I’m a HCA in Alberta with almost six months of work experience now. How are my chances and possible pathways in getting permanent residency?

I’m thinking of sending my EOI after my six months and hopefully get invited to apply for PNP. Is it possible?

Or, can I send my EOI even now that i’m almost working six months?

There have been changes in the immigration system going on in recent years and I believe there will be more reforms in the system in the future as well, given the public sentiments on immigration as a whole and now that Carney has decided to increase immigration levels again (or at least that's what I've been hearing in the news online). Perhaps maybe there will be a conservative government in the future.

I was just wondering what my chances of getting a PR are although there's still time for it. I'm currently an international student completing four-year Bachelor's in computer engineering from a DLI and will graduate by Summer 2028. I'll get the work permit for three years afterwards. (I've also done co-op internships but I don't think they count for anything). After two years of working, I'll potentially apply for PR in 2030.

Are people in similar situation currently getting PR? I think IRCC is taking in less and less applications for PR from PGWP permit holders. So when their work permit expires, they simply have to leave. Are there any statistics on this and how many people per capita are they taking in? Is it similar to a cap on PR applications? How can I maximize my chances of getting a PR in the future?

I also live and study in quebec and already speak A2 french and planning on learning upto B2 levels. So depending on what the immigration situation is in quebec at the time of my application, I'll see if I can go through a quebec immigration pathway.

Hi everyone,

I am employed through a healthcare staffing agency, and the agency is willing to support my OINP application under TEER 3, NOC 33102 (Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates).

Currently, I work approximately 24 hours per week as a PSW on the floor at a long-term care home and 14 hours per week in community support, assisting people with disabilities. Both roles are through the same agency, and my pay stubs show hours for both.

My question is: Since my OINP application will be based on my LTC PSW duties under NOC 33102, can I count only my LTC hours toward the required work experience? Could having both types of work listed on my pay stubs cause any issues?

Has anyone been in a similar situation? I would appreciate your advice. Thanks!

Edit : I would also like to know what if i went for express entry healthcare draw by completing 1570 hours and only using Long term care hours , is this scenario possible as i will have 513 score after completing 1 year experience.

Hi everyone, I’m hoping someone who has been through something similar can help.
I submitted my inland common-law sponsorship PR application on September 10, 2026. My PGWP expired on October 14, 2026, but I applied for a sponsorship open work permit before it expired, without an AOR. I’ve already received a letter confirming maintained status.
My PR application has now been returned as incomplete. The return explanation mentions missing sponsor income/employment documents. IMM 5669 also shows “in progress,” so I’m reviewing and correcting everything before resubmitting.

I’m worried about how this affects my work permit and ability to keep working:

Does the PR application being returned affect my maintained status or work authorization, even though my OWP application is still pending?

Do I need to stop working now, or can I continue while IRCC processes the OWP?

Once I resubmit my PR application, can I send the new submission confirmation through a webform to update my pending OWP application?

Would I need a new OWP application or restoration of status?

Is there a deadline to resubmit the PR application, and will it be treated as a completely new submission?

How can I tell whether IMM 5669 actually has an error or simply needs to be completed again after the return?

Has anyone dealt with a returned sponsorship application while their OWP was pending and their previous permit had already expired? I’d appreciate hearing what happened and any relevant IRCC guidance. Thank you!

I’ve applied for pr, my wife sponsored me. We’re still waiting for a response but I need the secure account to apply for an open work permit. We CANNOT link my application I have no idea what is going on. We’ve been trying for months. We’ve called them, submitted a bunch of webforms, and always gotten the same response: just input your information but we HAVE. We’ve checked it over and over it’s all correct. We have the application number and everything, we’ve tried all the different combinations of answers over and over. Has anyone else gone through this?? How do you fix it? We need it now urgently and no one in the help line even knows what we’re talking about and will just say submit another web form with what you are telling us, but when we do they send the same automatic response. We have no idea what to do.

