To avoid becoming undocumented while waiting for Permanent Residence, you must apply for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) or a Visitor Record before your current status expires. The IRCC fee for a BOWP is $255 CAD, while a Visitor Record costs $100 CAD. A Canadian lawyer generally charges $500 to $1,500 CAD to file these critical extensions.
Applying for Permanent Residence (PR) is a massive milestone, but the waiting game can be incredibly nerve-wracking. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) can take many months to process an application. During this time, the expiry date on your current work permit or study permit is rapidly approaching. Many applicants living in cities like Montreal, Edmonton, or Halifax mistakenly believe that simply applying for PR automatically extends their right to live and work in Canada. 🚨
This is a dangerous misconception. In Canada, you are required to proactively maintain your legal temporary status until your PR is officially approved. If your work permit expires and you have not submitted an extension, you lose your right to work, you lose your provincial health care coverage, and you could face deportation. Fortunately, Canadian immigration law provides mechanisms like “Maintained Status” (formerly implied status) to protect you. Hiring a Canadian immigration law firm ensures you select the correct pathway to bridge the gap safely.
Step-by-Step Process to Maintain Your Status
Because IRCC is a federal department, the rules for maintaining status apply uniformly across the country. The strategy you choose depends entirely on the type of PR application you submitted and whether you have received an Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR). 📍
Step 1: Verify Your PR Application Status (AOR)
Before you can apply for a work permit extension based on your PR application, IRCC must officially confirm they have received your complete file. This is done through an Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR) letter. If you applied through Express Entry, this is generated almost immediately. If you applied via paper or non-Express Entry streams, waiting for the AOR can take weeks or months.
Step 2: Apply for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP)
If you have your AOR and your current work permit expires within 4 months, your lawyer will likely apply for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP). 💼 A BOWP is an incredible tool because it frees you from a closed work permit. Once approved, you can work for almost any employer in Canada while you wait for your PR decision. Crucially, as long as you submit the BOWP application before your current permit expires, you benefit from Maintained Status.
Step 3: Apply for a Visitor Record as a Backup
Sometimes, applicants are not eligible for a BOWP (for example, if they applied for PR under certain pilot programs or family sponsorship without a work permit stream). In this case, you must apply for a Visitor Record before your current status expires. This keeps you legally inside Canada, but you must strictly stop working the day your original work permit expires.
Step 4: Do Not Leave Canada While on Maintained Status
This is the golden rule. If you are surviving on Maintained Status waiting for your BOWP or Visitor Record to be processed, you must remain inside the country. 🚫 If you take a vacation to the United States or fly back to your home country, your Maintained Status is instantly cancelled. You may not be allowed back into Canada, severely jeopardizing your PR.
How Much Does it Cost in Canada?
Extending your temporary status involves federal IRCC fees and legal preparation costs. As of June 2026, here is what you can generally expect to pay in CAD to stay legally safe:
| Expense Type | Estimated Cost (CAD) |
|---|---|
| IRCC Bridging Open Work Permit Fee | $255 CAD |
| IRCC Visitor Record Fee (If BOWP ineligible) | $100 CAD |
| Lawyer Consultation (Status Check) | $150 – $300 CAD |
| Lawyer Fees (Filing the Extension) | $500 – $1,500 CAD |
Protecting your status is an essential investment to ensure your $1,525 PR application does not get abandoned or refused. 💰
How Long Does the Process Take?
You must apply for your extension before midnight (UTC) on the day your current permit expires. Once submitted, you immediately hold Maintained Status. IRCC processing times for a BOWP generally range from 3 to 4 months. As long as you remain in Canada, you can continue working under the exact same conditions of your old work permit until the final decision on the BOWP is made.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the difference between Implied Status and Maintained Status?
They are the exact same thing. In recent years, IRCC officially changed the terminology in their policies from “Implied Status” to “Maintained Status” to make the legal concept clearer to applicants.
Can I apply for a BOWP if my work permit already expired?
No. If your work permit has expired, you have lost your status. You cannot apply for a BOWP. You must apply for a Restoration of Status within 90 days and stop all work activities immediately.
Will Maintained Status keep my provincial health card active?
It depends on the province. In Ontario (OHIP) and BC (MSP), you can often get a temporary extension of your health coverage by taking your IRCC Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR) and proof of Maintained Status to a local Service Centre.
Can I switch jobs while on Maintained Status for a BOWP?
If your original work permit was a closed permit tied to a specific employer, you cannot switch employers while on Maintained Status. You must wait until the actual Open Work Permit arrives in the mail before changing jobs.
Leave a Reply