Hello, My study permit expiration date is March 31st and My course end date is April 11th. (I had to repeat a semester) and the current processing time for an extension is 146 Days according to the CIC website. To apply for a work-permit after my graduation, Do I have to wait 5 months for my new study-permit and then apply for a work-permit or Can I apply with my current permit which expires two weeks before my course completion? Thank you.
I'd suggest applying for a study permit extension immediately because you will have to (otherwise) stop studying your program on the expiration date mentioned on your study permit. If you apply before your study permit expires (and I'd suggest it asap due to the delays), you will be on maintained status.
An important thing to note: If you applied for PGWP on maintained status, you wouldn't be eligible to work until you receive the approval for your PGWP. You can apply for maintained status if you are okay with staying in Canada without working while waiting for your PGWP. However, if you would like to work, you must wait until you receive the approval for your SP extension. It would be best to consider other key dates, which I've mentioned below.
Your best action is to apply for an SP extension ASAP. Also, you have to consider the Study Permit expiration rules into consideration. E.g., if you applied for an SP extension in Feb ending and you received its approval by, say, the end of June (considering the current processing times), the new date on your extended study permit will be compared with another date (90 days since the completion of studies) with respect to your completion of studies. There is another rule: if your studies are completed before the date mentioned on your study permit, your study permit becomes invalid after 90 days of completion if it comes before the date mentioned on SP.