PGWP Refused!

[Namratha_Kota]

Needed some clarity on my PGWP refusal.
My last date at school was on Dec 16 2024. I received the completion letter from school on February 5 2025 stating that my school ended on Dec 16 2024.
I applied for my PGWP on April 5 2025. As per IRCC, we have 90 days from the day we receive the official confirmation of completion. Is this the correct ground to deny the permit?
If anyone has gone through this please suggest the way forward.

 

[Naturgrl]

What was reason for refusal. Your study permit expired 90 days after December 16 if that is when you completed the program (not completion letter) so March 16.

What did you do from December 16 onwards because you stop working at program completion and can start working when you apply for PGWP.

You applied for PGWP without status and were not eligible. If you continued working then you were working illegally. No way out except talk to a lawyer but you were without status when you applied for PGWP and probably worked too. In April, you had to pay to restore status, pay PGWP and not work until approved.

You were rightly refused.

 

[Namratha_Kota]

What was reason for refusal. Your study permit expired 90 days after December 16 if that is when you completed the program (not completion letter) so March 16.

What did you do from December 16 onwards because you stop working at program completion and can start working when you apply for PGWP.

You applied for PGWP without status and were not eligible. If you continued working then you were working illegally. No way out except talk to a lawyer but you were without status when you applied for PGWP and probably worked too. In April, you had to pay to restore status, pay PGWP and not work until approved.

You were rightly refused.

Thank you for your response
But online it does say 90 days from the day we receive letter of completion from school. I only received it on feb 5 so technically isn’t it 90 days from feb?

 

[Naturgrl]

Thank you for your response
But online it does say 90 days from the day we receive letter of completion from school. I only received it on feb 5 so technically isn’t it 90 days from feb?

It says in the law. It is 90 days from program completion. Even your letter says December. Completion letter is not when your program completed. Get a lawyer to fight this because you are now out of status, cannot work, probably worked illegally and cannot get PGWP.

https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2002-227/section-222.html

 

[Naturgrl]

Thank you for your response
But online it does say 90 days from the day we receive letter of completion from school. I only received it on feb 5 so technically isn’t it 90 days from feb?

Also what did you do all that time between program completion and applying for PGWP because you were not allowed to work?

 

[Namratha_Kota]

Also what did you do all that time between program completion and applying for PGWP because you were not allowed to work?

I was under the impression that I could work until school shares the official confirmation! I stopped immediately when they shared the official confirmation and worked only after applying for my pgwp.

 

[Naturgrl]

I was under implied status! I had the letter from IRCC allowing me to work until a decision was made

I mean what did you do between program completion in December or even February 5th and applying for PGWP. Once studies are done, you cannot work until you apply for PGWP. Once you applied for PGWP you were given implied status until decision even though you were out of status and should have restored status first.

If you had applied for PGWP on February 5 you wouldn't be in this mess. Get a lawyer as you can no longer restore status in Canada.

 

[Namratha_Kota]

I mean what did you do between program completion in December or even February 5th and applying for PGWP. Once studies are done, you cannot work until you apply for PGWP. Once you applied for PGWP you were given implied status until decision even though you were out of status and should have restored status first.

If you had applied for PGWP on February 5 you wouldn't be in this mess. Get a lawyer as you can no longer restore status in Canada.

ok, thank you, I will do that

 

[Naturgrl]

ok, thank you, I will do that

If you worked from December to April you will also have to explain why you worked illegally as you couldn't without first applying for PGWP. You are in a mess.

 

[Namratha_Kota]

If you worked from December to April you will also have to explain why you worked illegally as you couldn't without first applying for PGWP. You are in a mess.

I did not work from December to April. I worked only until February 5.
I immediately stopped when I received the completion letter from college on February 5.
I started working again only when I received the implied status letter on April 6th.
Also, a lot of people I know worked full time until February 5 and were still granted the PGWP.
So on what ground were they granted if it’s illegal to work?

 

[Naturgrl]

I did not work from December to April. I worked only until February 5.
I immediately stopped when I received the completion letter from college on February 5.
I started working again only when I received the implied status letter on April 6th.

Right but you were out of status because your program ended in December. So when you applied you needed to restore status, apply for PGWP and not work until approved. Again get a lawyer to sort it out. Should have just applied for PGWP on February 5.

Also the school should be called out as getting no email that you had completed the program nor even a transcript before February 5 makes no sense. Most colleges have completion letters and transcripts within a couple of weeks. So not sure why it took them so long. Ask school why you received not one piece of communication or transcript for almost 2 months.

 

[Namratha_Kota]

Right but you were out of status because your program ended in December. So when you applied you needed to restore status, apply for PGWP and not work until approved. Again get a lawyer to sort it out. Should have just applied for PGWP on February 5.

Also the school should be called out as getting no email that you had completed the program nor even a transcript before February 5 makes no sense. Most colleges have completion letters and transcripts within a couple of weeks. So not sure why it took them so long. Ask school why you received not one piece of communication or transcript for almost 2 months.

Yeah I get that, I waited only because I was contemplating if I should take up another course. And also applied for a few courses. I later applied for pgwp only when I decided not to take up another course.
The only piece of communication I received from college was on feb 5 regarding the completion and to download the transcript. Will take this up with them.
At this point my concern is only to see if the officer can reconsider as my whole life has turned upside down

 

[Naturgrl]

Yeah I get that, I waited only because I was contemplating if I should take up another course. And also applied for a few courses. I later applied for pgwp only when I decided not to take up another course.
The only piece of communication I received from college was on feb 5 regarding the completion and to download the transcript. Will take this up with them.
At this point my concern is only to see if the officer can reconsider as my whole life has turned upside down

You need a lawyer. This will not get sorted out any time soon so you will be without status in Canada without being able to work for quite some time. Apply for visitor record if refusal letter says you can.

Find it strange because usually you can log into your account a week or so after the end of your semester and your transcript is in your account, sometimes completion letter there too.

 

[Namratha_Kota]

You need a lawyer. This will not get sorted out any time soon so you will be without status in Canada without being able to work for quite some time. Apply for visitor record if refusal letter says you can.

Find it strange because usually you can log into your account a week or so after the end of your semester and your transcript is in your account, sometimes completion letter there too.

Yeah, that's what I thought, but there was nothing there until Feb 5.

 

[Naturgrl]

Yeah, that's what I thought, but there was nothing there until Feb 5.

So when you talk to your lawyer ask about it. The law (in the link) says 90 past completion of studies and you completed program in December.