Archive for category: Work Permits

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Success: PGWP (3 year) after refusal

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At Clarke Immigration Law (CIL), we love helping international students and graduates reach their immigration goals. We have extensive experience dealing with complex immigration challenges, including Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) refusals, study permit complications, and study gaps during academic programs. These cases often require careful legal assessment and a strong understanding of IRCC decision-making. Many international students try to do these applications by themselves and we are seeing an increase in refusals from IRCC.

Students who receive an IRCC refusal face a stressful situation. Canadian immigration rules allow students one chance to fix their situation. Typically, if the applicant receives a 2nd refusal, they may be ordered to leave Canada immediately.

In this case, we assisted the student who had previously been refused a PGWP due to a lengthy study gap during their university studies in Canada. IRCC may refuse the application if they have a lengthy gap in their studies. The student made the right choice and retained CIL to help with the 2nd application. We worked with the client and put together a strong package for the IRCC Officer. After our involvement and hard work, the client was approved and issued a full three-year PGWP, allowing them to begin full-time work in Canada. We love positive results! We got the absolutely best result for our client. Congratulation!

BACKGROUND & MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES

Our client completed a Bachelor’s degree at a recognized university after several years of study as an international student.

The application history included several important factors:

  • A study gap during one academic semester;
  • A prior PGWP refusal related to a significant gap during the study period;
  • Mental health challenges during the academic period; and,
  • A temporary return to the home country during recovery.

PGWP eligibility is generally assessed based on study history, and gaps or interruptions in studies can impact application outcomes.

Many international students face mental health issues. They are in Canada, often with minimal support, separated from family and relatives. IRCC Officers have limited discretionary powers to review these types of issues.

HOW WE HELPED – STATUTORY DECLARATION

Every client at CIL has support from an experienced team of professionals. In this case, our team supported the client through the preparation and submission of a strong package to IRCC. Our PGWP application also addresses all the concerns by the IRCC Officer who refused the initial PGWP application. It is vitally important to not ignore the previous Officer’s decision. Reversing a decision is very difficult.

IRCC recognizes very levels of evidence. Applicants may include a letter of explanation. These are often given low weight. Lawyers have the power to draft Statutory Declarations, that may be notarized and sworn. Sworn documents are often given high weight and may be very persuasive to the Officer.

In this case, we worked many hours with our client to draft a strong Statutory Declaration. We were able to put together a strong application that addressed all the issues with the client’s academic history, study interruption, and situation.

TIMELINE

  • August 2019 – Study Permit issued
  • 2020–2022 – COVID-19 academic disruptions
  • Fall 2022 – Onset of mental health challenges
  • Winter 2023 – Study gap during university program
  • April 2023 – Medical treatment initiated
  • Fall 2023 – Return to studies in Canada
  • June 2025 – Degree requirements completed, student submitted PGWP without professional help
  • August 2025 – First PGWP application refused; client contacted CIL for assistance and booked a basic consultation
  • August 2025 – Client retained the team at CIL to prepare and submit 2nd PGWP application (urgent)
  • Late August 2025 – The team at CIL spent many hours reviewing the IRCC refusal, the applicant’s documents and drafted a Statutory Declaration on behalf of client.
    • CIL submitted the PGWP application through the IRCC Authorized Representative Portal (ARP) (within 180 days)
  • March 2026 – PGWP approved (three-year open work permit issued).

OUTCOME & RECOMMENDATIONS

As noted above, the PGWP application was approved, and the client was granted a three-year PGWP – the maximum work permit allowed by IRCC.

Obviously, our client was extremely happy with the result. The team at CIL got the best positive result after a difficult situation. This approval allows the client to pursue full-time employment in Canada and continue building their long-term career in the country.

CIL was able to achieve this outcome based on the following 3 main points:

  1. Strong STATUTORY DECLARATION
  2. Address the IRCC Officer’s concerns from the 1st refusal
  3. Submit the application through the IRCC ARP to give the application the best possible chance

TAKEAWAY

Each immigration case is assessed individually based on its own facts and circumstances.

