An Immigration News Canada fact-check published on March 9 warns that fabricated blog posts and social-media threads are circulating false claims about a new 18-month Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) extension supposedly open until April 30, 2026. The article traces the rumour to unlicensed websites purporting to offer step-by-step application guides. IRCC has repeatedly confirmed that the special COVID-era PGWP extensions ended in December 2023 and will not be renewed. Submitting an application for a non-existent program offers no legal status and risks forfeiting fees, losing employment authorisation and even triggering removal proceedings once maintained-status windows close. The hoax comes at a sensitive moment: more than 314,000 work permits are due to expire in Q1 2026, and graduates are scrambling for options amid backlog-induced uncertainty. Unscrupulous actors are exploiting that anxiety to drive web traffic and sell unauthorised “consulting” services. Employers with PGWP-holding staff should proactively communicate legitimate pathways—such as LMIA-supported closed permits, provincial nominee programs and bridging open work permits linked to permanent-residence applications—to prevent talent loss. Individuals should verify any policy change on the official canada.ca site and consult only regulated Canadian immigration consultants or lawyers.
Source: Immigration News Canada
