{"id":2560,"date":"2026-11-13T15:23:29","date_gmt":"2026-11-13T15:23:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lawgicalcorp.com\/blog\/work-permit-cancelled-removal-interview\/"},"modified":"2026-11-13T15:23:29","modified_gmt":"2026-11-13T15:23:29","slug":"work-permit-cancelled-removal-interview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lawgicalcorp.com\/blog\/work-permit-cancelled-removal-interview\/","title":{"rendered":"CBSA cancelled my work permit at the removal interview: what now?"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Sundeep S. Grewal<\/a>, lawyer at Lawgical Law Corporation \u00b7 Reviewed November 13, 2026<\/em><\/p>\n

Sundeep S. Grewal is a lawyer at Lawgical Law Corporation, called to the BC bar in 2018, and a member of the Law Society of British Columbia<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Updated November 13, 2026: IRPR s. 243.2 and IRCC’s briefing on unenforceable removal orders checked that day.<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

Why:<\/strong> since March 2024, a work or study permit is cancelled automatically the day a removal order becomes enforceable (IRPR s. 243.2).<\/p>\n

What it means:<\/strong> you must stop working. Working on a cancelled permit is unauthorized work.<\/p>\n

The way back:<\/strong> a stay of removal makes the order unenforceable again, and you can apply for a new permit. Why a lawyer<\/a><\/p>\n

Book a consultation<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Our immigration lawyers<\/p>\n

\"SundeepSundeep S. Grewal<\/span>Barrister and Solicitor<\/span><\/a>\"PrabhpreetPrabhpreet Kaur Sangha<\/span>Barrister and Solicitor<\/span><\/a>\"PardeepPardeep S. Grewal<\/span>Barrister and Solicitor<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n
\nAbout our lawyers<\/summary>\n
\n

Sundeep S. Grewal<\/a><\/strong> founded Lawgical Law Corporation and argues immigration cases at the Immigration and Refugee Board and the Federal Court of Canada.<\/p>\n

Prabhpreet Kaur Sangha<\/a><\/strong> focuses on refugee claims, immigration appeals, inadmissibility, detention reviews and Federal Court cases, and has presented at Continuing Legal Education seminars and the National Immigration Conference.<\/p>\n

Pardeep S. Grewal<\/a><\/strong> is an immigration and estates lawyer known for clear communication and practical strategy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n

At a removal interview, CBSA may tell you your work permit is no longer valid and ask you to hand it in. This is usually not a decision about you. It follows from a rule added in March 2024: when a removal order becomes enforceable, any work or study permit is cancelled by law (IRPR s. 243.2). Since August 2024, CBSA updates IRCC’s records when it prepares a removal and asks for the permit at the interview.<\/p>\n

Lawgical Law Corporation<\/a>, an immigration law firm in Surrey, Abbotsford and Vancouver, BC, prepares open work permit applications for people whose removal is stayed or cannot be carried out, and handles the refugee appeals<\/a>, PRRAs<\/a>, stays of removal<\/a> and Federal Court reviews<\/a> those permits depend on; this guide is by Sundeep S. Grewal.<\/p>\n

Why it happened now<\/h2>\n

Your permit was valid only while your removal order was on hold. Common triggers: the Refugee Appeal Division dismissed your appeal, the Federal Court refused leave, a stay ended, or your PRRA was refused. Once the order became enforceable, the permit was cancelled, even if the expiry date printed on it is still in the future.<\/p>\n

What to tell your employer<\/h2>\n

Stop working and tell your employer the permit has been cancelled. Many employers don’t know this can happen, and there is no system that tells them. Keep a copy of anything CBSA gave you.<\/p>\n

Your options<\/h2>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Ways to make the removal order unenforceable again<\/caption>\n
Option<\/th>\nWhen it fits<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Ask CBSA to defer removal<\/td>\nA specific reason not to remove you on that date<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Federal Court stay motion<\/td>\nWith a review of a PRRA, deferral or other refusal; see a stay after a PRRA or deferral refusal<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
PRRA<\/td>\nIf CBSA has notified you that you can apply; applying on time stays removal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
H&C application<\/td>\nDoesn’t stop removal by itself, but approval in principle does<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

Once removal is stayed again, you can apply for a new open work permit. See getting back to work after a Federal Court stay<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If your claim was found ineligible under Bill C-12<\/h2>\n

An IRCC public policy from March 27, 2026 lets officers exempt people whose claim was found ineligible from this cancellation rule, so they can keep working until they are notified about a PRRA. If your permit was cancelled in that situation, ask a lawyer whether the policy applies.<\/p>\n

If CBSA detains you<\/h2>\n

Removal interviews sometimes end in detention. See detention after a removal interview<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Why this needs a lawyer<\/h2>\n

One lawyer, one file, every step:<\/strong><\/p>\n