pgwp- complex situation

[Joeh12]

Hi everyone,
My friend is an a complex situation. Her study visa is expiring on september 30, 2025, she had applied for a study permit extension yesterday i.e. sep 25,2025. She will get her letter of study completion by october 20,2025. Now if she applies for her PGWP( post grad work permit) on 21 October,
First: can she apply for PGWP on mainted status ( student visa applied status)?
Second: Can she work if she can apply for PGWP ( until the decision is made)?

Thankyou in advance

 

[Naturgrl]

This is a common question.
1. She can apply on maintained status.
2. No she cannot work if study permit has not been approved. She stops working on October 20.

In hindsight, she should have applied for a study permit extension months ago.

 

[Joeh12]

But can she start working if study permit is approved, also the ircc website states that you can only apply pgwp on a vaid status not on mantained

 

[Naturgrl]

But can she start working if study permit is approved, also the ircc website states that you can only apply pgwp on a vaid status not on mantained

Please show me where you read that about only applying on maintained status. Once her program is completed, there is a 90 day window to apply for PGWP within Canada.

So she can apply if study permit extension hasn't been approved but cannot work or wait almost the 90 days after program completion and hope extension comes then. If approved, she can only work if it is within the 90 days of program completion.

Right now, study permit extension processing is about 6 months so she should not expect to get approval in time for applying for PGWP in Canada. That is why she should have applied for extension months ago if she wanted to work once she applied for PGWP.

1. On October 20, she stops working.
2. She decides whether to apply for PGWP right away on maintained status or wait and hope she gets approval within 90 days. If she gets approval by October 20, she can apply for PGWP with valid study eprmit.
3. If extension is not approved within the 90 days, she applies for PGWP within that timeframe. But still cannot work.
4. Or she leaves Canada and applies for PGWP outland within 6 months.