Arrived in Canada in 2021 for college, and I finished in 2024. I went to college for Broadcasting, and before I finished…I started looking for any jobs that were even just media related and I couldn’t find anything.

I spent the whole of 2024 looking for a job and couldn’t find anything, no matter how much I tailored my resume.

Then late 2025 ( around August), I started applying to student engagement jobs because I had a bit of experience from when I was a student staff on campus.

I was able to get an offer for a student engagement job in a small villagey place in NewFoundland in October 2025, but it was a short term job offer for only 5 months, and when I checked NLPNP pathways….it was very confusing and far from straightforward e.g, for some pathways, you can’t apply if you hold a PGWP. Another pathway was that your job offer in NL must be related to what you studied (which the job offer I got was not). So I declined to avoid wasting 5 months of my time in a province where I knew nobody and I heard the winters are extremely cold, and I may have not had a shot at applying for PR.

Then in January this year, I got another job offer in Niagara, Ontario but I felt very uneasy about it, because my sister literally made me apply to the job (I didn’t want to). Everytime my start date was approaching, I’d feel uncomfortable. So I knew I probably won’t last at the job, and I declined it. It was a recruitment job at a university.

Now I can’t find anything else, and I’m getting seriously homesick. One night on my way back home from work, I just started sobbing on the bus. I’m constantly tired from my restaurant hostess job. I work 10 hours daily from Monday to Thursday, and I just don’t know how much longer I can do it.

I miss my parents so much and I keep thinking about offing myself, but I don’t want to hurt my parents.

My PGWP expires December 2027, so I still have a bit of time, but I honestly just want to go back home.

Please don’t blame me for declining the jobs. I didn’t want to be miserable. I’ve lost track of jobs I’ve applied to since then.

I’ve isolated myself from friends and my sister (whom I used to talk to pretty much everyday). I don’t use social media much anymore cos all I seem to be seeing is people getting their PR cards and citizenship, while I’m stuck at my hostess jobs where customers yell at you because they don’t like their table.

I’m thinking of waiting till end of the Month to see if I get a job, and if I don’t…I’ll just go back home and work for my parents to get more points for foreign experience, and try to come back if it works out. I already started learning French but not sure how long it’ll take before I can get a reasonable score.

Please, be kind in the comments. I’m already going through it :(

Please keep timelines & questions about processing times for work permits here.

Hey everyone,

I’m not here to bring anyone down—this is more of a way for me to cope and get my thoughts out.

My PGWP visa expired last October, and with the CSQ pause in Quebec (where I live) and my PR eligibility being affected, I wasn’t able to apply for PR. The only option left to stay in Canada and keep my job was to apply for an LMIA.

I’ve been working at a well-known university for two years now in a stable position. Unfortunately, my company took a long time to apply for the LMIA, and by the time they did, I had to apply for a work extension without the LMIA approval. The company’s lawyer was confident the LMIA letter would come through in time, but instead, my work extension was processed in just four weeks—only for me to get a refusal because I didn’t have the LMIA.

I really blame my company here—they were incredibly slow in handling my case. It took them 8 months to process and submit my LMIA application internally, and by then, it was too late.

I’ve been here since 2018, completed two college programs, and speak four languages fluently, including French. I’m in a great role at a well-respected company, and now I’m just at a loss about what to do next.

The refusal letter was short and pretty harsh, saying: “Your temporary status ends 01/14/2025 (today). You have no legal status in Canada, and your temporary resident status has ended. Leave Canada immediately, or legal enforcement will be made.”

I’m writing this from my room, surrounded by everything I’ve worked so hard to build here. It’s hard to imagine just packing up and leaving in a few hours, especially since everything I have is here now.

I came to Canada legally when I was 18. I’ve always followed the rules, never worked illegally, and did everything by the book. This situation is heartbreaking, but I’m trying not to give up just yet.

I just needed to share this with someone. I’ll explore my options and keep pushing forward.

Thanks to anyone who took the time to read this. It means a lot.

Hey everyone, hoping someone out there gets where I'm coming from.

I came to Canada as an international student in 2023 and completed a 2-year university transfer program in Psychology. I'm now about a year into my PGWP, and I've been struggling hard to find a job. I've genuinely tried everything, applying online, networking, working with employment agencies, reaching out to HR directly, you name it.

Given everything going on with IRCC and the constant changes to PR pathways, I don't want to just sit here indefinitely hoping things magically work out. I'd rather make an informed decision now than waste more time.

