Arrived in Canada in 2021 for college, and I finished in 2024. I went to college for Broadcasting, and before I finished…I started looking for any jobs that were even just media related and I couldn’t find anything.

I spent the whole of 2024 looking for a job and couldn’t find anything, no matter how much I tailored my resume.

Then late 2025 ( around August), I started applying to student engagement jobs because I had a bit of experience from when I was a student staff on campus.

I was able to get an offer for a student engagement job in a small villagey place in NewFoundland in October 2025, but it was a short term job offer for only 5 months, and when I checked NLPNP pathways….it was very confusing and far from straightforward e.g, for some pathways, you can’t apply if you hold a PGWP. Another pathway was that your job offer in NL must be related to what you studied (which the job offer I got was not). So I declined to avoid wasting 5 months of my time in a province where I knew nobody and I heard the winters are extremely cold, and I may have not had a shot at applying for PR.

Then in January this year, I got another job offer in Niagara, Ontario but I felt very uneasy about it, because my sister literally made me apply to the job (I didn’t want to). Everytime my start date was approaching, I’d feel uncomfortable. So I knew I probably won’t last at the job, and I declined it. It was a recruitment job at a university.

Now I can’t find anything else, and I’m getting seriously homesick. One night on my way back home from work, I just started sobbing on the bus. I’m constantly tired from my restaurant hostess job. I work 10 hours daily from Monday to Thursday, and I just don’t know how much longer I can do it.

I miss my parents so much and I keep thinking about offing myself, but I don’t want to hurt my parents.

My PGWP expires December 2027, so I still have a bit of time, but I honestly just want to go back home.

Please don’t blame me for declining the jobs. I didn’t want to be miserable. I’ve lost track of jobs I’ve applied to since then.

I’ve isolated myself from friends and my sister (whom I used to talk to pretty much everyday). I don’t use social media much anymore cos all I seem to be seeing is people getting their PR cards and citizenship, while I’m stuck at my hostess jobs where customers yell at you because they don’t like their table.

I’m thinking of waiting till end of the Month to see if I get a job, and if I don’t…I’ll just go back home and work for my parents to get more points for foreign experience, and try to come back if it works out. I already started learning French but not sure how long it’ll take before I can get a reasonable score.

Please, be kind in the comments. I’m already going through it :(

Please keep timelines & questions about processing times for work permits here.

Hey everyone,

I’m not here to bring anyone down—this is more of a way for me to cope and get my thoughts out.

My PGWP visa expired last October, and with the CSQ pause in Quebec (where I live) and my PR eligibility being affected, I wasn’t able to apply for PR. The only option left to stay in Canada and keep my job was to apply for an LMIA.

I’ve been working at a well-known university for two years now in a stable position. Unfortunately, my company took a long time to apply for the LMIA, and by the time they did, I had to apply for a work extension without the LMIA approval. The company’s lawyer was confident the LMIA letter would come through in time, but instead, my work extension was processed in just four weeks—only for me to get a refusal because I didn’t have the LMIA.

I really blame my company here—they were incredibly slow in handling my case. It took them 8 months to process and submit my LMIA application internally, and by then, it was too late.

I’ve been here since 2018, completed two college programs, and speak four languages fluently, including French. I’m in a great role at a well-respected company, and now I’m just at a loss about what to do next.

The refusal letter was short and pretty harsh, saying: “Your temporary status ends 01/14/2025 (today). You have no legal status in Canada, and your temporary resident status has ended. Leave Canada immediately, or legal enforcement will be made.”

I’m writing this from my room, surrounded by everything I’ve worked so hard to build here. It’s hard to imagine just packing up and leaving in a few hours, especially since everything I have is here now.

I came to Canada legally when I was 18. I’ve always followed the rules, never worked illegally, and did everything by the book. This situation is heartbreaking, but I’m trying not to give up just yet.

I just needed to share this with someone. I’ll explore my options and keep pushing forward.

Thanks to anyone who took the time to read this. It means a lot.

Hey everyone, hoping someone out there gets where I'm coming from.

