HISTORICAL CONTEXT: this thread is from the period of category-based Express Entry draws (French-language and STEM categories) and PGWPs expiring in 2024. Draw categories and cut-offs change - verify current IRCC draw categories before acting.
PGWP holders facing 2024 expiry asked what realistic PR routes remained. Two concrete threads of advice emerged:
- The French route is real but slower than it looks. One member estimated reaching CLB 7 in French takes about 3 years for most people - the counterpoint being 'if you are not serious about it.' Another member who attempted it broke down the timeline honestly: A1 ~3 months, A2 ~2 months, B1 ~3 months, plus exam-specific preparation - roughly 9 months minimum as a total beginner, and only with full immersion (watching, listening, living in French) and relentless consistency. Their own consistency ran out after 2 months. Treat 8-9 months as a best case that most people miss.
- Remote work for the STEM category counts only under specific conditions. Asked whether experience gained working remotely from Canada counts, members agreed it does only if you are working for a Canadian employer, on a valid work permit, and on Canadian payroll - not while on a student visa, and not for a foreign employer.
- The underlying decision members framed: with a permit expiring within a year, choose between moving provinces to chase a PNP stream versus investing in French - and be realistic that French only pays off if you can sustain daily study for the better part of a year.