A dangerous wave of misinformation is spreading across social media, WhatsApp groups, and unregulated immigration websites — and it is putting thousands of temporary foreign workers and international graduates at serious legal risk in Canada.
The False Claim Circulating Online
Multiple unverified immigration websites are publishing fabricated articles claiming that IRCC has introduced an 18-month Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) extension for graduates whose permits expired between January 30, 2024 and December 31, 2025, with an April 30, 2026 deadline to apply. This is completely false. This program does not exist.
IRCC has repeatedly confirmed that the special COVID-era PGWP extensions ended in December 2023 and will not be renewed. There is no new extension. No deadline. No special cohort.
The Real Danger of Fake or “Dummy” Work Permit Extensions
Beyond outright fraud, some people are filing what are known as “dummy” or “baseless” work permit extensions — applying for permits they know they do not qualify for, simply to stay in Canada on maintained status while waiting for other options.
In May 2025, IRCC introduced tougher rules to crack down on this practice. If your first application is refused or returned, any subsequent application filed while on maintained status will also be returned without processing. This means you immediately fall out of legal status, and any work performed during that time is considered unauthorized.
The consequences are severe:
- A potential five-year misrepresentation ban
- Loss of employment authorization immediately
- A permanent flag on your immigration record
- Serious damage to future permanent residence applications
How to Protect Yourself
- Only apply for programs that actually exist — always verify at canada.ca
- Never take immigration advice from unlicensed websites, social media pages, or unregulated consultants
- If your work permit is expiring, consult a licensed RCIC immediately to explore legitimate options
With more than 314,000 work permits expiring in Q1 2026 alone, the stakes have never been higher. Legitimate options do exist — LMIA-backed work permits, Express Entry, and provincial nominations are all real pathways worth exploring with a licensed professional.
Dzire2Migrate’s licensed RCICs can help you find real, legitimate pathways. Contact us today before it is too late.