At CIL, we assist clients with a wide range of Canadian immigration matters, including PGWP refusals, study interruptions, and PGWP applications.

A prior refusal does not automatically determine the outcome of a future application. With a properly presented case and full consideration of the individual circumstances, positive results may still be possible. Immigration lawyers offer services that are not available to agents or consultants. Lawyers are granted powers that give clients the best possible chance.

Every case is unique, and outcomes depend on individual circumstances and eligibility under IRCC guidelines.

 

Success: PGWP (Part time student) + Restoration

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The vast majority of international students come to Canada with the goal of achieving PR status. As we have reported, we have helped many students successfully go through the steps from Study Permit to PGWP to MPNP to PR status. We love helping students achieve their goals. Alastair Clarke’s father was a professor and his spouse is also a professor. We have strong ties to universities and DLIs.

In this case, our client initially applied for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) on their own; however, the application was refused. The refusal from IRCC was based on the Officer’s determination that the client was a part-time student during multiple academic semesters. This is a common problem with many international students and it is very common they fail to properly explain their circumstances to the Officer. The Officer had many concerns regarding our client’s PGWP eligibility.

To review, an applicant for a PGWP application must complete the following:

  • Completed a study program of a minimum of 8 months at a DLI and the program must be PGWP-eligible
  • Provide proof that studies have been completed
  • Comply with language requirements
  • Complete a study program that meets the study program requirements
  • Apply within 180 days of completing study program
  • Confirm valid temporary status
  • Submit relevant supporting documents

To be eligible for a PGWP, international students must meet the above requirements that include completing an eligible program of at least eight months at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) and maintaining full-time student status. For students who do not meet the above, we help them apply under the limited exceptions.

We have been helping students for many years and we have seen many changes to the PGWP program. In 2026, we have seen a significant increase in IRCC refusals. Many students seek our help to fix their situation after a refusal and we have been successful in most cases.

Restoration of Status & New PGWP Application

In this case, our client’s PGWP application was refused. Following the refusal, the client consulted with our office in December 2025 and retained our services shortly after.

As the refusal also resulted in a loss of status in Canada, the appropriate legal strategy was to submit a Restoration of Status application together with a new PGWP application. Under immigration regulations, restoration must be submitted within 90 days of losing status.

Building a Strong PGWP Application

In January 2026, our team conducted a detailed review of the client’s academic history. Ghislene worked closely with this client and his family to make sure we addressed all the IRCC Officer’s concerns and she worked with our client to draft a strong explanation. We gathered all relevant documentation and prepared a comprehensive explanation addressing the periods of part-time studies, including the specific circumstances surrounding those semesters.

Our goal was to clearly demonstrate that, despite the part-time periods, the client met the intent and requirements of the PGWP program.

The complete application package was submitted in February 2026.

PGWP APPROVAL

We are pleased to share that the application was approved in March 2026.

IRCC reviewed the additional package prepared and submitted by our office and updated the client’s initial application accordingly, ultimately granting our client a three-year Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).

For a case involving both Restoration of Status and a new PGWP application after refusal, this was a remarkably fast processing time compared to similar cases.

PROCESSING TIME COMPARISON

  • IRCC Work Permit inside Canada processing time: 259 days
  • Typical Restoration of Status + PGWP processing time: Several months, according to similar cases
  • Our client’s processing time: Approximately 1 month

This highlights how a well-prepared PGWP application after refusal can significantly impact processing efficiency. We do our best to prepare a strong package so our clients’ applications are approved as quickly as possible.

APPLICATION TIMELINE

  • December 2025– Consultation
  • December 2025– Client retained CIL to prepare and submit the PGWP application
  • January 2026– Full file review and preparation of supporting documentation
  • February 2026– PGWP + Restoration of Status application submitted
  • March 2026– PGWP approved

RECOMMENDATION: What to Do After a PGWP Refusal

If your PGWP application has been refused due to part-time studies, you may still have options.