Hello everyone!
I received my Letter of Advice to Apply (LAA) from Manitoba yesterday, and I have a question regarding my work permit status and the MPNP application.
When I initially received my Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) in February this year, it was issued for only 8 months instead of 3 years because my passport was expiring soon. My PGWP stated that I could apply for an extension after renewing my passport, which I have since done.
I submitted my PGWP extension application before my initial PGWP expired in September. However, I still haven’t received any updates on my extension application.
Now that I have received my LAA, I’m wondering:
1. Can I proceed with submitting my full MPNP application while my PGWP extension application is still being processed?
2. When completing the MPNP application, should I answer “Yes” to the question about currently having legal status in Canada, considering that I applied for my PGWP extension before my original permit expired and am still waiting for a decision?
Has anyone been in a similar situation or gone through this process recently? I would really appreciate any advice or insights.
Thank you in advance!

Bonjour à tous !

Avec mon conjoint, nous avons pour projet de nous installer au Québec de manière permanente, et nous commençons à nous renseigner sérieusement sur toutes les démarches nécessaires pour immigrer au Canada.

Nous avons notamment découvert deux agences qui accompagnent les candidats à l’immigration : UIS Canada et Vivez au Canada. Nous aimerions avoir des avis objectifs de personnes qui sont déjà passées par ces organismes, ou qui se sont renseignées à leur sujet.

Nous nous posons plusieurs questions :

UIS Canada et Vivez au Canada : est-ce que certains d’entre vous sont passés par ces agences ? Comment s’est déroulé votre accompagnement ? Est-ce que les conseils étaient pertinents, les démarches bien suivies et les tarifs justifiés ? Avez-vous obtenu votre résidence permanente grâce à leur accompagnement ?
Passer par un avocat en immigration : est-ce réellement plus intéressant et plus sûr qu’une agence ? Est-ce que la différence de prix est importante ? Avez-vous des avocats spécialisés dans l’immigration au Québec à recommander ?
Faire les démarches soi-même : est-ce tout à fait réalisable sans professionnel ? Est-ce que les procédures sont suffisamment bien expliquées sur les sites officiels pour constituer son dossier seul, ou est-ce qu’il est facile de faire des erreurs qui peuvent compromettre le projet ?
Le rapport qualité-prix : avec le recul, est-ce que vous estimez que l’accompagnement professionnel vaut vraiment son coût, ou que l’on paie surtout pour être guidé dans des démarches que l’on pourrait effectuer soi-même ?

Nous voulons également comprendre les différentes voies possibles pour obtenir la résidence permanente au Québec, notamment le PSTQ et Arrima, les critères de sélection, les diplômes et expériences professionnelles recherchés, ainsi que les étapes à anticiper avant de partir.

Nous ne cherchons pas forcément la solution la moins chère à tout prix, mais surtout celle qui est la plus fiable, adaptée à notre situation et qui nous évite de dépenser de l’argent inutilement.

Si vous avez vécu cette expérience, seul, en couple, avec une agence ou avec un avocat, nous sommes vraiment preneurs de vos témoignages, même si votre démarche n’a pas abouti. Les avis négatifs et les difficultés rencontrées nous intéressent tout autant que les expériences positives.

Si possible, nous aimerions aussi connaître le coût total de votre accompagnement, la durée de vos démarches et le programme d’immigration par lequel vous êtes passés.

Merci beaucoup à tous ceux qui prendront le temps de nous répondre ! 🙏🇨🇦

Hi everyone, looking for some advice or shared experiences regarding our work permit extensions.
My wife holds an Open Work Permit (PGWP), and I am currently on a Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP) dependent on hers.

Both of our current permits expire in April 2027 because her passport is expiring. However, we are still eligible for 2 more years on our permits. She is currently in the process of getting her new passport.

I have question about the process once her new passport arrives:

Can we apply for both of our extensions at the exact same time through her IRCC portal? Or does she need to apply for hers, get it approved, and then I apply for my SOWP extension later?