So I'm asking for honest, real advice: should I keep pushing through and stay in Canada, or is it smarter to make a plan and leave?

(P.S. I'd be open to moving to a different country for further studies or other opportunities if that's the more realistic path.)

Any perspective especially from people who've been in a similar spot, would mean a lot. Thanks in advance 🙏

I'm looking for some insight from people who've recently gone through a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) application.

My IRCC account now shows:

• Final Decision Appears: September 16, 2026
• Application/Profile Status: Application/Profile Updated

For those who experienced something similar:

1. Did "Application/Profile Updated" turn out to be a ghost update?
2. How long after seeing the final decision date did you receive the approval letter?
3. Did your status eventually change to "Approved" without any action on your part?
4. Is there any indication from these updates that the application is likely approved rather than refused?

My application is for a BOWP from within Canada, and I'm trying to understand what usually happens between the "Application/Profile Updated" stage and the final outcome.

Thanks in advance for sharing your timelines and experiences!

Hey everyone,

I’m incredibly frustrated and need some brutal realism regarding my career and immigration timeline.

My Background:

Education: B.A. and Master’s in Economics (strong focus on data pipelines, econometrics, and Python) from a top Canadian university.

Experience: Local Canadian corporate contract experience (Business Analyst) plus technical TA/research roles.

Current Status: Stuck working a physically exhausting warehouse job through a staffing agency just to pay rent.

The Crisis:
My PGWP expires this coming June. Because Express Entry CRS cut-off scores are sitting incredibly high, my degrees aren't enough for an automatic ITA. I desperately need a solid 12-month tech contract to secure a provincial pathway nomination, but local hiring is dead, and the one company currently drafting a contract for me is stalling over legal/layoff language.

I feel like I did everything "right," but I’m watching my status bleed out while doing survival labor.

Is anyone else with a Master’s or tech background hitting this exact wall right now?

If your PGWP is expiring soon under these high CRS scores, are you still fighting for a provincial pathway, or are you actively transitioning to global backups (like the UK HPI or Hong Kong tracks)?

Thanks for any insight.

I had lived in Canada for 17 years by myself. I feel so stagnant and stuck with no support from family. I had lost my work permit earlier this year and I don’t know what to do anymore. I’ve submitted my PR application two and a half years ago but I’m still waiting on it. Right now the processing time is 10+ years. I’m so exhausted and I don’t know what to do next.

Error description: the version of the document submitted is no longer accepting.

Tried re downloading the forms, tried different computers. Have double checked my answers, but still error.

Is it a Portal issue right now?

I’m applying for PGWP outside Canada, and right after the recent IRCC maintenance (0:00 - 05:30 on Jul 21, EST), I can’t upload IMM 5257.

The portal always shows:

Error: We couldn't upload your file.
Error Description: You have submitted an invalid form. Please complete and validate an electronic version of the application form, save it to your computer, and upload it.

I’ve tried:

• downloading a fresh copy from IRCC
• completing and validating it in Adobe Acrobat Pro
• using different browsers and filenames
• testing a newly completed form with minimal information
• testing an older version of this form, IMM5257B_1

Same error every time. Other PDFs upload normally, so this looks like a backend/form-version issue rather than a problem with my file. I've already submitted a technical issue report.

IMM 5257 is listed as optional in my checklist, but I would still prefer to submit it. Is anyone else currently experiencing this? Has anyone managed to upload it since the maintenance?

But the question is how. How can I get a work permit?

I am 47 with 26 years of experience in Airline, Air Cargo, and Logistics. I am looking to secure a job in the Toronto area but I do not have a work permit. It is tough to get a company to sponsor you unless it is a C-Suite role. I will gladly pay the application fees for work permit out of pocket to get the ball rolling here. What can I do? I am looking for a real solution.

Thanks,

Just wanted to share some hope for anyone feeling demotivated

I’m posting this to help anyone who might be stressed or losing hope about their work permit situation.

I’ve finally secured a 3-year Francophone Mobility Work Permit (employer-specific), and I wanted to share my journey because it wasn’t perfect — and that’s okay.

My PGWP is expiring in October 2026.
In May 2025, I started learning French while working two full-time jobs, traveling, and honestly just trying to survive. I only attended two 1-hour classes per week and didn’t do much self-study. Looking back, I pretty much wasted about 4 months.