It is critical to act quickly, as restoration of status must be filed within 90 days. This is a fixed deadline that cannot be extended. If the applicant submits the package after 91 days, it will not be accepted by IRCC. A strong application addressing the reasons for part-time enrollment, supported by proper documentation and legal submissions, can significantly improve your chances of approval.

Seeking professional guidance ensures that your application is strategically prepared, complete, and aligned with immigration requirements.

 

 

Success: AIP & OWP

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The Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C) application is an option of last resort for foreigners in Canada who have strong reasons to stay in Canada and they have no other choice. This is a long and uncertain process. During extended processing times, we recommend that applicants, whenever possible maintain valid status while their applicatin is process to avoid potential removal (eg. deportation). The team at CIL tried to find creative paths for work authorization from IRCC so they may support their families.

This success story highlights how careful planning and timely applications allowed our client to secure and extend work authorization while awaiting the final outcome of her H&C application.

Background

Our client moved to Canada with her son in 2019. After residing in Canada for several years and establishing strong ties to Manitoba, our office was retained to assist this family. We submitted the H&C application in December 2022. As is common with H&C applications, processing times were lengthy, and the client remained in Canada while awaiting a decision.

Approval in Principle and Initial Work Permit

In July 2024, the client received a positive Approval in Principle (AIP) on her H&C application.

Approval in Principle means that IRCC has completed the assessment of the applicant’s eligibility and humanitarian factors and has determined that the application meets the requirements in principle. While permanent residence is not yet finalized at this stage, AIP allows the applicant to remain in Canada lawfully and, in many cases, apply for a work permit while background and admissibility checks continue.

Our office assisted with the work permit application, which was approved in September 2024, granting authorization to work in Canada until April 2026. This approval provided the client with stability, lawful status, and the ability to support herself and her child while remaining in Canada.

Work Permit (22 days)

The goal of the team at CIL is to make sure our clients have the best chance at success.

  • January 13, 2026 – Work permit extension application submitted
  • February 4, 2026 – Work permit approved, extending authorization until February 2028

The extension was approved without interruption to the client’s ability to work in Canada.

This outcome ensured the client’s continued ability to live and work in Canada while awaiting the final decision on her humanitarian application, providing stability for both her and her child.

This case demonstrates that:

  • Approval in Principle under an H&C application can open the door to work authorization
  • Timely work permit and extension applications are critical during long processing periods
  • Maintaining valid status requires careful monitoring of expiry dates and eligibility
  • Strategic legal support can help avoid gaps in status and employment authorization

If you have an ongoing Humanitarian and Compassionate application and are unsure about work permit eligibility or extensions, professional guidance can be essential to protecting your ability to remain and work in Canada.

Success: PGWP (new rules)

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The team at CIL has helped many international students obtain Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWP) after they complete their studies. There have been many recent changes to the PGWP program, including new restrictions. We have seen many PGWP refusals from students who are not aware of the new rules and they are not careful.

In this case, our client came to us after a lengthy gap in his studies. PGWP applications may be challenging when a student’s academic history includes gaps or leaves of absence. Even short interruptions may raise eligibility concerns under IRCC rules.

This success story demonstrates how professional help, including strong legal analysis and good evidence, helped secure a PGWP for our client. We were able to help our client explain the reasons for his academic leave, issues with his family and his medical issues. We have to balance the duty to disclose all relevant evidence with our client’s right to privacy. This can be very tricky and it requires extension knowledge regarding how IRCC Officers process Work Permit applications.

Background

Our client arrived in Canada in August 2018 as an international student on a Study Permit. He pursued a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Economics at the University of Manitoba and consistently maintained valid status. He successfully obtained multiple Study Permits from inside Canada; however, he had many issues during his studies and he knew there was a high chance of a PGWP refusal.

Our client did the right thing and sought professional help. He did not wait for a refusal. This was his first Post-Graduation Work Permit application, and he had no previous IRPA violations.

