Protected Person - Open work permit renewal
- Thread starter Anonymous2024
- Start date
I wouldn't recommend applying quite yet. Even though it feels good to be prepared, applying too early can actually cause some problems. When you submit your renewal, IRCC sends you an automated letter (IMM 0127) that lets you keep working for 180 days while they process your application. So if you apply now - more than 6 months before your permit expires - that 180-day letter will run out long before you actually need it.
The best move is to wait until about 30 to 35 days before your permit expires in June 2026. IRCC officially recommends applying at least 30 days before your end date. This way, you stay in "maintained status," which means you can legally keep working even if your current permit expires while you are waiting for the new one, and your employer won't fuss about the 180-day letter being expired.
My understanding is that this is not a big deal. You have maintained status while the application for the new permit is pending. You don't lose maintained status just because the WP-EXT letter has expired.
The problem is the wait is now so long - 210 days, was 227 a bit earlier in this thread - that 180 days isn't enough to cover it anyways. Meanwhile, being on maintained status means some difficulty with basic things like leaving Canada for a short work trip or renewing a health card (and my understanding is that the WP-EXT letter doesn't help here either).
Hence why I think it's better to keep the time on maintained status to a minimum, rather than potentially be on it for many months.
Finally, according to https://ircc.canada.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=1507&top=15 - you can ask via webform for proof that you're allowed to continue working, even if the 180-day letter is expired. So if an employer did make a fuss about that letter, you could get more proof from IRCC to keep that employer happy.
Thank you @abff08f4813c and @adamkw for your answers!
I was actually planning on taking a short trip outside Canada in May - based on your answers I understand that traveling before applying for the extension is better than after applying. Does anyone know if travelling outside Canada with the automated extension letter (IMM 0127) is allowed or would that create any issues for me?
I was actually planning on taking a short trip outside Canada in May - based on your answers I understand that traveling before applying for the extension is better than after applying. Does anyone know if travelling outside Canada with the automated extension letter (IMM 0127) is allowed or would that create any issues for me?
Since your work permit doesn't expire until June, it should be fine.
Actually I don't think this makes a difference. Traveling while the work permit is still valid is okay, but traveling once on maintained status is bad - once you're on maintained status you lose the ability to work if you leave Canada. See https://ircc.canada.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=190&top=17
In your case since the work permit is still valid for when you plan to travel (in May), you're fine. You'll come back with a valid work permit and be able to work until the new one is ready. The fact that there is or is not a WP-EXT letter shouldn't matter.
If, after June, you want to travel, it's a slightly different story. Note that the WP-EXT letter has this text on it, “If you leave Canada before a decision is made on your application, you will no longer be authorized to continue working.”
So you can come back, but you may not be able to work. This is the case even if the WP-EXT letter is still valid/unexpired.
Thank you for sharing! In this case it's best to travel in May with my valid WP, and once I'm back I'll apply for the extension immediately, about 35 or 40 days prior to expiry.
Why to worry about the work permit if you have the refugee travel document? You don’t need work permit to enter to Canada.
But the RTD doesn't give an automatic right to work in Canada, I think?
I believe the concern here was making sure that the short trip could happen without endangering the right to work (i.e. the poster didn't want to have to quit or take a sabbatical from their current employer upon returning to Canada, but actually wanted to resume working again as soon as the first day back).
Agreed - since the latest OP's travel is planned for before the WP expires, all is good. (Unless OP got stuck for some reason and couldn't come back until say July? Presumably OP wouldn't be so unlucky.)
More generally though, I would raise a point of concern. As I wrote earlier, the temporary extension - which is actually the WP-EXT letter - typically has this text on it, “If you leave Canada before a decision is made on your application, you will no longer be authorized to continue working.” So if OP's trip is delayed until July for some unexpected reason (when work permit is expired but temporary extension is in hand), then OP would no longer be good to travel and safely resume working afterwards.
That said, I've only had personal experience with the temporary worker version of the WP-EXT, so it's possible that the rules are different for someone who has protected person status.
It's just that the travel dates are coincidentally very close to the expiry date of the WP (my first WP and first time traveling with RTD) and I don't want to cause myself any issues.
I also checked what @abff08f4813c mentioned about returning to Canada with the WP-EXT letter and how I might not be able to work because of the statement mentioned on the letter. As I don't have previous personal experience with renewing the WP or traveling around the expiry date, maybe it's best to send a web form to IRCC asking about this to be on the safe side.
