Unauthorized Work - Inland Sponsorship

[QWERTYKING]

Hey. I got married in June 2025. Ontario marriage certificate came to me in mid August. Applied for PGWP extension as it was ending August 24. Just received refusal letter on December 31. Will apply for visitor record during restoration period.I need to continue working. I hope my visitor record doesn’t get rejected. And I hope I get my PR even with being out of status and while doing unauthorized work.  I read the public policy and I’m pretty certain that being out of status and doing unauthorized work is no factor or a very little factor to the consideration of your final inland spousal PR. How screwed am I?

 

[Copingwithlife]

Hey. I got married in June 2025. Ontario marriage certificate came to me in mid August. Applied for PGWP extension as it was ending August 24. Just received refusal letter on December 31. Will apply for visitor record during restoration period.I need to continue working. I hope my visitor record doesn’t get rejected. And I hope I get my PR even with being out of status and while doing unauthorized work.  I read the public policy and I’m pretty certain that being out of status and doing unauthorized work is no factor or a very little factor to the consideration of your final inland spousal PR. How screwed am I?

How are you going to continue working without a valid work permit ?
Your employer should have asked you by now for a valid permit

 

[Naturgrl]

Hey. I got married in June 2025. Ontario marriage certificate came to me in mid August. Applied for PGWP extension as it was ending August 24. Just received refusal letter on December 31. Will apply for visitor record during restoration period.I need to continue working. I hope my visitor record doesn’t get rejected. And I hope I get my PR even with being out of status and while doing unauthorized work.  I read the public policy and I’m pretty certain that being out of status and doing unauthorized work is no factor or a very little factor to the consideration of your final inland spousal PR. How screwed am I?

You can no longer work and are now out of status. If letter says that you cannot restore status then you cannot restore status. Once you get AOR for spousal application then you apply for work permit.

 

[QWERTYKING]

How are you going to continue working without a valid work permit ?
Your employer should have asked you by now for a valid permit

They only have the WP extension submission letter.

 

[Naturgrl]

They only have the WP extension submission letter.

Who is "they"? Wasn't PGWP extension refused so you can no longer work?. Do you have AOR? What is WP extension submission letter?

 

[QWERTYKING]

You can no longer work and are now out of status. If letter says that you cannot restore status then you cannot restore status. Once you get AOR for spousal application then you apply for work permit.

Can all the be done with is the 90 days restoration period? I will put in the spousal application this week. And the wait for the AOR (or it now the AIP?) then apply for the SOWP. But I need to continue working… I know it’s a major risk.

 

[Naturgrl]

Can all the be done with is the 90 days restoration period? I will put in the spousal application this week. And the wait for the AOR (or it now the AIP?) then apply for the SOWP. But I need to continue working… I know it’s a major risk.

What does the letter say because PGWP extension was refused. You cannot restore to worker. Stop working and restore to visitor if the letter says. AOR can take many months. YOU CANNOT WORK. If you continue working, you risk ban.

 

[QWERTYKING]

Who is "they"? Wasn't PGWP extension refused so you can no longer work?. Do you have AOR? What is WP extension submission letter?

They as in my employer. Haven’t applied yet for sponsorship, will do this week.

The WP extension submission letter the letter you get after applying for the PGWP extension, like an AOR.

 

[Naturgrl]

They as in my employer. Haven’t applied yet for sponsorship, will do this week.

The WP extension submission letter the letter you get after applying for the PGWP extension, like an AOR.

But your PGWP extension was refused on December 31 so Orginal letter is invalid. What did refusal letter say because once extension is refused you stop working and are out of status. You cannot get a WP extension letter for your employer.

 

[canuck78]

Hey. I got married in June 2025. Ontario marriage certificate came to me in mid August. Applied for PGWP extension as it was ending August 24. Just received refusal letter on December 31. Will apply for visitor record during restoration period.I need to continue working. I hope my visitor record doesn’t get rejected. And I hope I get my PR even with being out of status and while doing unauthorized work.  I read the public policy and I’m pretty certain that being out of status and doing unauthorized work is no factor or a very little factor to the consideration of your final inland spousal PR. How screwed am I?

You already gave huge warning flags given you essentially got married when you likely had no pathway to PR and right before your PGWP expired. You need to stop working. Your spouse can get a second or even 3rd job if necessary. If genuinely married and in a relationship that would be the solution on your situation. IRCC is vetting application very carefully these days.

 

[rasputinsminion]

would not recommend doing unauthorized work at all! While the public policy exempts spousal sponsorship applicants to have valid status at the time of application, it is not a blanket protection from all removal proceedings. So yes if you did unauthorized work or were out of status in the past, you are protected and you'll be fine, but it doesn't mean it will continue to protect you if you continue doing unauthorized work.

You should apply for restoration of status and stop working immediately. Apply for work permit after receiving restoration and AOR or AIP letter, whatever comes first.

You are more likely than not to be approved for restoration. Your spousal sponsorship application should also be approved, provided you can demonstrate that your relationship is genuine—so if it is a genuine relationship, there is no need to worry.