We have helped many students get PGWPs after they finish their studies:

PGWP (PART TIME STUDENT)

PGWP (FAST PROCESSING)

LONG PGWPs

PGWP & RESTORATION

The Challenge – Leave of Absence

In Fall 2022, the client faced exceptional personal circumstances. While studying in Canada, his father experienced serious medical complications requiring emergency hospitalization and ongoing medical care. Due to the severity of the situation and postponed medical procedures, the client made the difficult decision to return to his home country to provide family support.

As a result, he took an academic leave during the Fall 2022 semester. This raised potential PGWP eligibility concerns, as IRCC generally requires continuous full-time studies and closely examines any academic interruptions.

Timeline of Key Events

  • August 2018 – Client arrived in Canada as an international student
  • Fall 2021 – Began Bachelor of Arts (Economics) program at the University of Manitoba as a full-time student
  • October–December 2022 – Temporary return to Bangladesh due to family medical emergency; academic leave during Fall 2022
  • January 2023 – Returned to Canada and resumed full-time studies without requiring a new Letter of Acceptance
  • 2024 – Successfully completed study program
  • March 2025 – PGWP application submitted with statutory declaration and legal submission
  • January 2026 – PGWP approved!

Key Legal Considerations & Our Approach

Clarke Immigration Law conducted a detailed legal assessment to determine whether the academic leave could be treated as “authorized leave” per IRCC policies and regulations. The analysis focused on the duration of the leave, the family medical emergency, and the client’s continuous compliance with study permit conditions before and after the interruption.

Based on these particular circumstances, we argued the leave was temporary in nature, supported by credible medical documentation. Our client promptly returned to Canada and to resume his studies at the DLI. The client completed his degree without further interruptions and maintained valid temporary resident status throughout.

Legal Strategy

Our team prepared a comprehensive statutory declaration and legal submission, directly linking the facts of the case to IRCC policy on authorized academic leave. The submission clearly demonstrated:

  • Our client’s academic leave met the legal definition as authorized leave
  • Our client remained in compliance per study permit requirements (IRPA)
  • No prior refusals or previous immigration violations
  • Our client had a strong academic record and genuine intent to work in Canada and support a Manitoban business.

The case was presented in a clear, structured, and policy-driven manner, allowing the officer to fully understand the context and exercise discretion appropriately.

IRCC accepted the explanation and supporting evidence, confirming that the temporary academic leave did not break PGWP eligibility and met the criteria for authorized leave.

The Result: Post-Graduation Work Permit approved!

Feedback from Client

Our client is, of course, extremely happy that he obtained a positive result. His reply:

Thank you so much for the update. It was a huge relief.. i was so worried. Thank you so much.

Conclusion

This case confirms that a temporary academic leave does not automatically prevent PGWP approval. When a leave is limited in duration, properly explained, and supported by evidence, IRCC may recognize it as authorized under existing policy. Most importantly, this outcome highlights the value of clear legal analysis and well-prepared submissions. PGWP applications are assessed on their individual facts, and presenting those facts accurately and coherently can significantly influence the final decision.

If you are an international student facing concerns about PGWP eligibility, academic gaps, or complex circumstances, professional legal guidance can be critical in protecting your future in Canada.

CBA Conference: Updates from IRCC

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As noted, Alastair Clarke moderated a session at the CBA National Immigration Conference in Victoria, BC. The conference hosted more than 600 immigration lawyers and it was sold out. For certain sessions, the rooms were packed, standing room only. This is an indication of the many changes at IRCC, at CBSA and at the IRB. Many rules have changed. Many policies have expired or been amended. We welcomed Officers from many different programs who provided updates on the changes and they provided tips for professionals.

We cannot provide all the information from the multi-day conference. Each session was extremely focused and we covered many different scenarios. During the conference, Alastair Clarke was able to speak with IRCC Managers at different programs to provide guidance for our clients.