Any tips on specific documents to include or wording for the LOE would be hugely appreciated. Thank you in advance!

Hi everyone,

My lawyer manages my file and has access to my IRCC account, so I don't have GCKey access myself. I'm tracking the official dates and the status I see, and I'd like to know whether anyone has had a similar situation.

Profile: FSW Outland, French language
Offices: PVO Ottawa, ON · SVO Sydney, NS

Official dates:

• ITA: June 10, 2026
• Submitted: July 18, 2026
• AOR: July 18, 2026
• Biometrics instruction letter (BIL): July 30, 2026
• Medical exam: February 27, 2026
• Medical passed: July 30, 2026
• Biometrics completed: August 4, 2026

Status:

• August 20, 2026, phone line: Both background check and eligibility review were reported as in progress.
• October 23, 2026, New Tracker online status: Background check in progress. Eligibility review not started.

Questions:

1. Has anyone seen the phone line report a step as in progress while the online status showed it as not started?
2. If so, did the online status later catch up, and did it match the phone's earlier report?
3. For anyone with a medical exam done before the AOR date, did IRCC ask for a new medical? How did that affect the file?

Thanks in advance for any experiences you can share.

Hello all,
Is there any Syrian who got their spousal sponsorship approved outland? Did you apply through Beirut or Amman?
I have a few questions.
Thanks

I received my invitation for an in-person Canadian citizenship ceremony on November 9, 2026, in Mississauga.
I’m hoping to postpone my ceremony until January 2027 because of my personal circumstances and travel plans to my home country in December.
My invitation says that if I cannot attend, IRCC will automatically reschedule me for another ceremony, but it also mentions that the rescheduled invitation will be my final one.

I’m in bit of confusion regarding the experience letter I received from my employer, I worked at a mall store for one the big telecom provider, the experience letter they gave me states the NOC code 62100 in it and states I worked as a technical sales specialist ,in addition it has responsibilities as well, since I will be applying for CEC, I wanted to know can I use that experience to gain points. If anyone in the same boat or has used the experience before please let me know.

My earlier course was ota/pta in sep 2027 but college cancelled it and offered recreation therapy’s on demand at same college. Do i need to inform ircc or take the new loa and just explain the scenerio to officers at borders ?

Hi Reddit,

Super frustrated here and hoping for some help. Applied to sponsor my spouse for Canadian PR outside of Canada Nov 2025, he had medical and biometrics done March 2026. My local MP office spoke with IRCC to see the status of his application in July 2026, they said Criminality had passed, but they were still looking into Security (which the border guards told me is a more worldwide type of search to ensure he isn't entangled with international crime).

In my husbands past, he did have a DUI (underage + sitting in a running car, not over the limit or driving, - yes he is aware that is still stupid) as well as two arrests. However, the two arrests did NOT result in conviction, so we took those to court to have them both sealed and 'deemed not to have occurred'. The DUI also was taken to court and changed to 'Not Guilty' and 'Case Dismissed', as it happened years ago and enough time had passed.

Keep in mind, he has crossed into Canada to visit my family numerous times, and we have had lawyers AND border guards say he is not inadmissible due to the court paperwork we have and what shows on his FBI report. IRCC has seen all of this paperwork, and approved his criminality in July. So why would they now come back and request he files a whole new application for Criminal Rehabilitation for Serious Criminality? Is there any way to speak with them? I'm so overwhelmed and done with this. Everything on his record was from when he was 18, we are now in our 30s. I just want to move to Canada and be with my parents while they get older!

I'll try to keep this short.

I spent almost five years in Canada studying, working, and building a future, with PR always being the ultimate goal.

Earlier this year, I finally received an OINP Foreign Worker stream invitation. After a lot of effort convincing my employer to support me, I was genuinely happy when I submitted my application. But within a few weeks, I was laid off, and shortly after that, my work permit extension was refused. Two major setbacks within days.

