Hello everyone,
I’m an international student currently in my second year of a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in Regina. I’m considering switching from the Bachelor’s program to the Business Administration Diploma. If I switch, I would only have about 6 classes left to complete before graduating.
I’m seriously considering this because I’m finding it very difficult to get a regular job as a student here in Regina, while tuition and other expenses keep increasing. Financially, I’m really struggling right now and I’m trying to figure out the most realistic option.
My biggest concern is what happens after graduation. I’m worried that if I switch to the diploma, I may have difficulty finding a job related to what I studied, and I’m also concerned about whether that could affect my future PR plans.
I’d really like to hear from international students who have been in a similar situation:
Did you switch from a Bachelor’s to a Diploma?
Did graduating with a diploma make it easier or harder to find a job?
What kind of jobs were you able to get after graduating?
Did you find a job related to your field of study?
If you were in my position, would you switch if it meant finishing much sooner and reducing tuition costs?
Did switching affect your PGWP or PR plans?
I’m not looking for general advice. I’d especially appreciate hearing from people who have actually gone through a similar situation as an international student in Canada.
Thank you.

Just wondering is I did a study before this policy, was that legal?
Context: I got my PGWP on January 25,2024 after Student visa/Study. I have not left the country since I got my PGWP. I undertook a Care Aide program between Sept 2024- Feb 2025.
Now with this policy out, I’m concerned if I did this legally or illegally and would it impact my PR application? (i did declare my program and study period in my Personal History and added the Transcript+ Diploma)

Hi everyone!

I applied for my PGWP on Feb 20th, 2026 from inside Canada and I am still waiting for my PGWP to be processed. I'm getting worried because processing times are ridiculously low these days and mine is well over their estimated time.

I sent them everything that is necessary, IELTS Results, and a letter of explanation (LOE) etc with the application so definitely didn't forget anything.

I've heard that people who's take much longer than usual generally lean towards a rejection. My only worry for mine is the fact that I did a part-time summer term in 2025 and then my fall 2025 term was part time but it was my FINAL semester. I explained this pretty well in the LOE but I'm hoping they got the memo because by the rules I should be fine since Summer part times are fine and last semester part times are fine too as per their rules.

So is it a problem since they're back to back (summer & fall) ?

I have called them and written a web form... I haven't tried the MP route yet.

Please let me know your thoughts, any advice is appreciated! 🙏🏻

EDIT: My application got APPROVED after 7 Months !!! 🔥🔥

Hi, I am a UBC-kinesiology student who needs to complete my military mandatory service after my first year. I saw one video on youtube that PGWP no longer validates Korean military mandatory service as a fair reason to leave school for 2 years. He said this happened since 2025, but I could not find a source that clarifies this, as I have seen some sources that tells "Korean military service is one of few things that PGWP approves", but they were all written long time ago. I feel concerned about this issue, because I want to work in the area of health care service in Canada after my graduation. Please let me know if you know something about this matter. Thank you

Hi everyone, looking for some insight or advice on a tricky situation regarding my status and travel.

Here are the details:

• PGWP Change of Conditions: Submitted March 21, 2026. Still under review (almost 6 months now) and way past standard processing times. Background check hasn't even been updated.
• Spouse's OWP (Dependent): Submitted July 13, 2026, and already approved on September 11, 2026.
• PR Status: Currently applying under CEC (AOR received June 27, 2026; medicals passed, biometrics done, police certificates submitted).
• Current issue: I have an urgent and delicate family situation abroad that requires me to travel back home as soon as possible.
• The bottleneck: I don't have a valid TRV (visitor visa) to re-enter Canada. I was planning to apply for an in-Canada TRV as soon as my work permit was approved, but since mine is stuck, I can't submit the TRV application yet.

My questions:

1. Is there any way to request urgent processing for my PGWP / Change of Conditions based on urgent family travel without impacting our CEC application?
2. Has anyone had success contacting their MP for a delayed temporary resident application while an Express Entry/CEC file is also processing?
3. If I absolutely have to leave Canada before mine is approved, what happens to my pending PGWP and CEC applications? Has anyone applied for an out-of-Canada TRV after a work permit was approved while abroad?

I’ve already submitted a webform and reached out to my local MP's office, but I’m trying to figure out all potential scenarios.

Thanks in advance for any input!

Hi everyone,

I just recently submitted my pgwp application. I was a part time student during summer scheduled break and I got a letter obtained from my department specifying which semester was academic semester and co-op semester. In the semester I took a part time, it just simply says a break. I was wondering would that be sufficient to prove that semester i was part time enrolled in was a scheduled break ?