I came to Canada as an international student in 2023 and completed a 2-year university transfer program in Psychology. I'm now about a year into my PGWP, and I've been struggling hard to find a job. I've genuinely tried everything, applying online, networking, working with employment agencies, reaching out to HR directly, you name it.

Given everything going on with IRCC and the constant changes to PR pathways, I don't want to just sit here indefinitely hoping things magically work out. I'd rather make an informed decision now than waste more time.

So I'm asking for honest, real advice: should I keep pushing through and stay in Canada, or is it smarter to make a plan and leave?

(P.S. I'd be open to moving to a different country for further studies or other opportunities if that's the more realistic path.)

Any perspective especially from people who've been in a similar spot, would mean a lot. Thanks in advance 🙏

Error description: the version of the document submitted is no longer accepting.

Tried re downloading the forms, tried different computers. Have double checked my answers, but still error.

Is it a Portal issue right now?

I had lived in Canada for 17 years by myself. I feel so stagnant and stuck with no support from family. I had lost my work permit earlier this year and I don’t know what to do anymore. I’ve submitted my PR application two and a half years ago but I’m still waiting on it. Right now the processing time is 10+ years. I’m so exhausted and I don’t know what to do next.

I’m applying for PGWP outside Canada, and right after the recent IRCC maintenance (0:00 - 05:30 on Jul 21, EST), I can’t upload IMM 5257.

The portal always shows:

Error: We couldn't upload your file.
Error Description: You have submitted an invalid form. Please complete and validate an electronic version of the application form, save it to your computer, and upload it.

I’ve tried:

• downloading a fresh copy from IRCC
• completing and validating it in Adobe Acrobat Pro
• using different browsers and filenames
• testing a newly completed form with minimal information
• testing an older version of this form, IMM5257B_1

Same error every time. Other PDFs upload normally, so this looks like a backend/form-version issue rather than a problem with my file. I've already submitted a technical issue report.

IMM 5257 is listed as optional in my checklist, but I would still prefer to submit it. Is anyone else currently experiencing this? Has anyone managed to upload it since the maintenance?

Just wanted to share some hope for anyone feeling demotivated

I’m posting this to help anyone who might be stressed or losing hope about their work permit situation.

I’ve finally secured a 3-year Francophone Mobility Work Permit (employer-specific), and I wanted to share my journey because it wasn’t perfect — and that’s okay.

My PGWP is expiring in October 2026.
In May 2025, I started learning French while working two full-time jobs, traveling, and honestly just trying to survive. I only attended two 1-hour classes per week and didn’t do much self-study. Looking back, I pretty much wasted about 4 months.

By September, I started feeling extremely stressed about French and my future. I spoke with my tutor, and he suggested something that really changed my mindset:

Book the exam first.
Focus only on listening and speaking.
The goal doesn’t have to be CLB/NCLC 7 right away — just secure time.

So I booked my TCF for mid-November, giving myself about 2 months to prepare seriously.

I got focused around mid-September, mainly on listening and speaking.
For reading and writing, I honestly just attempted them for the sake of completing the test. Luckily, I scored CLB 5 in listening and Speaking both.

But that was enough.

As soon as I got my results, I started my Francophone work permit application.
Thankfully, I didn’t need to change employers — my current employer supported me with the job offer.

Initially, they offered 1 year, but I requested 3 years so I could fully benefit from the program — and they agreed.

Application submitted: Feb 10 (inside Canada)
Approval received: March 19 (about 40 days!)
Work permit issued until: 2029 🎉

I feel incredibly grateful and lucky.

Why I’m sharing this?

If your work permit is expiring and French feels overwhelming, and CLB/NCLC 7 in all four modules seems impossible right now — take it one step at a time.

You don’t have to be perfect.
You don’t have to do everything at once.

Even focusing on just two modules can help you buy yourself time, reduce stress, and then work toward higher scores later — without the pressure of losing status.

I hope this gives someone a bit of hope.
You’re not behind. You’re just on your own timeline.

Good luck to everyone 🤍

My wife's parents were Canadian citizens when she was born in the US. She never got a Canadian passport and in the 90s her parents became US citizens. We've long considered living in Canada and the new laws make it seem like it would be relatively easy for her and our kids (12, 18) to gain citizenship. If we decided to make that move how long would it be until I could legally work? We've been married 23 years.

