Dummy Applications May Be Causing Processing Backlogs, But IRCC Is Catching On

In immigration circles, this is called a “dummy application.” It isn’t a new practice, and we’ve written about dummy applications and their risks before.

A recent Toronto Star article suggests that dummy applications may be growing, leading to longer processing queues and higher refusal rates.

What Is a Dummy Application

“Dummy application” isn’t a legal term. It describes an application to extend a work permit or visitor status that the applicant knows is unlikely to succeed.

For work permits, that usually means applying without a valid job offer or an LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment) in place. It could also mean applying for an LMIA-exempt work permit (such as a significant benefit C10 work permit), when you don’t meet the criteria. For visitor status, it means applying to extend a visit when there’s no real basis to do so.

So why do people do it? If you apply to extend your status before your current work permit expires, you can continue living and working in Canada under “maintained status” while IRCC processes your application. With in-Canada work permit processing times currently sitting at around 186 days, that’s potentially six or more months of additional authorized time in Canada.

Every extra month can matter when you’re exploring your PR options or trying to qualify for them. For example, in the Express Entry system, more Canadian work experience means a higher Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. Many PNPs reward Canadian experience too, making it easier to qualify and compete among the pool of candidates.

Why Dummy Applications Are Becoming More Common

According to IRCC data cited in the Toronto Star, in-Canada work permit extension applications more than doubled over the last five years, from 442,715 to 1,039,275. Visitor status extension applications rose from 167,955 to 275,905 in the same period.

This makes sense when you consider the fact between 2022 and 2023, temporary resident numbers in Canada were at all-time highs. In 2022, over 600,000 work permits took effect. And at the end of 2023, there were over 1 million study permit holders in Canada, many of whom subsequently transitioned to work permits. As a result, nearly 1,940,000 visitor visas, study, and work permits are set to expire in 2026, and another million will expire in 2027.

Many of these work permit and study permit holders came to Canada expecting a clear path to permanent residence. However, changing government priorities and policies have limited their options.

Refusal rates have gone up with rising application volumes. Work permit extension refusals rose from 6.5 percent to 10.1 percent over the last five years. Visitor extension refusals doubled, from 6 percent to 12.1 percent.

Experts attribute the rising refusal rates partly to the growing number of unfounded applications, and partly to tightened scrutiny from IRCC officers.

Dummy applications are likely also holding up the line for legitimate applications, increasing processing times. As of April 30, 2.15 million immigration applications were pending in the system. Of the 865,000 temporary applications, only 62 percent were within IRCC’s service standards. Applications with little chance of success are adding to a queue that is already under significant strain.

Why The Strategy Is Getting Riskier

There is no rule against dummy applications. But that doesn’t mean these applications are without risk. In fact, in some cases, it can have long-term consequences, beyond the inevitable refusal of the application.

A Rejection Isn’t the Same as a Refusal

There’s a critical difference between an application being refused and one being returned for incompleteness.

When your application is refused, maintained status ends on the date of that decision. You then have 90 days to apply for restoration of status.

When an application is returned or rejected, it’s treated as if it was never submitted. This outcome is more likely for dummy applications, especially if the paperwork is deemed incomplete. In such a situation, your original permit expiry date stands. If it takes months for the application to be returned, your 90-day restoration window may have already passed. Any work you did in the meantime may have been unauthorized.

In May 2025, IRCC updated its program delivery instructions to prevent people from submitting application after application. If your first application is refused and you’ve already submitted a second application after your original permit expired, that second application will be automatically refused and returned.

Refusals Are Coming in Faster

IRCC is also acting faster on baseless applications. Immigration lawyer Deanna Okun-Nachoff, speaking on the Borderlines Podcast mentioned she has noticed IRCC is picking these applications out and refusing them well before the six-month processing timeline. If this becomes standard practice, the long processing times that made dummy applications appealing may no longer offer the protection people are counting on.appealing may no longer offer the protection people are counting on.

If filing a dummy application only gets you three extra months of working in Canada, instead of the 6-8 months it previously took, this might not be worth the hassle, cost, and risk for most people.

The Misrepresentation Risk

Filing an application you’re not sure about is not automatically misrepresentation. But it is possible for a dummy application to fall in the misrepresentation category.

If your application has a real basis even if the outcome isn’t certain, and you are honest about the facts of your case, that is not misrepresentation. For instance, if you’re applying to extend a work permit while the employer’s LMIA application is genuinely in progress, or if you’ve applied for an LMIA-exempt category, like the C10 significant benefit work permit, and you believe the application has merit.

But if there’s no employer, no LMIA in process, or no credible path to approval, and you file anyway, IRCC could treat it as misrepresentation. That carries a five-year inadmissibility bar from Canada.

Even if your claims aren’t found to be misrepresentation, there are other types of long-term risks. IRCC told the Toronto Star that “applicants seen to be exploiting the system may be subject to additional scrutiny in subsequent applications”.

What To Do If Your Permit is Expiring

If your permit is approaching expiry and you don’t have a clear path forward yet, here’s where to focus.

First, take an honest look at what you can actually qualify for. That means looking at both your current situation and your options over the next three to six months. Consider the following options:

Pursue an LMIA-Backed Work Permit

Start with your employer. If there’s a genuine possibility of an LMIA, that process needs to begin as early as possible. High-wage LMIA processing currently runs around 64 business days, roughly 88 to 92 calendar days. This does not include any time required to advertise the position. IRCC gives you only 60 calendar days to provide an approved LMIA after submitting a concurrent work permit application, so you’ll have to time it well.

Remember that there are other employers out there, including some who already have an approved LMIA or who may qualify to hire certain foreign workers faster under the Global Talent Stream (GTS). So if your current employer isn’t able or willing to get an LMIA, looking for a different job is another good option.

Look For Other Ways to Boost Your CRS Score

If you’re in the Express Entry pool but an invitation to apply isn’t likely soon, there are a few options besides gaining additional Canadian experience that might be worth exploring.

Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs): Many PNP streams prioritize in-Canada applicants with employer support or in-demand occupations. A provincial nomination adds 600 points to your CRS score, which effectively guarantees an invitation to apply for permanent residence. Keep in mind that a nomination alone doesn’t give you work authorization, but a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) may be available once your PR application is submitted.

French language ability: Express Entry draws targeting French-speaking candidates have consistently come in at lower CRS cut-offs than general or category-based draws. It’s a long-term investment, but one of the few things you can actively work on right now that meaningfully improves your position in the pool.

For other tips on making your profile more competitive in the Express Entry pool, see our guide on how to improve your CRS score.

Leaving Canada Might Not Necessarily Be Permanent

If there are no options left to remain in Canada for now, leaving may be the best option. It protects your admissibility and your ability to return. Some applicants choose to do exactly that, using time abroad to accumulate foreign work experience and strengthen their CRS score before re-entering the Express Entry pool. As we’ve said before, leaving strategically is not the same as giving up or failing.

Whatever your situation, the decisions here have real consequences for your status and your long-term options in Canada. If you’re unsure about the right path forward, speak with a qualified immigration consultant before you act.