PGWP refused after 2 years of full time study. URGENT- Running out of time!

[deanw1]

Hi! I recently completed a two year full-time Masters program from a Canadian university. I joined in September 2019 and graduated in the last week of August 2021. I applied for pgwp on August 31, 2021. On October 31, I received the refusal saying that my study permit had expired on March 30, 2021 and I was outside the timeframe for applying for pgwp. It also said that I must leave Canada. However, my initial study permit was valid till July 2021 and I had that extended in June 2021 till November 30, 2021. So, I was a full time student for the two years and had a valid study permit. The study permit too was renewed after the date they assumed my study permit had expired (but it was still valid).


I called up IRCC and they said that the visa officer had decided that I had completed my program in December 2020. However, my transcripts too mentioned that I had graduated in the last week of August 2021. I submitted a reconsideration request with a letter from my university saying that I was a full time student from September 2019 - end of August 2021 but they refused to change the decision. I'm not sure what I should do now. I have re-applied for the pgwp with more documents (letter from my university's registrar, letter from my research supervisor at the university, a letter of explanation). Is there anything else I can do? Do I need to leave the country or am I eligible to stay under implied status? What should be my next steps? My extended study permit has an expiration date of November 30 so, I'm running out of time. I'd appreciate any help in this regard!

 

[airforce1907]

You submitted a document they do not require for reconsideration. They rejected you because your study permit had "expired", not because you were a part-time student. Did you attach your renewed study permit in the "Passport" section when you applied for the PGWP? Did you mention your renewed study permit in the IMM 5710? I am not sure what your university has to do with the rejection considering you were rejected for "failing" to abide by immigration laws (renewing the study permit).

You need an immigration lawyer though.

 

[deanw1]

You submitted a document they do not require for reconsideration. They rejected you because your study permit had "expired", not because you were a part-time student. Did you attach your renewed study permit in the "Passport" section when you applied for the PGWP? Did you mention your renewed study permit in the IMM 5710? I am not sure what your university has to do with the rejection considering you were rejected for "failing" to abide by immigration laws (renewing the study permit).

You need an immigration lawyer though.

Hi, yes I sent in both my study permits to show that I had a valid status till November 30. I sent in the letter from my university to show that I was a full time student throughout the duration and there was no break in the studies.

 

[airforce1907]

Hi, yes I sent in both my study permits to show that I had a valid status till November 30. I sent in the letter from my university to show that I was a full time student throughout the duration and there was no break in the studies.

Did your initial study permit have an expiry date of March 30, 2021?

 

[deanw1]

Did your initial study permit have an expiry date of March 30, 2021?

Initial had expiry of July 30, 2021. I applied for extension in June 2021 and got the extension till November 30, 2021.

 

[airforce1907]

Initial had expiry of July 30, 2021. I applied for extension in June 2021 and got the extension till November 30, 2021.

That's weird. How can the Visa Officer randomly decide by themself that you graduated in December 2020 when you started a 2-year program in September 2019? That doesn't make any sense. Are you sure there were no any issues in your transcript? Are you sure all your transcripts went through?

 

[deanw1]

That's weird. How can the Visa Officer randomly decide by themselves that you graduated in December 2020 when you started a 2-year program in September 2019? That doesn't make any sense. Are you sure there were no any issues in your transcript? Are you sure all your transcripts went through?

Yes, I submitted all my transcripts. The transcripts also said that I graduated in August 2021. I didn't take any courses after December 2020 since I was researching for my thesis. Since thesis was a part of my program, I was still registered as a full time student. I spent all my time in the program researching as a full time student till I graduated after my thesis defence in August 2021. Could that have caused any issue?

 

[airforce1907]

Yes, I submitted all my transcripts. The transcripts also said that I graduated in August 2021. I didn't take any courses after December 2020 since I was researching for my thesis. Since thesis was a part of my program, I was still registered as a full time student. I spent all my time in the program researching as a full time student till I graduated after my thesis defence in August 2021. Could that have caused any issue?

So, your transcript was empty after December 2020? That could have been an issue then. You need an immigration lawyer, because this is complicated. How many pages was your transcript?

 

[deanw1]

So, your transcript was empty after December 2020? That could have been an issue then. You need an immigration lawyer, because this is complicated. How many pages was your transcript?

It wasn't empty. It said "Continuous graduate enrollment". There was just one page with details about all the terms.

 

[airforce1907]

It wasn't empty. It said "Continuous graduate enrollment". There was just one page with details about all the terms.

Yeah, you need a lawyer.

 

[Sb2021]

Yes, I submitted all my transcripts. The transcripts also said that I graduated in August 2021. I didn't take any courses after December 2020 since I was researching for my thesis. Since thesis was a part of my program, I was still registered as a full time student. I spent all my time in the program researching as a full time student till I graduated after my thesis defence in August 2021. Could that have caused any issue?

I think you missed some official letter in your application. There are many thesis based students, which got their work permit easily. and I know people with thesis, their thesis includes most of their program's credits and I think it is mentioned on their transcript. Something was wrong with your documents.

 

[Sb2021]

From which Province did you apply? Because if you were from QC, for sure you would need much more documents than PGWP to extend your CAQ, and if there were anything wrong with your documents you would know. Talk with immigration advisors in your University. Maybe you are missing a document regarding your thesis.

 

[deanw1]

From which Province did you apply? Because if you were from QC, for sure you would need much more documents than PGWP to extend your CAQ, and if there were anything wrong with your documents you would know. Talk with immigration advisors in your University. Maybe you are missing a document regarding your thesis.

I applied from Ontario. I talked to my university's immigration advisors and they suggested some more documents which I could submit. I've submitted those documents in a new application for the work permit. However, I'm unsure if there are any additional documents I should I should submit or is there anything else I can do in the meanwhile. I'm also not sure if I'm allowed to be in Canada on implied status or do I need to leave. The new documents I submitted:
1. Letter from registrar stating my full time registration.
2. Letter from my research supervisor.
3. All fee receipts stating fill time status.

 

[Sb2021]

I applied from Ontario. I talked to my university's immigration advisors and they suggested some more documents which I could submit. I've submitted those documents in a new application for the work permit. However, I'm unsure if there are any additional documents I should I should submit or is there anything else I can do in the meanwhile. I'm also not sure if I'm allowed to be in Canada on implied status or do I need to leave. The new documents I submitted:
1. Letter from registrar stating my full time registration.
2. Letter from my research supervisor.
3. All fee receipts stating fill time status.

Did you talk with any of your classmates in thesis based programs? Did you compare your documents with them? The best help is always the classmates with the same conditions.

 

[deanw1]

Did you talk with any of your classmates in thesis based programs? Did you compare your documents with them? The best help is always the classmates with the same conditions.

I did. They all received their work permits without any issue. The only difference was that I had dropped a course in the January 2021 term. Since I had already completed the required courses, I dropped a non essential course since it was interfering with my research. The course showed up with the status "withdrawn" on my transcript. They had never taken up any additional course.