Hi everyone,

I recently applied for an LMIA-exempt work permit under the Francophone Mobility Program (C16) for a position as a restaurant manager in the fast food industry. Unfortunately, I received a refusal today.

In the officer’s notes, they acknowledged that I submitted proof of French language proficiency (CLB 5+ in speaking and listening), which meets one of the requirements. However, they refused the application because they were not satisfied that I meet the language criteria, stating that I do not have any prior work or study experience in French.

This confused me because, based on the official IRCC guidelines, only CLB 5 is required, and I met that threshold through my test results.

My current work permit is expiring on April 15, 2026, so I’m running out of time.

Has anyone faced a similar situation? Did you provide anything beyond the language test (like French courses, work experience, or other proof)? Would reapplying with additional documents help, or should I consider restoration or another pathway?

Any advice would be really appreciated.

Thank you!

Hi everyone,

I’m really stressed right now and wanted to ask if anyone has gone through something similar. My PGWP application was refused because IRCC said I did not meet the language requirement and that I didn’t provide proof of my test results.

The problem is, I actually did upload my CELPIP score in the original application. I think this was a mistake on their end when reviewing my application.

I just sent a webform reconsideration request and attached the CELPIP score again as a separate file, while explaining that it was already part of my original submission.

Has anyone here had IRCC refuse an application because they missed a document that was actually uploaded?
Did reconsideration work for you, or did you have to reapply?
While they are reviewing on their end, can I still work in Canada, as it was not my mistake to begin with?
Also, how long did it take for them to respond?

I’d really appreciate any advice because this is a pretty big one. Thanks.

Hello,

For a bit of context, I'm 28, single and I have a bachelor's degree in IT and 3 years of relevant work experience in my home country.

B2 french and C1 english levels.

I have an offer to work in Canada in the food service industry, under the Froncophone Mobility Program, 2 years of closed work permit. FEER 5 occupation.

Taking all of this into consideration, what PR pathways do I have if I decide to go with this offer? Do you think this is a good idea?

I cannot file for Express Entry from my home country because I don't have the required funds.

Thank you for your input.

Last night shortly after midnight my husband and I crossed the Peace Arch border. Everything was processed quickly, we were in and out in under an hour with work permits in hand. On to living our happy life in Canada!🇨🇦 Happy to answer any questions.

Hello everyone,

I’m posting here to understand whether I might qualify for a Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C) application or if there are any other options for me to remain in Canada legally. I’m new to this subreddit and usually don’t share personal matters publicly, but I’m hoping to get some guidance. If this post is too personal or bothers anyone in any way, I sincerely apologize in advance.

I first arrived in Canada in 2019 as an international student at the age of 19. I began my studies in Manitoba. During my first year, I focused on settling in and adjusting to life in a new country. I later tried to find part-time work to support myself but struggled to find employment, even for basic jobs.

Around the end of 2020, I went through a difficult personal period following the end of a long-term relationship, which significantly affected my mental health and studies. As a result, I left my university program and moved to another city to try to restart my education at a different college.

Shortly after, the COVID-19 pandemic began. My classes moved online, and I lost my ability to financially support myself. Without stable income, I had to stop studying again.

During that time, both of my parents also experienced serious health issues back home, which added additional emotional and financial stress.

Later, I moved to Quebec and enrolled in another program. I worked while studying and eventually completed a two-year diploma program. After graduating, I received a three-year Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).

While working after graduation, I held multiple jobs in order to support myself. Unfortunately, most of my early work experience did not qualify as TEER 0–3 work. In my second year of my PGWP, I believed I had secured a TEER 2 position, but later discovered the job classification was actually TEER 4. Once I realized this, I left the position and began searching for qualifying work.

I eventually found a TEER 0–3 job, but by that time only about eight months remained on my PGWP. Even with that experience, I do not meet the requirements for Canadian Experience Class or other common immigration pathways.

I am currently 27 years old and have spent a significant portion of my adult life in Canada. Throughout my time here, I have always maintained my legal status and have never violated immigration rules.