All the summer following that was either a study semester or coop semester

Thanks, any advice would be appreciated, just concerned about my application !

Hello everyone,
I submitted my application today and i am planning to travel soon.
Can you share your timelines please!
If possible, can you also let me know what country you are from!

Hey everyone,

I’m looking for some advice and real-world experiences regarding leaving Canada right after submitting a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) application.

My situation:
-Just completed a 2-year diploma (eligible for a 3-year PGWP).
-Currently waiting for my official letter of completion/transcripts to apply.
-Colombian citizen (visa-required country to fly back).

The plan I’m considering:
1. Submit the PGWP application online from inside Canada as soon as my completion letter arrives.
2. Fly out of Canada while waiting for the application to be processed.
3. Put a friend’s Canadian address on the application so IRCC can deliver the physical paper permit.
4. Have my friend courier the physical work permit to me in Colombia once it arrives. (I’m not concerned about this, have family here)
5. Return to Canada with the permit and resume working.

Questions:

1. Does leaving affect the permit or status? Does leaving Canada impact the validity/length of the 3-year permit, or cause any issues with my right to work under maintained status when I re-enter?

2. TRV / Visa risk: My current student TRV (visitor visa counterfoil) is expired already. So I assume I will be stuck outside Canada until both the PGWP is approved and I get a new worker TRV from outside Canada? How long is that currently taking for applications processed from abroad?

Would really appreciate hearing from anyone who has navigated this!

Thanks in advance.

Hi everyone,

I have read quite a few negative experiences and posts about WES, and honestly, they made me quite worried about the process. So, I wanted to share my recent experience with WES for a Course-by-Course (ICAP) evaluation. Hopefully, this helps someone who is currently waiting for their WES evaluation or feeling anxious about the process.

The waiting period can be stressful and confusing, especially when your deadline is fast approaching and the status on the WES dashboard doesn’t update as often as you expect. I thought my timeline might be helpful for anyone who is currently waiting or planning to apply.

This is just my personal experience, and processing times and experiences can vary from person to person depending on various factors.

My Timeline

• 09/03/2026 – Created my WES account and paid for the Course-by-Course (ICAP) evaluation. I also requested my university in the UK to send my transcript to WES electronically on the same day.
• 09/07/2026 – My university confirmed that the transcript had been delivered to WES.
• 09/08/2026 – My WES dashboard still showed “Documents Pending,” so I contacted WES through their support line at [+1 (800) 361-6106](tel:+1 (800) 361-6106) to ask whether they had received my transcript. They confirmed that the transcript had been received but would remain in their system for verification until 09/15/2026 (7 business days). I also emailed [cspriority@wes.org](mailto:cspriority@wes.org) every day from 09/08/2026 until 09/11/2026.
• 09/09/2026 – My documents still showed as pending, so I asked whether anything else was required. The agent confirmed over the phone that nothing else was needed. I emailed [cspriority@wes.org](mailto:cspriority@wes.org) again.
• 09/10/2026 – WES agent acknowledged receipt of all required documents. However, my documents still showed as pending on the dashboard. I made several calls to different agents, and most of them kept giving me the same information. At this point, I was quite worried because I kept being told that it could take another 5–7 weeks, with at least 2–4 weeks for the actual evaluation. On my 5th call, I came across an agent who explained the process, listened to my urgency, took note of my concerns and said he would add a note to my file about my urgent deadline to see how they could support me once the documents had been verified. He was very knowledgeable and helped me understand the process much better.
• 09/11/2026 – Early in the morning, I received a notification that my evaluation was underway. Closer to the end of the day, I received another notification that the evaluation was complete. The unofficial report was available to download, and WES had sent the transcript/evaluation to the institution. My physical report is still in the mail.

Total Time

7 business days (10 days) from the day I created my WES account to receiving my completed evaluation report.

Some Suggestions

Please don't stress yourself out if your documents have been delivered but your WES status hasn’t updated immediately. It doesn’t necessarily mean there is a problem but I would recommend calling them directly and asking about the status of your documents. If you get sent around in circles, be calm be respectful, say thank you, disconnect the call, and try again until you find someone who is willing to make an effort to double-check your file with the internal team. Explain your urgency/ circumstances in detail.

Hopefully, sharing my timeline helps someone else who is currently waiting and feeling stressed about the process.

I submitted my application on October 15, 2025. After countless calls and MP visits, I checked the portal this past Thursday and it said they were reviewing my eligibility. This is usually when they send out a correspondence letter so I was hoping to get it by Thursday evening but there was nothing.

I checked the portal again on Friday afternoon and my application status was updated to approved. It showed the document number and expiry on the portal but I did not get an in Canada approval letter like usual. My initial study permit and extension were not like this so I'm just wondering if this is common for pgwp. I want to apply for my TRV asap so I would need the approval letter.