Here are a few key points from various areas of immigration and refugee law:

Changes to Study Permits

  • IRCC has made many changes to Study Permits and these changes have had a significant impact on int’l students as well as DLIs
  • IRCC is focused on reducing the population of temporary residents to below 5% of the population in Canada
  • Int’l students who change DLIs must submit a new SP from inside Canada
  • Study Permits will continue to be DLI specific based on changes in 2024 and Study Permits that include regions (eg. “Any DLI – MB”) are affected by the changes
  • IRCC will continue with the PAL system

Changes to Work Permits

Humanitarian and Compassionate applications

AI Tools and AI-Generated Content

  • IRCC Officers repeated that AI is not making final decisions on applications
  • The Federal Court provided guidance to counsel on the use of ChatGPT and other AI tools
  • NOTE: At CIL, we do not use AI tools, including ChatGPT, at our office

Refugee Claims

  • IRCC is focused on reducing access to the RPD
  • The Strong Borders Act may ban international students who have been in Canada for more than one (1) year from filing a refugee claim
  • There is a significant and growing backlog of cases at the RPD and all regions are affected
  • IRCC did not expect to see such a large increase in refugee claims made by international students

Inadmissibility and Misrepresentation

  • IRCC has seen a significant increase in misrepresentation (A40) and they have issued many PFLs
  • IRCC is sharing information with the USA and other members of the Five Eyes alliance to catch applicants who are not honest

There were many other topics covered at the conference, including LMIA applications, criminality issues, detention reviews and advocacy. We will use all the information covered to benefit our clients and help them navigate our complex system.

Presentation: CBA Conference (Victoria BC)

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On 6 June 2025, Alastair Clarke will be moderating a panel at the CBA National Immigration Conference which will be held in Victoria, BC. Alastair completed his undergraduate degree at UVic many years ago so he is very excited to return to the city. Chantal Desloges will be a speaker on the panel as well as a representative from IRCC. Here is a description of the presentation:

The Art of Staying Legal: Mastering Temporary Residence Issues Facing Your Clients
Room: Carson Hall C, Victoria Conference Centre, 2nd floor

This session will be offered with webcasting and simultaneous interpretation *

With Canada intensifying enforcement efforts and focusing on reducing the temporary resident population, maintaining legal status has become more critical than ever. This session provides an in-depth review of key issues surrounding temporary residence, equipping practitioners with the knowledge to guide their clients effectively. Topics include the impact of the cancellation of flagpoling, advising clients on maintained status and IRCC’s maintained status letters, and addressing challenges faced by Visitor Record holders due to IRCC’s shifting interpretations. The session will also explore the laws and procedures for restoring status and obtaining Temporary Resident Permits, ensuring you’re prepared to help your clients navigate these complex challenges.

Speakers:
Chantal Desloges, Desloges Law Group Professional Corporation (Toronto, ON)
Julie Campeau, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (Ottawa, ON)

Moderator: Alastair Clarke, Clarke Immigration Law (Winnipeg, MB)

If you would like to attend this presentation, I hope you are already registered. This conference is extremely popular and the conference is sold out.

For the full agenda and a list of other speakers and moderators, please click on this link. 

We expect IRCC will be making significant announcements during the conference. This is the largest annual conference for Canadian immigration lawyers and it is a chance for representatives to speak directly with IRCC Officers, CBSA Officers, policy analysts, Federal Court judges and other professionals.

We are hoping that Minister Diab will attend the CBA conference. She has not yet confirmed her attendance. She has only been Minister of IRCC for less than a month.

Alastair Clarke previously presented at the CBA National Immigration Conference in 2017. At that time, Canada was dealing with a crisis at the border with many refugee claims and he was recognized as an expert on the STCA. That presentation received strong support and he subsequently gave interviews on CBC News, Global News and many other programs.

CIL strongly believes in public education and awareness. There is significant misinformation online and many websites include outdated or obsolete information. Unfortunately, we regularly meet individuals who rely on bad information or incorrect advice and that may lead to significant problems.

 

MB MPNP Work Permits – New Policy

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It is no secret that the MPNP program is the best PNP in Canada. It is also the original, first PNP program. My kids may say that the MPNP is the “OG” PNP in Canada. I would love to say that MPNP gets special attention by IRCC based on the history of the program and the high level of expertise by MPNP Officers. They spend significant time vetting the applications. We have helped 1000s of people through the program to get PR status.

