A graduate's study permit expired December 31 and the PGWP application went in January 3 — three days
after expiry. Could she work while waiting? The thread surfaced the exact rule that decides it:
- Maintained status requires applying before your status expires. The pivotal answer: IRCC's maintained (implied) status only applies if the new application was submitted while the previous status was still valid. One member in a similar situation had to tell their employer to pause their employment for this reason. Filing on January 3 against a December 31 expiry means no maintained status — and no authorization to work while the application processes.
- The happy-path counterexample. Another member who applied on time described how it normally works: you receive a WP-EXT letter (usually within about a week) stating you are authorized to work for any employer, any occupation, while the PGWP is in process.
- Don't rely on the study permit's printed date either. A member added that once the college issues the study completion letter, the study permit no longer functions as before — which is why the PGWP should be filed promptly after completion, not left until the permit's expiry date.
- What this means practically. If you missed the window like this applicant, do not work until the PGWP is approved, and consider whether a restoration-of-status issue exists — a question for a licensed professional.
Flag: members' reports conflicted, which is exactly why the apply-before-expiry rule matters — the ones who could work had applied in time.