For applicants who've submitted a work permit extension well before their current permit expires but haven't heard back:
- Having a couple of months left before expiry isn't unusual to still be waiting — one group member's permit expired in mid-May and their extension was only approved 4 days before expiry, so silence this far out isn't necessarily cause for concern.
- You're generally protected by implied status. If you applied for your extension before your current work permit expired, you can continue working under the same conditions while the extension is processed, even if the decision comes after your permit's listed expiry date.
- The main limitation under implied status is international travel. You may not be able to leave and re-enter Canada smoothly while your extension is pending, since you'd need a valid permit or specific document to re-enter — plan any travel around this restriction.
In short: apply well before expiry, expect to keep working under implied status if a decision hasn't arrived by your permit's expiry date, but avoid international travel until your new permit is issued.