Need Help/Guidance: Restoration + BOWP Pending, PR Medical Passed — Can I Work?

[Patoriku]

Mine took 10 months

 

[navidakbari]

Yes. Took around 8months to get it tho. I got the BOWP + Restoration approved the same time I received my EcoPR.

Thank you so much for your quick response. I just want to make sure, did you get the same refusal message? Since I've talked with a consultant and a laywer and they said I'm not eligible for BOWP + restoration. But I do have an AOR and a provincial nomination, which say there is no restriction on my employment. Here is the officer's note on my refusal letter:

"Your temporary resident status expired January 19, 2026. You no longer meet
the eligibility requirements for a Bridging Open Work Permit under Section 205(a) of the
Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations. Prior to resubmitting your application please
visit the Citizenship and Immigration Website http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/apply-who.asp
to determine the requirements for a work permit."

 

[Flicktzy1029]

Mine took 10 months

I remember you had the same application timeline as me. Apparently, they based it on PR processing movement. I had to endure not working for eight months during that time. Glad we made it.

 

[Patoriku]

I remember you had the same application timeline as me. Apparently, they based it on PR processing movement. I had to endure not working for eight months during that time. Glad we made it.

Yeah At some point I even just stopped caring but I am waiting for p2

 

[Flicktzy1029]

Thank you so much for your quick response. I just want to make sure, did you get the same refusal message? Since I've talked with a consultant and a laywer and they said I'm not eligible for BOWP + restoration. But I do have an AOR and a provincial nomination, which say there is no restriction on my employment. Here is the officer's note on my refusal letter:

"Your temporary resident status expired January 19, 2026. You no longer meet
the eligibility requirements for a Bridging Open Work Permit under Section 205(a) of the
Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations. Prior to resubmitting your application please
visit the Citizenship and Immigration Website http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/apply-who.asp
to determine the requirements for a work permit."

Hi,

I’m honestly not sure why your consultant or lawyer advised that you’re not eligible.

In my case, I had the same situation:

• Expired status
• Applied for BOWP + Restoration together
• Had a valid AOR and provincial nomination (No employment restrictions)
• Used the same set of documents

Despite the initial refusal, my BOWP and restoration were eventually approved at the same time I received my EcoPR.

The refusal note you shared is the standard wording IRCC uses when status has expired—it doesn’t automatically mean reapplication is impossible. What ultimately mattered was having a valid AOR and nomination at the time of reassessment.

I’m just sharing my actual experience, not giving legal advice. But based on what I went through, the statement that you’re “not qualified” doesn’t line up with what IRCC approved in my case using the same basis.

Hope this helps clarify things.