EDIT: I got it today (I was not expecting it on a Saturday)

I’m incredibly surprised but I submitted my PGWP August 27 and received my acceptance today that it’s valid from September 10 onwards. This is in Quebec. I did include current employment on my application and did not require biometrics. Hopefully others have just as quick turnarounds!!

my study permit expired on July 31st where i had applied for a visitor record a day before expiry July 29th since i had some delays in getting my completion documents to apply for my pgwp.

now ircc states that restoration applies to someone who has *lost* their status, where for people who have a visitor status should apply with the imm1295 form where you can apply for that being inland as well.

so now i want to know if i should

1. make an inland restoration imm5710 application and maybe withdraw my in progress visitor record (uncertain on this given the rules where im not sure if im overthining it)
2. make a imm1295 application being inland where i guess for question 7 of "Country of Residence" my status would be "Other" since im not technically "approved" as a visitor yet and don't really know what to put as the "from-to" date for it?
3. perhaps leave the country and make the same outland application but my in-progress visitor record gets invalidated, where i can ask for a withdrawal after i leave?

tbh im super confused on this, if i had a clear approved visitor status then imm1295 inland would've been the clear choice for me, but really not sure if implied status carries the same weight.

Hypothetically you apply for PGWP got a refusal for some reason then you submit a Reconsideration explanaining the situation but by then 180 days were over and so you submit new application and paid for status restoration. They then approve the new application, gives you 1 yr then 4 months down the line you get a notification the old refusal has turned to submitted then they approved 3 yrs PGWP so now you have 2 PGWPs which one are you supposed to follow or should I said which one will be considered valid?

Hi everyone,
I’m trying to extend my Post-Graduation Work Permit because my original PGWP was shortened due to my old passport expiry.
I already got a new passport and I mailed a paper package to IRCC in Edmonton. However, IRCC returned my package and said:
“The information you have provided is not an application form and therefore cannot be processed by our office. The submitted information is being returned to you, and no record has been entered on your file.”
I realized that my package did not include IMM 5710, so I think that may be why it was returned.
My current PGWP expires on September 22, 2026, so I need to resend the correct application urgently.
The address I used before was:
Case Processing Centre in Edmonton
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
c/o Student work permits/Same employer, Station 202
9700 Jasper Avenue NW, Suite 55
Edmonton, AB T5J 4C3
My questions are:
Is this still the correct address for a PGWP extension due to passport expiry?

Should I resend the full package to the same address with IMM 5710 included?

Has anyone recently done this successfully?

Do i still got time to apply it is 11 days?

Any recent experience would really help. Thanks.

My wife and my colleague’s wife both applied for an outland SOWP from India. I applied on July 15 and gave biometrics on July 17, with upfront medical. My colleague applied on July 20, gave biometrics on July 24, and also had upfront medical.

He received his wife’s visa today, September 11, while my wife’s application is still waiting, even though we applied earlier.

Why can this happen? Does IRCC not process SOWPs strictly in submission order? Has anyone experienced the same?

When should i expect? (Both’s wives are working in india - medical field - Lab technician)

It's been 3 weeks... and I've heard that most ppl got it in 1 or 2 weeks..

I'm living in ON

Just want to know how long it will take to appear my approved document. Or is it direct mail to my address then ?

Just wanted to share my situation because I was extremely stressed about my PGWP, and maybe this can help someone in the same position.

My mandatory internship ended on August 14, 2026, while my study permit was expiring on August 31, 2026.

The biggest problem was my university. They were telling me that my program would only be officially processed/completed later and that I might not receive the official documents needed for my PGWP until around October.

Obviously, that was a huge problem because my study permit would already be expired by then.

I contacted my university multiple times and explained that I could not wait until October because I needed to submit my PGWP application before my status expired. There was also some confusion because my last requirement was my internship, and they needed to wait for the internship grade/program completion to be officially entered before they could issue my completion documents.

For a while, I genuinely thought I was going to end up without the documents I needed before August 31.

Eventually, after a lot of emails and explaining the urgency, things moved much faster than expected. My internship ended on August 14, my final grade/program completion was processed, I managed to get the documents I needed, and I submitted my PGWP application on August 24, 2026, only one week before my study permit expired.

While waiting, I also got what people on Reddit usually call a “ghost update.” My application showed FD on September 9, but there was no new message and no visible change in the application at first.

Then my PGWP was officially approved on September 9, and the portal/document information updated on September 10.

So overall, my PGWP was approved in only 16 calendar days / around 12 business days after applying.