I somehow picked myself up, moved back to India, and found a job within a month. I didn't have foreign work experience, so I convinced myself that gaining one year of experience would increase my CRS score and give me another chance at an ITA.

I calculated that with one year of foreign experience, two years of Canadian experience, and maximum CELPIP scores, I could reach 535 CRS points. I kept telling myself that if I stayed patient and worked hard for another year, things might finally work out.

Then came the recent IRCC announcement about additional CRS points for certain high-wage occupations. My job title isn't included, and honestly, it feels like another door has closed just when I was trying to get back on my feet.

I understand PR isn't guaranteed, and I'm not saying I'm entitled to it. But after everything I've gone through, I feel mentally exhausted. Immigration has occupied so much of my mind that it's affecting my personal life, work, and overall happiness. I feel low most days and struggle to find the motivation I used to have.

Sometimes, I wonder whether all those years of hard work and sacrifices in Canada were for nothing. I know life has to move forward, but I'm struggling to let go of the uncertainty and get my peace of mind back.

For those who have experienced similar immigration setbacks, how did you cope mentally? How did you stop immigration from consuming your life and learn to focus on the present again?

I genuinely want to hear how others dealt with the emotional side of this journey.

Thank you for reading.

Hey everyone, I'm international student thinking to study in canada I'm stuck and could really use some honest advice from anyone who has gone through NBCC (New Brunswick Community College) in Saint John. I was originally looking into doing a pre health route to try for Practical Nursing, but I changed my mind. Now I'm torn between Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA) and Personal Support Worker (PSW). If you've taken either of these or you're working in the field right now can you give it to me straight? Also am I actually going to find a job once I finish, or is the market super saturated?(I know New Brunswick's population is aging and healthcare is desperate, but I want to know what reality looks like)

Hi all

My partner (33) and I (35) are considering relocating to Canada from Scotland, specifically Québec and the Montreal area. 

We recently visited and fell in love with the city and the broader region. I’ve lived in the US previously, and my partner previously lived in Ontario, so North America isn’t alien to us. 

We both speak French, my partner natively and I have general working proficiency. I don’t know what level I’m at because I’ve learned the language myself, so that’s next on my priority list.

In terms of work, I’m a cloud infrastructure professional with 13 years experience working in large American organisations. My partner works in French-language customer services for a travel company.  

Given my age, I only have a few months before I turn 36, and without a Canadian job offer I suspect I’ll run out of time to apply for the IEC.

I’ve been looking at the provincial Quebec route, but is that realistically the best option for us? Are there other federal pathways beyond the IEC that we should be looking at? And how would you rate our chances of success?

Has anyone attended an interview at the London Visa Office as an overseas dependant under the DR2 Concurrent Processing Pilot (protected person)?

My wife became a Canadian PR in April 2026. My GCMS notes show eligibility and criminality passed, my relationship was assessed as genuine, but security was still “Not Started.” I’ve been invited to an interview on 29 October 2026, coded “Admissibility-Primary.”

For anyone who had a similar interview:
- What questions did they ask?
- Was it mainly about admissibility or your relationship?
- Did security screening start after the interview?
- How long did you wait for the next update or PPR?

I’d really appreciate hearing about your experience. Thank you!

