Hi Kahuda,
I actually applied for the OWP in June 2022, and received it in Jan of 2023. The reason I applied last June is because IRCC reissued me a Study Permit at that time but made an error stating that I was not eligible to work off campus, when I had already been a student for years and had already been working off campus. I choose to do the following to remedy this:
- To correct the error on my Study Permit, I got the Dean of my program to write a letter stating that I did qualify to work off campus as an international student and he corrected a misinterpretation that the agent had made regarding my program of study.
- As a back up, just in case the agent did not accept the Dean's explanation, I also submitted an 'OWP under TR to PR Pathway' application because I was eligible. I had not yet graduated so I could not apply for a PGWP or extension.
- And, because my Study Permit was set to expire in March of 2023, I also wanted to be extra cautious (with all the back-ups I could think of just in case PR processing took even longer) and take advantage of the fact the the 'OWP under TR to PR' extended my valid status out to Dec 31, 2024.
As it turns out, IRCC corrected my Study Permit to allow me to work off-campus. My OWP was approved in Jan 2023, but technically was not really necessary because I received the first PR email 3 days later. So, for me, the OWP was a back up plan to extend my stay & work in the event of issues or bad news.
It seems to me that you are in a good spot. As long as you are sure that you have valid status until Dec 31, 2024, you have time on your side. Keep your passport up to date and extended for as long as possible. If you are out of status (or some other PGWPs out there fall out of status) in 2023, read this from
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigratio...-18-months-to-retain-high-skilled-talent.html
Canada announces extension of post-graduation work permits for up to 18 months to retain high-skilled talent
Foreign nationals whose PGWP has already expired in 2023 and those who were eligible for the
2022 PGWP facilitative measure will also have the opportunity to apply for an additional 18-month work permit. Those with expired work permits will be able to restore their status, even if they are beyond the 90-day restoration period, and will receive an interim work authorization while awaiting processing of their new work permit application.
Based on IRCC's stated priority to 'finish' TR to PR this year (2023) you should get PR this year, hopefully soon. If processing slides into 2024, you still have the option to apply for the above, a BOWP or any new temporary policies that IRCC may put out providing additional extensions for TR to PR Pathway applicants still in processing.
Best wishes!