Key Takeaways
• Ukrainians in Canada under CUAET can apply to extend open work permits until March 31, 2026.
• Maintained status allows applicants to keep working legally while their permit extension is pending.
• Settlement services are free for Ukrainian temporary residents and families until March 31, 2025.
A Ukrainian family living in Canada 🇨🇦 faces uncertainty as their work permits are set to expire in June, even though they applied for an extension six months ago. Like thousands of other Ukrainians who fled the war in Ukraine 🇺🇦, their future depends on Canada’s emergency immigration measures and the ability of the government to process their paperwork in time. This story is not just about one family – it highlights the larger challenges and hopes shared by many Ukrainians who now call Canada 🇨🇦 home.
The Family’s Challenge: Waiting for a Permit Decision
The local Ukrainian family followed the rules carefully. When they saw that their work permits would soon end, they sent in an application to extend them—making sure it was at least thirty days before the expiry date, as required. They hoped that by acting early and following Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) guidelines, their ability to work and stay in Canada 🇨🇦 would be protected. However, after waiting for six months without an answer from the authorities, they are worried. Will they have to leave the lives, jobs, and friendships they have built? Or will their patience be rewarded with the security they need?
This uncertainty is felt every day. Without a new work permit in hand, basic things like renewing a driver’s license or planning for school are hard to do. The family describes their life in Canada 🇨🇦 as something they love, but this legal limbo casts a shadow over their sense of safety and belonging.
How Canada 🇨🇦 Has Tried to Help Ukrainians
In response to the war in Ukraine 🇺🇦, Canada 🇨🇦 created the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) program. This special program made it much easier and faster for Ukrainians fleeing war to get to safety in Canada 🇨🇦. Under CUAET, Ukrainians could apply for a temporary resident visa that allowed them to enter and live anywhere in Canada 🇨🇦. More importantly, they could also apply for open work permits, letting them work for almost any employer in the country.
CUAET was one of the most welcoming programs in the world for Ukrainians at risk. More than 1.1 million applications were received by July 2023. Ukrainians who arrived with the help of CUAET were given the chance to work, study, and rebuild their lives. Many of these newcomers have settled, found jobs, and become part of local communities across Canada 🇨🇦.
But, like all special programs, CUAET was never meant to last forever. The window to apply for a CUAET visa closed on July 15, 2023. However, special measures for Ukrainians already in Canada 🇨🇦 continue to exist today, giving these temporary residents some options to stay longer and keep building their new lives.
Expiring Permits: What Happens Next?
For people like this Ukrainian family, the main worry is what happens when a work permit is about to expire. Under current rules, Ukrainians who entered Canada 🇨🇦 through the CUAET program by March 31, 2024, can still apply:
- For a new open work permit (which could be given for up to three years)
- To extend an existing open work permit
- To apply for a study permit if they want to begin or continue education
The application deadline to ask for these extensions or permits is generous. Ukrainians have until March 31, 2026, to submit their paperwork. However, standard application fees must be paid. This means there is plenty of time to get organized, but for families whose permits are about to end, the wait for a decision still feels long and stressful.
Maintained Status: The Hidden Safety Net
A key rule protects Ukrainians who follow the right steps. If a temporary resident applies for a new work permit or an extension before the current permit’s end date, they enter what’s called “maintained status.” This means:
- The person can remain in Canada 🇨🇦 legally, even after their permit expires, as long as a decision is pending.
- They are allowed to keep working under the same conditions as their original permit.
- This status lasts until IRCC decides on the new application.
For most families, maintained status is a hidden but powerful safety net. It lets parents keep working, kids stay in school, and day-to-day life continue despite the uncertainty of waiting for the IRCC’s answer. As long as the extension was requested at least thirty days before the expiry date, families remain fully protected.
Analysis from VisaVerge.com suggests that, although processing times have gone up due to a surge of applications from Ukrainian families, maintained status rules are strong enough to prevent job losses and forced departures—if all application rules are followed.
Delays and the Reality on the Ground
The family’s story is not unique. Across Canada 🇨🇦, Ukrainians who arrived by CUAET are watching the expiration dates on their permits closely. Delays in processing have become quite common. The IRCC has shared that high volumes and limited staff have led to longer wait times for decisions. This has left many people stuck in a period where they are unsure what the future holds.
Advocacy groups, such as the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, have voiced their worries publicly. Andrea Malysh of the organization put it simply: “Without an extension, families face losing their jobs, home and stability. We need your help to ensure that Ukrainian families who have already endured so much can continue building their lives here in Canada.”
The presence of maintained status provides reassurance, but it does not end financial, emotional, or mental stress. The longer families wait, the more they worry about making plans for school, work, and daily life.
Settlement Services: A Helping Hand
While they wait, Ukrainian families like this one do have access to help. All Ukrainian temporary residents and their families are allowed to use free settlement services until March 31, 2025. These services include support with finding housing, getting jobs, learning English or French, and understanding Canadian life. For many newcomers, these services are a lifeline, helping them feel welcomed and guiding them through paperwork and daily challenges.