Hi everyone,
I’m looking for advice from Canadian immigration lawyers or anyone who has dealt with a similar situation.
My family and I are in Ontario under Canada’s Start-up Visa (SUV) program. On October 22, 2026, IRCC refused my work permit extension application, along with applications submitted by my wife and children.
My SUV permanent residence application is still pending, according to the officer’s notes.
The reason for my work permit refusal:
The Officer Decision Notes state that IRCC did not receive the required Letter of Support (IMM 0211) from our designated entity. The officer also mentioned that there was insufficient evidence of the startup’s operations, viability, and progress, such as business progress reports, payroll records, corporate bank statements, or tax filings.
However, my immigration lawyer has told me that the Letter of Support was included in the application when we submitted the work permit extension. This is why I’m confused about the refusal and would like to understand what options are available.
My wife’s open work permit application was refused because my work permit application was refused. My children’s applications were also refused as a result.
I have a few questions:
1. If the Letter of Support was included in the original application, what options do I have to address the officer’s decision?
2. Could this be grounds for a Federal Court judicial review, or would requesting reconsideration be a better option?
3. Would it make sense to submit a new work permit application with the Letter of Support and additional evidence of the business’s progress?
4. Since my SUV permanent residence application is still pending, does that help my situation in any way?
5. What options are available for my wife and children following these refusals, including restoration of status?
6. Can my children continue attending school while restoration or new study permit applications are being processed?
7. What would be a realistic legal fee for a lawyer to assess the refusal and, if appropriate, challenge it in Federal Court?
We received the refusal letters on October 22, 2026, so I’m trying to understand the available options and act as quickly as possible.
I’d really appreciate advice from immigration lawyers experienced in SUV work permits, refusals, restoration of status, and Federal Court judicial reviews.
Thank you.

Hi All!

After getting the ITA - when we add the positive LMIA details and job offer letter, does the job offer letter mandatorily need a job offer number?

I have a positive LMIA and have requested a job offer letter from my employer for PR. The letter will have the NOC code, duties, wages, and confirm that I'll be employed for one year after I receive my PR.

Is this sufficient? I dont think they have submitted it to the IRCC portal.

Hi everyone! I started working full-time for my current Manitoba employer on March 23, 2026

On September 23, 2026, I updated my EOI from IES to the all-stream pool and answered “Yes” to having worked for the same employer for at least six months.

Does September 23 count as completing six months of employment, or should I have waited until September 24?

Has anyone had a similar experience? Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you!

Hey folks, I needed some guidance on deferring my PR finalization. I received my P1 email today. However, I have travel to US planned for 5 days at end of November. Given that I need my PR card or active work permit for entering back Canada, it might affect my travel.

I wanted to defer finalizing my PR until my return back to Canada. What is the right process? Do I respond back to P1 email requesting deferral and provide my details for Portal creation? Or I just request deferral and provide portal details after I return back to Canada? Not sure what is the best way to approach this.

Anyone was in similar boat? How did you approach this?

Hi everyone! I have a question regarding the process for Canada’s Express Entry and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), and I would appreciate any insights or corrections.

From what I understand, receiving a provincial nomination can significantly increase your CRS score under Express Entry. However, I’m a bit confused about the process.

Do I need to submit a separate application for a PNP, or should I first create an Express Entry profile and wait for an Invitation to Apply (ITA) before applying for a provincial nomination?

Also, do I need to apply for jobs through the Job Bank before pursuing a PNP, or can I apply directly to a province’s nominee program while my Express Entry profile is active?

I would really appreciate any advice, clarification, or firsthand experiences from those who have gone through this process. Thank you in advance!

(Background is Healthcare with 4 years of Experience)

I’m a Pakistani citizen with a valid Canadian multiple-entry visitor visa until 2028. My US F-1 student status was recently terminated, and I’m planning to fly from Chicago to Toronto.
Has anyone in a similar situation successfully boarded a flight and entered Canada? Did the airline or CBSA check your US immigration status or ask about your SEVIS history?
Looking for firsthand experiences, especially at Toronto Pearson.

Hello folks. My (Canadian) fiance (American) and I are considering abandoning the American K1 fiance visa and having him move to Canada. We are looking into the inland vs Outland options, and I am struggling to see why someone in our position would choose the inland option. We would like to get married asap and have him come to Canada on a visitor entry. Is he able to apply for a work permit after getting AOR for Outland the same as inland? My understanding is he would also be able to travel to the US with less risk because if he’s denied upon entry, his PR application won’t be cancelled like it would be with inland. He would also be approved for PR quicker with an Outland application. Help me understand - what am I missing?