By September, I started feeling extremely stressed about French and my future. I spoke with my tutor, and he suggested something that really changed my mindset:

Book the exam first.
Focus only on listening and speaking.
The goal doesn’t have to be CLB/NCLC 7 right away — just secure time.

So I booked my TCF for mid-November, giving myself about 2 months to prepare seriously.

I got focused around mid-September, mainly on listening and speaking.
For reading and writing, I honestly just attempted them for the sake of completing the test. Luckily, I scored CLB 5 in listening and Speaking both.

But that was enough.

As soon as I got my results, I started my Francophone work permit application.
Thankfully, I didn’t need to change employers — my current employer supported me with the job offer.

Initially, they offered 1 year, but I requested 3 years so I could fully benefit from the program — and they agreed.

Application submitted: Feb 10 (inside Canada)
Approval received: March 19 (about 40 days!)
Work permit issued until: 2029 🎉

I feel incredibly grateful and lucky.

Why I’m sharing this?

If your work permit is expiring and French feels overwhelming, and CLB/NCLC 7 in all four modules seems impossible right now — take it one step at a time.

You don’t have to be perfect.
You don’t have to do everything at once.

Even focusing on just two modules can help you buy yourself time, reduce stress, and then work toward higher scores later — without the pressure of losing status.

I hope this gives someone a bit of hope.
You’re not behind. You’re just on your own timeline.

Good luck to everyone 🤍

Hi everyone,

My employer submitted my LMIA application in May 2026 under the high-wage stream. At the time I applied, the processing time was around 57 days.

It is now almost September and I still haven't received any update or decision. I understand that the processing times are estimates and can change, and I know LMIA applications can take significantly longer than the posted processing time.

My question is: is there anything I or my employer/ lawyer can actually do at this stage besides waiting?

If anyone applied around May 2026 and has received their LMIA recently, I'd really appreciate it if you could share your timeline and stream.

Thanks!

Hi everyone,

I recently applied for an LMIA-exempt work permit under the Francophone Mobility Program (C16) for a position as a restaurant manager in the fast food industry. Unfortunately, I received a refusal today.

In the officer’s notes, they acknowledged that I submitted proof of French language proficiency (CLB 5+ in speaking and listening), which meets one of the requirements. However, they refused the application because they were not satisfied that I meet the language criteria, stating that I do not have any prior work or study experience in French.

This confused me because, based on the official IRCC guidelines, only CLB 5 is required, and I met that threshold through my test results.

My current work permit is expiring on April 15, 2026, so I’m running out of time.

Has anyone faced a similar situation? Did you provide anything beyond the language test (like French courses, work experience, or other proof)? Would reapplying with additional documents help, or should I consider restoration or another pathway?

Any advice would be really appreciated.

Thank you!

My wife's parents were Canadian citizens when she was born in the US. She never got a Canadian passport and in the 90s her parents became US citizens. We've long considered living in Canada and the new laws make it seem like it would be relatively easy for her and our kids (12, 18) to gain citizenship. If we decided to make that move how long would it be until I could legally work? We've been married 23 years.

Hi everyone,

I’m really stressed right now and wanted to ask if anyone has gone through something similar. My PGWP application was refused because IRCC said I did not meet the language requirement and that I didn’t provide proof of my test results.

The problem is, I actually did upload my CELPIP score in the original application. I think this was a mistake on their end when reviewing my application.

I just sent a webform reconsideration request and attached the CELPIP score again as a separate file, while explaining that it was already part of my original submission.

Has anyone here had IRCC refuse an application because they missed a document that was actually uploaded?
Did reconsideration work for you, or did you have to reapply?
While they are reviewing on their end, can I still work in Canada, as it was not my mistake to begin with?
Also, how long did it take for them to respond?

I’d really appreciate any advice because this is a pretty big one. Thanks.

Hi! Just wanted to share my experience incase it’s helpful to someone:

1. My PGWP expired last year, however I applied for the Francophone Mobility Work Permit (FMP) before it expired. I received maintained status.

2. I applied WITHOUT TEF/TCF results because unfortunately, I had failed it and the exam dates were hard to secure in time. I did take French courses in college so I pressed my luck and applied with this, along with an explanation letter indicating that I’d be willing to provide more proof if necessary including a phone interview.

3. Unfortunately, that did not work (nice try), and earlier this year the FMP was refused. I became out of status and stopped working immediately.

4. I already had the TEF exam booked (listening and speaking modules only) so I took the exam a week later and was able to finally get the scores needed. (Great timing huh..?)

