Detailed guide: Can you work full-time while waiting for your PGWP? Learn the conditions, benefits, and important considerations according to IRCC guidelines.

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The period immediately after graduation is the most critical time: you need a job to maintain your finances, gain Canadian work experience, and gradually prepare your PR application. Therefore, the question most frequently asked is:&nbsp;"Can you work full-time while waiting for your PGWP?"&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;According to information from RCIC RIB, the answer is:&nbsp;Yes, as long as you meet all the requirements set by IRCC.<h2>1.&nbsp; Can You Work Full-Time While Waiting for Your PGWP?</h2>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The answer is&nbsp;YES. IRCC allows graduates to work full-time while waiting for their PGWP decision, provided that you meet&nbsp;all the following conditions at the time of application.<h2>2. Conditions to Work While Waiting for Your PGWP</h2><h3>2.1. Valid Study Permit</h3>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Your study permit&nbsp;must be valid&nbsp;at the time you apply for your PGWP. If your study permit has expired, you are&nbsp;not legally allowed to work while waiting for your application to be processed.<h3>2.2. Program Completion</h3>You need to prove that you have completed your program by providing:<ul><li>A&nbsp;completion letter from your school &nbsp;</li><li>Your&nbsp;final transcript</li></ul><h3>2.3. Eligible for Off-Campus Work</h3>During your studies, you must belong to the group of students allowed to work off-campus without a separate work permit. The requirements include:&nbsp;<ul><li>&nbsp;Full-time student: Enrolled full-time at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI)&nbsp;</li><li>Valid study permit: Your study permit must be valid and explicitly authorize off-campus work&nbsp;</li><li>Eligible program:&nbsp;The program must last at least 6 months and lead to a degree, diploma, or certificate&nbsp;</li><li>Social Insurance Number (SIN): Required to work legally in Canada&nbsp;</li><li>Start date of work: You may only begin working after your program officially starts and when your study permit authorizes off-campus work</li></ul><h2>3. Receiving the WP-EXT for PGWP (IMM 0127E)</h2><h3>3.1. What is the WP-EXT for PGWP (IMM 0127E)?</h3>When you apply for a&nbsp;Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) in Canada, IRCC usually sends&nbsp;two letters to your online account:&nbsp;<ul><li>&nbsp;Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR): Confirms that your PGWP application has been received. &nbsp;</li><li>&nbsp;A temporary letter (descriptive: “Interim Proof of Work”): Used to allow you to continue working while waiting for IRCC to issue your official PGWP.&nbsp;</li></ul>In this letter, you will see the name: “WP-EXT for PGWP (IMM 0127E)”<h3>Explanation of Each Concept</h3><h4>1. WP-EXT for PGWP</h4>This is the&nbsp;technical code used by IRCC to classify this type of temporary letter.<ul><li>WP = Work Permit &nbsp;</li><li>EXT = Extension (temporary extension of work authorization) &nbsp;</li></ul>Note: This is&nbsp;not a new work permit, but a&nbsp;temporary status confirming that you are allowed to continue working.<h4>2. IMM 0127E</h4>This is the&nbsp;official PDF/form code assigned by IRCC for the letter “Interim Proof of Work – WP-EXT for PGWP.” &nbsp;IRCC assigns a unique number to each form, and this letter carries the code&nbsp;IMM 0127E.<h3>In Summary: Three Names – One Single Document</h3><ul><li>Interim Proof of Work &nbsp;</li><li>WP-EXT for PGWP &nbsp;</li><li>IMM 0127E &nbsp;</li></ul>All three refer to the&nbsp;same document; the only difference is the&nbsp;naming convention.<h3>3.2. Benefits of Receiving the WP-EXT for PGWP</h3>When you receive the&nbsp;WP-EXT (IMM 0127E) letter, you are entitled to the following benefits:<h4>1. Continue working legally while waiting for your PGWP</h4>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; You are allowed to work&nbsp;full-time legally until IRCC makes a final decision on your PGWP application, even if the 180-day interim period has expired, as long as your application is still being processed.<h4>2. Verify your work authorization with your employer</h4>If your employer requests proof of your right to work, you can:&nbsp;<ul><li>Present your&nbsp;WP-EXT (IMM 0127E) letter, or&nbsp;</li><li>Submit a&nbsp;webform request to IRCC to obtain a “proof of authorization to work. &nbsp;</li></ul>The WP-EXT letter serves as confirmation that you are legally authorized to work while your PGWP application is being processed.