Previously, individuals could remain in Canada under maintained status as long as an extension application was submitted ...
Canada Cracks Down on Dummy Extension Applications; Indians Among Those Affected
Canada Cracks Down on Dummy Extension Applications latest News: Indians will no longer be able to rely on multiple immigration applications to legally extend their stay in Canada under the pretext of work permit extensions, according to a report by Business Standard. The move comes after Canada’s immigration department, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), revised its rules to crack down on "dummy" extension applications, which have reportedly been on the rise.
The new rule, announced by IRCC in June 2025, applies not only to Indian nationals but also to other foreign temporary residents. It targets individuals who submit more than one work or study permit extension application in an attempt to remain in Canada under “maintained status”, formerly known as implied status.
What Are Dummy Extension Applications? Dummy extension applications are typically filed by international students or temporary foreign workers who submit applications without a genuine job offer or intention to continue working or studying. These are often used as placeholders to buy more time while awaiting decisions on other immigration processes, such as Permanent Residency (PR) invitations.
Previously, individuals could remain in Canada under maintained status as long as an extension application was submitted before their current permit expired. IRCC’s average processing time for work permit extensions currently stands at 158 days (as of June 2025).
New Rule Ends Maintained Status Upon First Refusal: Under the new guidelines, if an individual's first extension application is refused, any second application—regardless of when it was submitted—will not be considered valid. Maintained status will end immediately upon the issuance of the first refusal, Business Standard reported.
Zubin Morris, partner at Little & Co, told the publication, “Students whose permits are near expiry must be precise with their first extension application. A mistake, missing document, or even a delay can now end their legal status, despite a second application being filed. For workers, it could mean immediate job loss and the need to apply for status restoration or leave Canada.”
IRCC’s Clarification on LMIA-Free Work Permit Applications
As per IRCC’s clarification, a foreign national can apply for a work permit without a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) only under the following conditions, as listed out in the report:
The employer has already submitted an LMIA application.
The LMIA decision is expected within 1–3 months.
The applicant is eligible to apply from within Canada.
Dummy applications often rely on open work permits or incomplete job offer details, which IRCC is now actively screening for abuse.
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