I contacted the IRCC agent, and she emailed me the below information:
Working while waiting for the post graduate work permit
You may be allowed to
work full-time in Canada if you are waiting for a decision on your post graduate work permit (PGWP) application and you:
- Had a valid study permit when you submitted your application,
- Completed your program of study, and
- Were eligible to work off campus without a work permit while studying and you didn’t work more hours than you were allowed to.
If these conditions don’t apply to you, you must wait until your work permit arrives to begin your new job. It’s illegal to work in Canada without authorization.
If these conditions apply to you and you need to show a potential employer that you’re allowed to work, you can do so by providing them a copy of
all of the following documents:
- Proof that you completed your program(s) of study, such as:
- the official letter from your school that confirms you’ve completed your study program, or
- an official transcript or a copy of your transcript from your school’s website,
- A copy of your study permit:
- to be allowed to work right away, your permit should say: “May accept employment on or off campus if meeting eligibility criteria per paragraph R186(f), (v) or (w); must cease working if no longer meeting these criteria”,
- A copy of the acknowledgement of receipt from your PGWP application, if you applied online:
- to be allowed to work right away, the acknowledgement of receipt must have been received before your study permit expired.
You can use these documents to work only until a decision is made on your PGWP application.
If your application for a PGWP is rejected or refused, you need to stop working the day we notify you of the rejection or refusal.