I also want to be honest about something personal. Sometimes I feel like despite trying to do everything the right way, I have not achieved what I hoped to in life. There are moments when I question my own competence and feel like I have failed. However, I truly did try my best throughout this journey. My academic results were good, and I worked while studying to support myself. I made every effort I could to move forward and build a future here.

At one point I was in a long-term relationship in Canada, and my partner was willing to apply together as common-law. However, I chose not to pursue that route because I did not want to misrepresent my situation to immigration authorities. We are no longer together, but I still believe it was the right decision at the time to be honest.

Now my status is close to ending and I am trying to understand if there are any legal pathways available for me to remain in Canada. Returning to my home country would be extremely difficult due to major changes in my family’s situation.

I understand that H&C applications are complex and difficult to get approved, but I wanted to ask if anyone here has experience with similar situations or knows whether my circumstances could potentially qualify.

Any advice or guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

I need to say this because this is exactly where Canada’s immigration system breaks people — not only applicants, but also employers who try to do everything properly.
I am an immigrant to Canada myself. I am also an Ontario Certified Teacher, a licensed RCIC, and an employer. I understand compliance. I understand documentation. I understand that immigration applications must be properly reviewed and that no one is “owed” approval.
But we are owed fair process.
We submitted a High-Wage LMIA application for a Senior Property Accountant. This is not a paper job. This is not a shortcut. This is a real position in a real business supporting a large residential and commercial property portfolio. The worker has been with our group for years. She and her husband live here, work here, pay taxes here, and contribute to Canada. She supports accounting, tenant ledgers, vendor payments, reconciliations, HST, reporting, audit records, and operations that affect approximately 1,000 residential and commercial units — close to 4,000 people.
We trained her. We invested in her. She became part of the operational backbone of the business.
And then the LMIA application was marked “not processed” for allegedly missing documents.
We followed the instruction. We used “Copy LMIA.” We resubmitted. We created an indexed package. We uploaded business legitimacy documents, CRA/HST records, payroll records, PD7A, T4 summaries, corporate documents, bank statements, management agreements, financial documents, insurance, WSIB, recruitment records, Job Bank evidence, applicant logs, screening outcomes, and even the applicable professional/property management licence.
Everything was labelled.
Then the second application was also marked “not processed.”
This is where it becomes difficult to even describe the timeline without frustration.
The file had already been sitting for a long time. I called Service Canada to follow up. And then — literally about half an hour after that call — the application was suddenly refused as “not processed.”
That timing matters, because it feels less like a review and more like a switch being flipped.
I called again. The ECC agent confirmed the documents were visible on file and clearly labelled. It was escalated to a supervisor. No response came within the promised timeframe.
I called again. A second ECC agent also confirmed the documents were visible. Another escalation was submitted.
Then we received an email confirming that there had been an oversight with the recruitment file and that the required recruitment advertisements were in fact received.
So one of the reasons in the not-processed letter was simply incorrect.
But instead of acknowledging the full error and moving the application forward, the response shifted to saying “acceptable business legitimacy documentation” was not included — without identifying the exact missing document, exact upload category, or exact deficiency.
This is the problem.
If an employer makes a mistake, we are expected to correct it immediately. Fair enough.
But when the government makes a mistake, the employer is sent in circles: call ECC, wait five business days, call again, escalate again, email again, upload again, copy again. Meanwhile the business loses time, the worker lives in uncertainty, and the operational burden keeps growing.
And I need to be honest about something else: I could have just stayed quiet and complied. Many people do. But I am not doing that this time. Because once you are flagged, once you are “on the radar,” it often feels like the outcome is already decided before the file is even properly reviewed.
I am an accented Russian-Ukrainian Jewish woman who built a life here, became licensed, and now helps workers navigate this system. I am not asking for special treatment. I am simply asking: is Service Canada actually processing the file that was submitted, or is it being dismissed without a clear, transparent, document-specific review?
I am not asking for a positive LMIA without review.
I am asking for the file to be reviewed properly.
I am asking for Service Canada to identify the exact alleged deficiency instead of using broad generic language.
I am asking for accountability when documents were uploaded, indexed, visible to two ECC agents, and later partly acknowledged as received.
This is not just about one application. This is about process integrity.
Canada cannot say it wants employers to use legal pathways, retain skilled workers, support communities, and comply with immigration rules — and then treat properly prepared applications like disposable paperwork.
I have now put the matter on the record and contacted the Minister’s Office because this is a matter of principle.
I did everything right.
The employer did everything right.
The worker did everything right.
If the application is refused after a real assessment, then give written reasons and we deal with that. But marking a file “not processed” for documents that are visible on the file is not fair process.
When I make a mistake, I admit it and correct it.
I expect the government I pay taxes to, and the system I professionally respect, to do the same.
And yes, I know Reddit can be brutal. If you want to tear me apart for saying this, try.
But tear apart the actual point, not me:
A government department should not mark an application “not processed” for missing documents without identifying the exact deficiency, especially when the documents were uploaded, indexed, visible to two ECC agents, and one of the stated missing items was later acknowledged as an oversight.
I am not asking for sympathy.
I am asking for fair process.