After March 31, 2025, Ukrainian families could still get some help, but only if they meet regular requirements for settlement services. This makes the next year important for Ukrainian communities trying to put down strong roots.
Clear Deadlines and Who is Eligible
A lot of families worry about missing deadlines or not knowing the exact rules. Here is a simple summary of the main points:
- Open Work Permit Extension: Ukrainians who came to Canada 🇨🇦 by March 31, 2024, under CUAET can apply for an open work permit renewal. Applications can be sent up until March 31, 2026. New permits can last up to three years.
- Maintained Status: Anyone, including Ukrainians under CUAET, who sends a permit extension application before their current permit ends, gets maintained status. This covers them legally to stay and work until a decision is made, even if their original permit ends in the meantime.
- Free Settlement Services: Every Ukrainian with temporary status and their family members are eligible for free support until March 31, 2025.
Applying on time is the most important step. If a family waits until after their permit has ended, they could lose their right to work and possibly face other problems.
For more on these measures and application steps, official information can be found on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada CUAET page.
The Broader Impact of Delays
Administrative delays affect not just families, but also employers, schools, and whole communities. When work permits are not processed quickly, businesses may worry about losing good employees. Kids may feel unsure about their future in school. These problems can create more stress for people who have already left war and loss behind.
Advocacy groups are pushing for faster renewals and better communications from the government, so no family faces a gap in their right to work or stay.
Different Viewpoints: Fairness, Planning, and Human Needs
Some people say that Canada 🇨🇦 has done more than almost any other country to welcome Ukrainians. They point to quick visa processing, work permits, and help with settling in. Others believe the government should do even more—especially to make sure permit renewals happen on time, without stressful waits.
Employers and schools also have opinions. Many want to keep Ukrainian workers and students without any breaks in their authorization. They say fast answers help everyone plan better and keep communities strong.
The government says it is working hard but has struggled with huge numbers of applications, new rules, and limited resources. Most experts agree that while the system offers fair protection on paper, the process needs to be faster and clearer for everyone involved.
Support for Those Waiting
If a Ukrainian family’s work permits are about to expire, and they have already applied for an extension at least thirty days before that date, they should not panic. Maintained status protects their right to stay and work. Staying calm and keeping documents ready is the best path while waiting for IRCC’s decision.
If families run into problems or need help with their applications, they can:
- Contact local immigrant-serving agencies, which can give advice or help fill out forms
- Talk with legal advisors who understand immigration law
- Reach out to Ukrainian community groups for updates and support
Looking Forward: What Comes Next?
The future for Ukrainian families in Canada 🇨🇦 will depend on several things:
- How fast the IRCC can process the thousands of pending work permit applications
- Whether families and their supporters continue to speak up and ask the government to speed up renewals
- How well settlement services can keep helping new arrivals feel at home
The Canadian government’s decision to keep the work permit extension process open until March 31, 2026, gives hope to thousands. Still, clear and timely communications from the IRCC will make all the difference for families under stress.
Conclusion
The story of a local Ukrainian family worried about expiring work permits shines a light on the bigger challenges faced by newcomers across Canada 🇨🇦. Thanks to the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel program and the maintained status rule, families who follow the rules can stay and work while their applications are decided—even if they have to wait a long time.
While the Canadian system was designed to be protective and welcoming, slow processing times have created real worries for families, employers, and communities. The government, advocates, and Ukrainian-Canadian groups all agree on one thing: keeping hard-working people in legal status keeps Canada 🇨🇦 strong and helps those who have survived trauma build new, happy lives.
For anyone with questions or concerns about their immigration paperwork—especially work permits and the details of the CUAET program—the best place to start is the official IRCC’s CUAET resource. VisaVerge.com also remains a reliable source for updates and expert analysis of ongoing immigration developments in Canada 🇨🇦 and beyond. As the March 31, 2026, deadline approaches, staying informed and prepared will be the key for any Ukrainian family hoping to make Canada 🇨🇦 their long-term home.
Learn Today
CUAET → Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel, a special program allowing Ukrainians to quickly enter and work in Canada after fleeing war.
Maintained Status → The legal protection allowing individuals to stay and work in Canada after permit expiry, while a new application is pending.
Open Work Permit → A permit allowing a foreign national to work for almost any employer in Canada, without specific sponsorship.
IRCC → Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, the government department managing immigration, refugees, and citizenship policies.
Settlement Services → Free support resources offered to immigrants, such as language classes, job search assistance, and help integrating into Canadian society.
This Article in a Nutshell
Many Ukrainians in Canada face anxiety as work permits expire despite timely extension requests. The maintained status rule protects legal status while waiting. However, ongoing delays create stress over employment and daily life. Access to free settlement services and clear deadlines offer hope, but faster processing remains urgently needed for all families.
— By VisaVerge.com
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