PGWP expiring—study French at a DLI or continue Express Entry from abroad?

Hello everyone,

My PGWP expires soon. I have lived and worked in Canada for almost five years and already have an active Express Entry profile.

Unfortunately, I did not achieve the French-language score I needed before my permit expiry, so I am preparing to leave Canada and continue studying French from abroad. My goal is to retake the TEF or TCF, update my Express Entry profile, and apply for permanent residence if I receive an invitation.

I am currently comparing two options:

1. Apply for a study permit for a genuine full-time French-language program at a designated learning institution and continue preparing for the French exam in Canada.
2. Return to my home country, study French there, retake the exam, and remain in the Express Entry pool from outside Canada.

I understand that admission to a DLI or obtaining a study permit does not automatically lead to an Invitation to Apply.

My questions are:

• Has anyone received a study permit for full-time French-language study after their PGWP expired?
• What official requirements should I verify before considering this option?
• Are there disadvantages to changing from worker status to student status instead of leaving Canada?
• If I leave Canada, what information must I update in my Express Entry profile, such as my address, country of residence, or employment?
• Has anyone successfully continued their Express Entry application from abroad after their PGWP expired?

I would appreciate official sources or first-hand experiences from people who faced a similar decision.

Thank you.