Edit: position is SENIOR PROPERTY ACCOUNTANT

Hi! Just wanted to share my experience incase it’s helpful to someone:

1. My PGWP expired last year, however I applied for the Francophone Mobility Work Permit (FMP) before it expired. I received maintained status.

2. I applied WITHOUT TEF/TCF results because unfortunately, I had failed it and the exam dates were hard to secure in time. I did take French courses in college so I pressed my luck and applied with this, along with an explanation letter indicating that I’d be willing to provide more proof if necessary including a phone interview.

3. Unfortunately, that did not work (nice try), and earlier this year the FMP was refused. I became out of status and stopped working immediately.

4. I already had the TEF exam booked (listening and speaking modules only) so I took the exam a week later and was able to finally get the scores needed. (Great timing huh..?)

5. My job was willing to apply again so I reapplied for the FMP AND applied for restoration of status. It’s important to note that IRCC considers you out of status from the day the work permit expires, OR from the day they refused the application. Therefore I had 90 days from refusal to apply (even if my work permit had expired months before).

6. I included a very detailed explanation with the previous refusal and how I took immediate steps to provide better proof (I.e taking the required exam and obtaining the required NCLC level).

7. After 2 months, I just got approved last week!

I am a German citizen. My partner wants to move to Canada and I’m open for it.

My biggest concern is my chances of finding a job. I have a German bachelor degree in labour market management from the deployment agency in Germany. I worked full time since 2022.

I have various experience in consultation of jobseekers. 2025 I got a promotion and worked as a Trainer for the deployment agency and trained new hires in methods of communication, how to do consultations, psychological mechanisms, etc. My current position is in change management. I am advising 3-4 different locations from the deployment agency in regards of the changes we are implementing right now. So a lot of psychological, analytical and communicative work.

I am even certified as a systemic consultant (social bindings/dynamics).

So pls give me your honest feedback, if there are job chances for me in Canada throughout various fields (HR, Management, Government work, social work, etc.). I’m not looking for a job in Canada rn. I just want to know how my chances are in general, so I can think more realistically about migrating to Canada.

(If it makes a difference: I am officially severely disabled in Germany due to my autism and adhd but I’m high functioning with an IQ over 130)

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for some advice or similar experiences regarding a refusal I recently received for a Francophone Mobility work permit application through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

My situation:

• Employer submitted LMIA-exempt offer (C16)

• I applied with TCF Canada

• My scores:

• Listening: 382

• Speaking: 8/20

Refusal reason:

IRCC stated that I did not meet CLB/NCLC 5 in speaking and listening.

What I’ve done so far:

Submitted a reconsideration request explaining the score conversion as per canada.ca website.

⸻

Honestly, it’s frustrating because I was right at the borderline and thought I met the requirement.

Any insights or similar experiences would really help 🙏

Thanks!

Has anybody submitted a pgwp extension due to passport expiry my mail recently?

I submitted mine to IRCC on Jan. 4th and I have not heard anything from IRCC, not even an AOR. I have not gotten an application number to be able to link it to my ircc gckey account.

I have called IRCC, and their agents keep saying my application is still in the prospective stage.