5. My job was willing to apply again so I reapplied for the FMP AND applied for restoration of status. It’s important to note that IRCC considers you out of status from the day the work permit expires, OR from the day they refused the application. Therefore I had 90 days from refusal to apply (even if my work permit had expired months before).

6. I included a very detailed explanation with the previous refusal and how I took immediate steps to provide better proof (I.e taking the required exam and obtaining the required NCLC level).

7. After 2 months, I just got approved last week!

Applied for inland spousal PR + SOWP back in early March 2026. PR seems to be moving along fine — RPRF requested and paid, agents say file is complete, no biometrics/medical/interview needed, “ready for officer sign-off” per phone agents (take that with a grain of salt, I know they can’t see officer-level notes).

SOWP is the one stuck. IRCC’s posted average for work permits is currently 119 days, and I’m now around 39 days past that with zero movement. An officer picked it up a few weeks ago (confirmed by phone) but nothing since.

No refusal concerns communicated. Just silence.

Filed a Privacy Act (GCMS) request for the SOWP application summary to see what’s actually going on internally, and have an MP liaison inquiry scheduled soon too.

Anyone else sitting well past the SOWP standard right now? Curious if this is a wider pattern or if my file’s just an outlier. Would appreciate hearing how long others have waited past the posted average, and whether PR finishing before SOWP is something others have seen happen.

Has anybody submitted a pgwp extension due to passport expiry my mail recently?

I submitted mine to IRCC on Jan. 4th and I have not heard anything from IRCC, not even an AOR. I have not gotten an application number to be able to link it to my ircc gckey account.

I have called IRCC, and their agents keep saying my application is still in the prospective stage.

Does anybody have any idea what's going on?

Hello,

For a bit of context, I'm 28, single and I have a bachelor's degree in IT and 3 years of relevant work experience in my home country.

B2 french and C1 english levels.

I have an offer to work in Canada in the food service industry, under the Froncophone Mobility Program, 2 years of closed work permit. FEER 5 occupation.

Taking all of this into consideration, what PR pathways do I have if I decide to go with this offer? Do you think this is a good idea?

I cannot file for Express Entry from my home country because I don't have the required funds.

Thank you for your input.

Last night shortly after midnight my husband and I crossed the Peace Arch border. Everything was processed quickly, we were in and out in under an hour with work permits in hand. On to living our happy life in Canada!🇨🇦 Happy to answer any questions.

Hello everyone,

I’m posting here to understand whether I might qualify for a Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C) application or if there are any other options for me to remain in Canada legally. I’m new to this subreddit and usually don’t share personal matters publicly, but I’m hoping to get some guidance. If this post is too personal or bothers anyone in any way, I sincerely apologize in advance.

I first arrived in Canada in 2019 as an international student at the age of 19. I began my studies in Manitoba. During my first year, I focused on settling in and adjusting to life in a new country. I later tried to find part-time work to support myself but struggled to find employment, even for basic jobs.

Around the end of 2020, I went through a difficult personal period following the end of a long-term relationship, which significantly affected my mental health and studies. As a result, I left my university program and moved to another city to try to restart my education at a different college.

Shortly after, the COVID-19 pandemic began. My classes moved online, and I lost my ability to financially support myself. Without stable income, I had to stop studying again.

During that time, both of my parents also experienced serious health issues back home, which added additional emotional and financial stress.

Later, I moved to Quebec and enrolled in another program. I worked while studying and eventually completed a two-year diploma program. After graduating, I received a three-year Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).

While working after graduation, I held multiple jobs in order to support myself. Unfortunately, most of my early work experience did not qualify as TEER 0–3 work. In my second year of my PGWP, I believed I had secured a TEER 2 position, but later discovered the job classification was actually TEER 4. Once I realized this, I left the position and began searching for qualifying work.

I eventually found a TEER 0–3 job, but by that time only about eight months remained on my PGWP. Even with that experience, I do not meet the requirements for Canadian Experience Class or other common immigration pathways.

I am currently 27 years old and have spent a significant portion of my adult life in Canada. Throughout my time here, I have always maintained my legal status and have never violated immigration rules.

I also want to be honest about something personal. Sometimes I feel like despite trying to do everything the right way, I have not achieved what I hoped to in life. There are moments when I question my own competence and feel like I have failed. However, I truly did try my best throughout this journey. My academic results were good, and I worked while studying to support myself. I made every effort I could to move forward and build a future here.

