity of my full-time summer work? Or do I need to take extra courses I don't actually need just to stay "full-time" and protect my PGWP eligibility?

Applied on Aug. 6, 2026 as a UofT grad. The officer reviewing my application rejected me because I apparently completed my program on April, thus invalidating my study permit. I didn't think that this would be an issue when I was applying, as the first indication that I received that I completed my program was an email from the university on May 27. However, the officer is asserting that I completed my program on April 29 (my graduation letter did not include neither date, mind you), but I would've still been sitting through my final exams by then..

Is this a case worth getting reconsideration for?

Hi everyone,
I applied Study permit extension with SOWP from inside Canada on July 9, 2026, and I’m still waiting for a decision.
I also had a ghost update for one day, but there has been no further update since then.
It’s been around 6 weeks now.
Is anyone else who applied around July 9 (or around that time) still waiting, or has anyone received a decision?
Please share your application date and decision date if you’ve received one. Just trying to get an idea of the current timeline.
I’m on PGWP.
Thank you!

Hi.

I am applying for my pgwp extension, and I have decided to fill out the employment history (I know it is not mandatory but since I did it for the original application, I didn't want to leave it blank).

My question is, for one of my jobs, my manager told me the official start day was July 31st. I am pretty sure my first shifts were sometime in August. Which month should I put in? I don't have access to my pay stubs any more so I'd appreciate any advice.

Thanks!

Hey I checked my portal yesterday and it was changed to “final decision-August 18th,2026, your application is in progress. We will send you a message once the final decision has been made.” I’ve checked today tho and haven’t received a correspondence letter or anything yet. I’ve seen people say I should know if I’m approved or refused 24-48 hours after a ghost update. I also feel like I only hear people who’s application has been approved say they received a correspondence letter.

Hey everyone,

I need some help with my PGWP extension.

My Situation:

· Graduated – eligible for 3-year PGWP.
· Got only 3-month PGWP (expires Sept 18, 2026) because passport was expiring.
· Renewed passport and applied for extension by paper to Edmonton on June 23, 2026 (delivered June 25).

Issues:

1. GCKey says "Already Associated" but application NOT showing in dashboard. How long to appear?
2. SIN expires Sept 17, 2026. Can I still work on Maintained Status?
3. How to explain Maintained Status to employers?

Timeline:

· Applied: June 23, 2026
· PGWP Expiry: Sept 18, 2026
· SIN Expiry: Sept 17, 2026

Any advice or similar experiences? Really appreciate any help.

Thanks.

Hi I applied for pgwp on 16th july and i am still waiting for decision. All my friends received it in 10 days and 1 months time.. why is the processing time so unpredictable?

I am applying jobs but employers want active pgwp.
I thought i will receive it today but no luck..

Is anyone in the same boat?

Hi folks,

I am currently working part-time on my SP and am graduating in September this year. I am going to continue working the same job full-time after I obtain my PhD degree, and I am not clear on what the 'immediately stop working' order means in the context of my situation. I plan to apply for a PGWP as soon as I can. I think the completion letter will be the last document I upload before clicking submit.

Is the completion letter the only and correct document that marks the end of my studies as a PhD student here? I will have my final oral examination, but I am not clear if I am waiting for any grades to be released. (Many people mention this as another important date, but I did not get any grades in the last four years).

If I have all other documents ready by the day I obtain a completion letter and immediately upload the letter, does that mean my status changes from student to worker on the same day?

Can I continue working right after I submit my application, or do I need to wait for something else?

If there is any gap between obtaining the completion letter and applying for the PGWP, do I need to terminate my work contract (I hope not; it would be a nightmare)? Do I take days off? Do I take unpaid leave?

Thank y'all

Update: I called IRCC and got confirmation of the stop-work order; they also told me that paid vacation is ok, because their instructions say that one must stop working and nothing else. No termination of contract is required

Hi! Just asking for a friend. She has a valid pgwp until 2029 and a valid eTa, but she is unemployed as of the moment. She has to go back home in the Philippines for a family emergency. what other documents she needs when coming back to canada? Anyone who went through the same? And if so how was it at the border? I hope someone could help us out. Thank you.

Hey yall,

Quick questions. I’m graduating soonish and searching for jobs, and I want to start right after I graduate. But as I understand it, you need the reception of the PGWP application to use your student permit as a temporary work visa. But to apply for the PGWP you need your degree if I am not wrong? Unfortunately, I am in a weird limbo where my official graduation is 4 months after I finish my degree, because that’s how my uni works and it doesn’t run graduations after the fall semester and only runs one at the end of winter. So my transcript won’t show me as « degree granted » till then.

I don’t want to wait 4 months to apply because I don’t have enough money to sustain myself like that for 4 months and I also just want to get started with my career.

Can I just apply for a PGWP just after I am recommended for graduation and get a letter from my uni saying that I’ve graduated and will officially get my diploma in the Spring, and then send my application as soon as I finish my final exams?

Do I need to have all of my grades showing that I passed by the time I applied or can I apply with a few grades still blank given that I have been recommended by my department for graduation and have an official letter showing that from my uni?

If I want to start a job about a month out from graduation (I am moving cross country for my partner), is that a realistic timeline for me to work out the visa stuff?

Do I need to leave Canada while applying for my PGWP once I wrap up my degree or can I just apply internally as long as I don’t leave the borders?

When do I need to take my English test? I am a native English speaker so I don’t think I will have too much trouble, but I have exams in December and then the university immediately goes on Winter Holiday, so can I take it super early in the semester and then use it later?

I currently live in Quebec and am moving to British Columbia. I don’t see anything that might affect me moving, but I am happy to hear experiences.

Thank you for your help!

I applied on February 26th and am yet to hear back. I've seen people on here apply after me and receive theirs. Is there any reason for this? Anyone who applied around Feb and is still waiting pls let me know :)

Hello everyone,

Recently my family has gotten into a big problem. We had a lawyer doing everything for us and paid him well. He didnt do anything wrong up until this point so we fully trusted him to file our pgwp application and to add the restoration application along with it. But he ended up not doing this and only did the 1 application even though he requested around 800 dollars for both. We paid the amount despite us knowing that it didnt cost that much to file in both applications and he even sent us receipts. We thought everything would be smooth sailing from there on but we got a call from him saying we got rejected because we lost status around 30 days before the time we had passed and submitted the pte scores and that he thought our principal applicants study permit had the correct date on it even though we knew he knew our time for the restoration was 180 days after our principal applicants finished their studies here in canada . (We knew this was a lie). We then pestered him to admit that wasnt the case and he came clean. He told us he didnt attach the restoration application along with the former one. We have been out of status since August 2 because of him and we don't know what to do. He suggested challenging this in court but we came to the conclusion that it would be a waste of time since he made the mistake. What should we do to gain status once more? We tried calling ircc they said they couldn't help because they cant connect us to the processing department we submitted another pgwp application along with the restoration and explained the issue at hand in there. (Going back to university to study again isn't an option as we don't have funds).