A Toronto Star investigation by journalist, Nicholas Keung, has brought attention to a growing issue affecting international graduates in Canada whose post-graduation work permit (PGWP) applications have been refused due to missing language proficiency test results.
Although the language requirement came into effect in late 2024, many applicants report that the IRCC online application portal did not prompt them to upload proof of language proficiency or warn them that their application was incomplete.
After lengthy processing delays, refusals are now being issued automatically, forcing affected graduates to stop working immediately and, in some cases, lose their legal status in Canada.
What Will Tao told the Toronto Star
In the article, Vancouver immigration lawyer Will Tao highlighted serious concerns about how the language requirement has been implemented and the fairness of refusing applications where the system itself failed to request mandatory documents.
Tao explained that while the language proficiency requirement technically took effect in late 2024, the issue only surfaced in the fall due to excessive processing delays. Many applicants submitted their PGWP applications months earlier, believing they had complied with all requirements based on what the application portal requested at the time.
A key issue identified by Tao is that the IRCC portal did not include a direct upload field, warning, or alert for language test results. Instead, instructions on how to upload the document were located in a separate policy document on IRCC’s website, requiring applicants to search beyond the application portal to discover this requirement.
As Tao noted, refusals are being issued through an automated system, resulting in applicants being refused “en masse” for failing to upload a document they were never prompted to upload during the application process. He questioned why, even if IRCC faced technical limitations preventing the creation of a new upload field, a simple notice could not have been placed directly on the application portal.
Following media inquiries, IRCC added upload instructions to additional webpages, but Tao observed that the information still does not appear within the application portal itself. He also raised concerns that the failure to correct this issue has had serious consequences for international graduates, including immediate loss of work authorization and potential loss of status.
Why this matters for international graduates
PGWP refusals can have immediate and long-term consequences. In addition to losing the ability to work, affected graduates may need to apply for restoration of status, disclose the refusal in future immigration applications, and face uncertainty about their ability to remain in Canada. The situation highlights broader concerns about procedural fairness when immigration decisions are made through automated systems without clear notice to applicants
Disclaimer: this post summarizes comments made by Will Tao as reported by the Toronto Star. Any contextual explanation is provided for general information only and is not a substitute for legal advice.
Source
Toronto Star, Nicholas Keung, “These international students in Canada didn’t submit test scores because they weren’t asked to. Now, their work permits are refused,” January 6, 2026.