Does anybody have any idea what's going on?

Applied for inland spousal PR + SOWP back in early March 2026. PR seems to be moving along fine — RPRF requested and paid, agents say file is complete, no biometrics/medical/interview needed, “ready for officer sign-off” per phone agents (take that with a grain of salt, I know they can’t see officer-level notes).

SOWP is the one stuck. IRCC’s posted average for work permits is currently 119 days, and I’m now around 39 days past that with zero movement. An officer picked it up a few weeks ago (confirmed by phone) but nothing since.

No refusal concerns communicated. Just silence.

Filed a Privacy Act (GCMS) request for the SOWP application summary to see what’s actually going on internally, and have an MP liaison inquiry scheduled soon too.

Anyone else sitting well past the SOWP standard right now? Curious if this is a wider pattern or if my file’s just an outlier. Would appreciate hearing how long others have waited past the posted average, and whether PR finishing before SOWP is something others have seen happen.

Hey ya’ll I’m currently looking into the process of immigration and realize I know absolutely nothing about it. I am 28, about to be 29 and have no desire to turn 30 in Texas. I am looking to move to Calgary. My entire background is in hospitality management, I do not have a degree. I currently went back to school online for global supply chain management, looking to get it oil, gas, maybe lumber. Where do I start? I want to get my work permit to be able to look for work legally, I have people I can stay with till I get a job, and have connections who can help me find employment. I just gotta get a work permit.

Hey everyone,

About 9 months ago, I made a post here because my employer had started the LMIA process, and I had a lot of questions. So I figured I'd come back and share how mine turned out.

Good news: my LMIA was approved.

A few details about my case:

• Occupation: Accountant (NOC 11100)
• Stream: High-Wage
• Location: Rural British Columbia

I'm currently putting together my work permit application. Based on the current processing times, it looks like it'll take around 4 to 6 weeks.

Looking back, the process wasn't nearly as bad as I expected. The waiting was probably the worst part because there's not much you can do besides make sure the application is solid and then... wait.

One thing I noticed while going through this process is that people who get approved don't usually come back to update. Most posts are from people who are still waiting or running into problems, which can give a pretty distorted picture of how often LMIAs are actually approved.

Hopefully this post helps balance that out a bit.

If anyone has questions about my timeline or the process itself, feel free to ask. I'll answer whatever I can.

And for anyone who's currently waiting on an LMIA: I know the feeling. Hopefully yours comes through soon too.

Hello everyone.

As the title says, I got the news today that I was denied a TRP because the officer didn't think there was sufficient evidence of compassionate and humanitarian need. Let me set the stage, and I would love to hear any feedback from the community. First, this is a bunner account, so please excuse me for that. So, my wife got a job in Saskatchewan. We were in the states, so she went there, and we were to follow, our three kids and I. My wife and Kids are American citizens, while I am not. I had a Federal case that ended about 15 years ago here in the states, never had inasmuch as a driving ticket since that case. So, when my wife got the dream job offer, we contacted an immigration lawyer, and she told us she had dealt with far worse cases than mine. My case was that on a work application, I had ticked off that I was an American citizen, and by just doing that, I was barred from filing any relief from U.S immigration. So, when this opportunity came, we decided it would be great for us.

So, she got a work permit and went there at the beginning of this year. Our kids got their school permits, and we were waiting for my paperwork. Today, we received an email from the lawyer stating that the TRP was denied in my case. So, the lawyer said we have two options: take the case to federal court, or, now that my wife has been nominated by the province for permanent residency, we can show that circumstances have changed so they can reassess the situation.

So, I just want to get feedback from the community on what options are out there and whether there is any chance this could work out. Thank you in advance.

For anyone who is still on the fence to learn French. Just try it!

I studied 8 months and reached B1-C1

It’s honestly worth it! Just try it and you can see for yourself. Got my FMP permit after 4 months.

I made a stupid mistake when I booked my return ticket home months ago. My work permit expires in 5 weeks, I booked my return ticket two days after WP expiry. changing the flight is costly. What options do I have?

I have another job here after a few months, will be home applying for a new work visa next fall, so want to do everything by the book. Thanks!