Some migrants in Canada lose work status while applications languish

Migrants living in Canada are facing longer waits to renew paperwork that would allow them to keep working legally, as growing backlogs and changing rules stymie efforts to maintain legal status, according to interviews and data obtained by Reuters.Losing status means people who have paid taxes cannot work or access medical care and other services in a country that has long prided itself for its universal health care. Canada is trying to reduce the number of migrants in the country as they have been blamed for straining services – a sharp change after years of growth – and is relying on people to leave voluntarily to meet its targets.Canada’s immigration department said people can work while their application is processed but did not respond by the deadline to a question about people who lose status because of long waits.