Alastair Clarke was in Montreal in 2024 when Manitoba negotiated the previous Temporary Public Policy for Work Permits. That public policy was announced in MAY 2024 based on specific program requirements at that time. We were able to help our clients get Open Work Permits through that program and then help them with PR status.

The APR 2025 program is based on the same public policy section of IRPR that allows Officers to issue Work Permits. That said, the APR 2025 policy is different from the MAY 2024 policy. We know that many applicants had issues with the MAY 2024 public policy and we met with many clients who received refusals from IRCC as they did not properly submit the application. This program opens on 22 APR 2025.

For this 2025 policy, we strongly recommend that applicants hire a professional for the Open Work Permit application.

Basis eligibility requirements:

MPNP candidates who meet these basic requirements may be eligible for this Open Work Permit application:

  • Hold a valid work permit that will expire in 2025, or
  • Held a work permit valid on May 7, 2024 that has since expired and have submitted an application for a new work permit under section 200 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, or
  • Held a work permit valid on May 7, 2024 that has since expired and have submitted an application for an extension of the authorization to remain in Canada as a temporary resident under section 181 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, or
  • Held a work permit valid on May 7, 2024 that has since expired and have submitted an application for restoration of temporary resident status under section 182 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, or
  • Were authorized to work pursuant to paragraph 186 (u) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations on May 7, 2024, and the work permit extension application remains pending or was approved, and have submitted an application for a new work permit under section 200 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, or
  • Were authorized to work pursuant to paragraph 186 (u) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations on May 7, 2024, and the work permit extension application remains pending or was approved, and have submitted an application for an extension of the authorization to remain in Canada as a temporary resident under section 181 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.

Additional requirements:

  • They had a valid Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program Expression of Interest profile on January 15, 2025, and have a valid Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program Expression of Interest profile at the time of this application
  • They were residing in Manitoba prior to January 15, 2025 and have continuously remained residing in Manitoba
  • They are currently employed in Manitoba with a Manitoba employer that is willing to provide a letter of employment*.
  • They are intending to establish in Manitoba as a permanent resident.

Professional Help

If you would like our services, the first step is to call CIL and book a consultation. We will review your situation, including the requirements. If the client is eligible, we can provide a quote for the necessary services. For our base fees, we have published our fees online to provide guidance.

CBC News: Americans seeking to come to Canada

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Alastair Clarke has strong connections to the USA. His parents met at the University of Chicago when they were each doing graduate degrees. His father completed a PhD in Chemistry and they moved to California for work. Mr Clarke’s grandmother lived for many years (until she passed at the age of 97) on the bank of the Mississippi river in Minnesota and he frequently visited his relatives. Currently, Mr Clarke has family in Connecticut, New York State, Virginia, Florida, California and other states. CIL loves to help folks in the USA come to Canada. We love to strengthen ties between our countries.

As noted in CBC News, there is currently a high level of anxiety in the USA. Many folks in the USA – American and non-American – are looking to Canada as a place they can find peace, stability and safety. We get many calls and we try to help as many people as possible. As reported:

An immigration lawyer, Clarke estimates he does between 60 and 70 consultations per month with people wanting to come to Canada. About five to 10 per cent of those calls before the election were from people in the U.S., but he believes those numbers have jumped to between 20 and 25 per cent.

“From my point of view, there’s a high level of anxiety throughout the United States,” Clarke said Thursday.

He says he gets inquiries from across the U.S., particularly from the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Florida, New York and California.

Indeed, there are many potential options for coming to Canada, although it also needs to be highlighted that many programs are difficult. 2025 is going to be a rough year for immigration in Canada. We have high demand and low supply.

These are difficult cases. Each case is different and there is significant misinformation online.

Please refer to our website. We do our best to publish past cases that includes processing times and tips. We do our best to help everyone, even if they can’t afford our fees.