<h2>4. How Your Work Authorization is Determined</h2>Your right to work while waiting for your PGWP depends on the following factors:<h3>4.1. Meeting all IRCC requirements</h3>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; If you satisfy the requirements of full-time study, valid graduation, and timely PGWP application submission, you are allowed to work full-time legally while IRCC processes your PGWP application.<h3>4.2. Receiving the WP-EXT for PGWP (IMM 0127E)</h3>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Once granted the WP-EXT, your work authorization continues even after the temporary letter expires, as long as your PGWP application is still being processed.<h3>4.3. Compliance with work-hour regulations before graduation</h3>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;If you exceed the allowed work hours during your studies (off-campus), IRCC may consider this a&nbsp;violation of your study permit conditions. This could result in losing your temporary work authorization or even PGWP refusal.<h2>5. Why Working Full-Time While Waiting for Your PGWP is Important?</h2><h3>5.1. Financial stability after graduation</h3>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Working full-time provides a steady income during the transition period, reducing financial pressure immediately after graduation.<h3>5.2. Gain Canadian work experience</h3>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Canadian work experience is highly valued in both the job market and immigration applications. Starting full-time work immediately helps you accumulate these important points.<h3>5.3. Minimize work gaps</h3>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Temporary work authorization ensures you don’t face a gap between graduation and receiving your official PGWP, allowing your career to continue uninterrupted.<h3>5.4. Increase chances of long-term retention by your employer</h3>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Continuing to work without interruption demonstrates stability and commitment, increasing the likelihood of being offered a long-term contract or a better position.<h3>5.5. Strong support for your PR application</h3>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Full-time work experience while waiting for your PGWP can directly contribute to Express Entry, Canadian Experience Class (CEC), or Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) applications, forming a solid foundation for your permanent residency profile.<h2>6. Tips for Students</h2><h3>6.1. Apply for your PGWP as soon as you receive your Completion Letter</h3>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;You should submit your PGWP application as early as possible after receiving your Completion Letter to ensure your work authorization is activated on time.<h3>6.2. Keep complete work records</h3>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Retain employment contracts, pay stubs, timesheets, and other relevant documents. These serve as important evidence if IRCC requests verification during the application process.<h3>6.3. Comply with the 24-hour/week limit during regular terms</h3>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Before graduation, you must adhere to the maximum 24 hours per week for off-campus work. Violating this limit may directly affect your eligibility to apply for a PGWP.<h3>6.4. If your employer questions your work authorization</h3>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; You can request confirmation from IRCC via webform. IRCC will provide a letter verifying your right to work, which you can present to your employer.<h2>7. Conclusion</h2>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; You&nbsp;can work full-time while waiting for your&nbsp;Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), as long as you meet all the requirements set by&nbsp;IRCC and&nbsp;RCIC RIB.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; In particular, if you have the&nbsp;WP-EXT for PGWP (IMM 0127E), you are allowed to continue working legally even after the letter has expired.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; In the context of&nbsp;Canada’s constantly evolving immigration policies, understanding your work rights will help you take a&nbsp;proactive approach in building your career and planning your&nbsp;path to permanent residency (PR).&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;See more:<ul><li><a href="https://loaportal.com/en/news/vnexpress-features-loa-portal-and-its-3000-cad-study-in-canada-sponsor">VNEXPRESS Features LOA PORTAL and ITS 3,000 CAD study in Canada Sponsor</a></li></ul>&nbsp;<ul><li><a href="https://loaportal.com/en/news/can-international-students-work-full-time-while-studying-in-canada">Can International Students Work Full-Time While Studying in Canada?</a></li></ul>

Can I work while I am waiting to receive my post-graduation work permit?

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Can I work while I am waiting to receive my post-graduation work permit?

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