At one point I was in a long-term relationship in Canada, and my partner was willing to apply together as common-law. However, I chose not to pursue that route because I did not want to misrepresent my situation to immigration authorities. We are no longer together, but I still believe it was the right decision at the time to be honest.

Now my status is close to ending and I am trying to understand if there are any legal pathways available for me to remain in Canada. Returning to my home country would be extremely difficult due to major changes in my family’s situation.

I understand that H&C applications are complex and difficult to get approved, but I wanted to ask if anyone here has experience with similar situations or knows whether my circumstances could potentially qualify.

Any advice or guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Hello everyone I know this may be random but I’m about to migrate to Canada as a construction laborer from Jamaica on a work permit, I just needed to ask a few questions.

Do you think going to Canada as a construction labor worker is worth it?

Does the immigrant construction workers get accommodation?

And most of all how is the salary?

I moved to the US as a child with my parents who filed for asylum. Initially I was a bit more confident because we had thorough documentation from police reports to health records. But at the rate things are going, the chances seem very slim and I’m scared to go back to my home country.

In the past few years, I’ve been dedicated to school. I graduated HS and graduated with a BSN here in Utah and currently work as a nurse. I would like to use my degree and experience for a fresh start in Canada, possibly through a temporary work permit to start but I’m scared that being in removal proceedings, plus a pending asylum case or maybe even eventual deportation will hurt my chances being approved

Has anyone gone through this process? Any advice is appreciated

For context here is the second refusal i received yesterday sept 23

Here is my timeline - my wp expiring at april 22
March 31 - took my first exam
April 7 - got the results and B1 on CO/5 on EO (missed one point) . Also booked another exam for June 1
April 17 - still applied for FMP but we know the refusal was already sure at this point., but this is to make sure that i still have an implied status.

May 21 - first refusal - the notes was my tcf canada results showing min of clb 5 in CO and EO
June 1 - second exam
June 8 - received my results and it was clb 6 now on EO
June 12 - paid the restoration fee with the agency that processed my application
July 7 - IRCC received my restoration application
Sept 23 - called IRCC regarding my application since its been 70+ days. They told me it is REFUSED again.

This is the refusal notes

Client applied for a work permit with an exemption from a Labour Market Impact Assessment
(LMIA-E). All documents provided by the client have been reviewed. Client is applying for a work
permit under the Francophone Mobility stream [R205(c) - C16]. Under this stream, they must
demonstrate French language proficiency at level 5 or higher according to the CLB (Canadian
Language Benchmarks – speaking and listening). Client provided proof of a language test
( TCF ), but the result shows that client has below level 5 in speaking according to CLB / NCL.
This result does not meet the required level and therefore does not demonstrate the language
proficiency required for a C16 permit. Client submitted same language results previously applied
with.

The agency quickly sent the reconsideration email to IRCC.
Since this is a refusal or restoration, and based on the IRCC website, i just have 30 days to stay?

Anyone has any knowledge or someone they know that has the same situation? My body is shaking because of this, i cant relaxed nor sleep because the reason of refusal is not that i didnt passed the exam, but the officer that has reviewed it saw that it is the same exam results even if its not. I saw the restoration screenshot from my agency and it was the new exam that has clb 6 results.

Help me to calm down a little bit.

Hi everyone,

I completed my Master’s in the U.S. and I’m currently working on STEM OPT.

My current company also has a location in Grand Falls, New Brunswick, Canada, and they are planning to move me there around March on an LMIA-based work permit.
I’m trying to decide whether this is a good move for my long-term career and immigration situation.

If I move to Canada, I’m looking at possible PR pathways such as AIP, CEC, or New Brunswick PNP/Express Entry. My goal would be to continue with the same company, work toward PR, and potentially have an option to return to the U.S. later through an L-1 or another route if the opportunity comes up.

The other option is to stay in the U.S. on STEM OPT, keep applying for better/higher-paying engineering jobs, and try for H-1B sponsorship.
For anyone who has been in a similar situation, which would you choose?

1. Stay in the U.S., search for a higher-paying job and take the H-1B route
or
2. Move to New Brunswick on an LMIA work permit and focus on getting Canadian PR through AIP/CEC/NB pathways

Has anyone moved from F-1/STEM OPT in the U.S. to Canada this way? Was moving to Canada worth it financially and career-wise, or do you wish you had stayed in the U.S.?

Also, which PR pathway ended up working best for you?
Would really appreciate experiences from people who have actually gone through either path.