Petition to save EESE

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CIL works with many partners and service providers in Manitoba to help our clients. Alastair Clarke regularly gives guest lectures to students at UofW, Robson Hall and he has helped students at the Enhanced English Skills for Employment (EESE) in Winnipeg. This is a valuable program for newcomers so they can understand how things work in Canada and, of course, so they can improve their English skills. As you can read from Alastair’s bio, he was an ESL teacher in Japan for many years so this program is close to his heart.

We encourage you to sign this petition to support EESE and similar programs. As stated by EESE:

The federal government has decided to cut funding for Enhanced English Skills for Employment (EESE) and similar programs serving newcomers with Canadian Language Benchmark levels 5-8.

If this decision is not reversed, EESE will close on March 31, 2025, leaving hundreds of newcomers without critical resources for language education, integration and employment.

This decision will affect many newcomers to Manitoba. These classes help students learn many aspects of Canadian culture, not just English skills.

As described in the petition:

Petition to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

Whereas:
  • Enhanced English Skills for Employment (EESE) has been instrumental in helping newcomers gain essential language skills and a deep understanding of Canadian workplace culture, enabling them to succeed in their new communities and workplace;
  • The decision to close EESE on March 31, 2025, will leave hundreds of newcomers without access to critical education and support for integration and employment.
We, the undersigned, Students and teachers of Enhanced English Skills for Employment, call upon the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenshipto reverse its decision to cut funding for EESE, which serves newcomers with Canadian Language Benchmark levels 5-8, to ensure its continuation.

We urge you to support EESE and hopefully the Minister will rethink this decision.

Success: OPEN WORK PERMIT (30 days)

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We do our best to share our cases with the public. We know that many people are trying to get information on IRCC processing times. Many people come to CIL and they want PR as quickly as possible. Or they want a Work Permit as quickly as possible. We do our best, of course, to prepare quality packages on behalf of everyone who retains our law firm. I have to highlight that we focus on QUALITY over speed. I have heard too many stories of an agent or an immigration consultant who gets an IRCC refusal and then they immediately send off another application. Sometimes they send off the same application with the hope of a different result. They do not put in the time and effort to improve the application or address the IRCC Officer’s concerns. IMHO, that is bad practice and it is not what we do at CIL.

In this case, we had an urgent situation. Our client needed to support his family. Here is the timeline to show how our client’s Work Permit was approved after only 30 days:

  • OCT 2024              Prepared supplementary document checklist, collected and reviewed documents;
  • OCT 2024              Reviewed full package, submitted OWP application;
  • NOV 2024             OWP Approved.

We have reported quick decisions before. We know that our applications seem to be processed much faster than average processing times. We have reported many past cases and we have seen the evidence.

Notwithstanding the above, we cannot guarantee that all our Open Work Permits will be processed in 30 days.

Currently, IRCC is reporting that AVERAGE processing times for this application is 169 days. We cannot guarantee that our applications are faster than average. Every case is different.

Temporary Status and PR Status

You can read past cases where our clients get PR status much faster than other applicants:

Each one of these applications is processed by an Officer at IRCC. It is important to focus on quality.

Triple Check System

CIL’s triple check system ensures that all applications submitted by our office have the best chance at success. Applications prepared and submitted by Team Members at CIL must follow our “triple check” system. This system ensures that every application is checked and confirmed by at least three people: the Case Worker, the Client and the Manager. The Case Worker prepares the initial draft and works with the client and supporters. All documents are provided to the client to confirm the information is 100% correct. The Manager reviews all the information to triple-check every detail before we submit. All applications submitted by CIL go through the triple-check system – including all packages to IRCC, CBSA, the IRB (all divisions), ESDC (Service Canada) and Federal Court.

The triple-check system requires significant time and attention. Most law firms do not put in as much time and effort. Our system, however, is designed to ensure that our clients are 100% fully aware of every document, every detail and every legal argument that is being made on their behalf. This system also ensures that the work product of each Case Worker is properly supported and CIL adheres to our team approach. This “triple check” system has proven to result in high quality work, a high rate of positive decisions, and a high degree of confidence with our clients.