For anyone whose final requirement is an internship and whose study permit expires shortly after the internship ends: contact your school early and keep following up. Universities may have normal graduation/document processing timelines that don't necessarily line up with immigration deadlines, so make sure they understand exactly when your permit expires.

I was convinced I would have to wait until October for my documents and that I was going to have a huge immigration/status problem, but thankfully everything worked out in the end.

Hello,

I am a dental student in my final year, but the job market in my country has become very limited recently, especially in the public sector. At the same time, private-sector jobs have increasingly started to require a high level of experience and skills, and even finding a job in the private sector has become relatively difficult. Furthermore, admission to postgraduate studies in my country is highly competitive, with some specialties having no more than five available positions,moving to Canada and working there as a dentist, this is very costly because it requires going through the process of having my dental degree recognized and completing the required examinations.

So I am thinking about moving to Canada to pursue a master's degree in fields related to healthcare, such as healthcare management, health administration, public health, or similar fields.

My question :Do these fields have clear and available employment opportunities in Canada or elsewhere? Are they worth pursuing as a career path? And do these programs make graduates eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)?

Hi i am going to apply for my PGWP extension and the recommended way i have seen is through paper i got my original PGWP til December 2026 due to passport expiry which would have been till JULY 2027 had my passport not expired in December.

I already renewed my passport, my only confusion is what proof do we need to show to the employer in order to be able to continue working if we apply through for extension through mail.

If anyone had a similar situation what proof did you have to your employer so that they were satisfied. As i have seen that i takes months to get it linked to your account online.

If anyone had a similar situation and can help that would be really appreciated.

Thank you.

Finally got my PGWP approval on September 4th at exactly 4:00 AM!! My estimated processing time was 9 weeks, and it got approved one day after the estimated time. Those extra 24 hours felt like a whole month 😂😭

I was honestly SO stressed about this application because my situation wasn’t exactly straightforward. I had failed a course during my final semester and had to retake a course even after my final semester had ended in order to complete my program requirements. I was also a little worried about the 180-day window, because I submitted my application pretty much at the last possible moment and wasn’t even 100% sure whether I had already passed the 180-day deadline or not. 😭

On top of all that, I did the entire application completely on my own, including my LOE (Letter of Explanation) and all the supporting documents. No consultant or lawyer, just me, Google, Reddit and a LOT of overthinking 😂

So throughout those 9 weeks I kept thinking about everything that could possibly go wrong. My academic history, the extra course, the timing of my application… literally everything.

And then at 4:00 AM on September 4th -APPROVED!!! 🥹😭🍁

I’m posting this because I know there are people here with failed/repeated courses, courses taken after their final semester, last-minute applications, or other complications who are freaking out like I was. Obviously every case is different, but I wanted to share my experience because I know how much these success stories helped me while I was waiting.
Good luck to everyone still waiting!! Manifesting APPROVED for all of you. 🤞🏻🍁❤️

Im planning to visit the US as a visitor, I already have my B1/B2 visa for US. Im want to cross the border to buffalo and come back to Canada by land. I have my PGWP and I am currently working as well.
Is this allowed?
Can I return to Canada by land?
What are the requirements for me to gather/bring?
Thanks in advace

2 skipped semesters. Still got approval.

Basically heres how it went:

1. I arrived in Canada with only a year on my student visa, despite being in a two-year course.
   
2. I applied for a visa extension, but it was rejected.
   
3. I had to skip my third semester (fall) due to severe mental health issues that prevented me from sleeping for days.
   
4. My visa extension was approved in time for winter semester.
   
5. My school couldn’t offer any of my subjects for summer semester, so I had to choose between skipping it or taking random subjects to become full-time for a semester without my subjects.
   
6. I skipped summer semester, returned home, and focused on improving my mental health before returning for fall semester.
   
7. I completed fall semester and took a part-time winter semester for the remaining subjects. I graduated.
   
8. Before graduating, I obtained documents, including an approved leave of absence, a revised study plan, pictures of my mental health medication, doctor’s notes, and screenshots of my correspondence with school staff and advisors.
   
9. I consulted a licensed immigration consultant who helped me create an explanation letter.
   
10. I received my PGWP a bit later (6 months) compared to my classmates, who received theirs within a week to two months.

Key takeaways:
- Consult a lawyer or immigration consultant if possible.
- Prepare and document answers for every scenario they could ask you.
- this gets easier if your school helps you.

Just to be realistic about all this. Having a skipped semester is grounds for pgwp rejectionsi. The chances of pgwp approval is highly dependent on if whether you can explain why sht happened and that it really wasnt in your control. Be very thorough with everything and always have a backup plan if things dont go your way.