Recently, Canada has released a quick guide on how essential workers and international students can apply for the open work permit.
Few instructions have been imposed from immigration, refugee, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), especially for those who have applied for the new temporary residence to the permanent resident pathway. The Canadian immigration department had released the official instructions online.
Recently in May, six new temporary residents to permanent resident pathways programs were formed to provide immigration pathways mainly for the international student graduates, French speakers in Canada, and essential workers.
Those eligible for the new immigration program must own temporary resident documents in Canada, including a study permit or work permit. The new open permit is mainly for those individuals who have applied for the immigration programs having less validity on their present documents. This work as a bridging open work permit, enabling candidates to remain in Canada while immigration, refugee, and citizenship Canada will review their application.
These work permits will only be valid till December 31 2022. Suppose the immediate relatives of the candidate, like a common-law partner or dependent child, are more than 18 years of age and are presently in Canada. In that case, they are also eligible to apply for the permit.
Which programs does it apply to?
The new work permit applies mainly to the temporary resident to the permanent resident pathway. There are six programs, out of which three of the programs have intake cape and are eligible for English speakers. The other three programs are for French speakers and do not have any limit for the application.
The lists of the programs along with the quotas are mentioned below:
- Those individuals working in Canada – Stream A for health care workers (20,000 applications)
- Individuals working in Canada – Stream B for essential non-healthcare workers (30,000 applications – Full)
- For the International graduates – 40,000 applications – Full)
- Workers in Canada – Stream A mainly for French-speaking health care workers (no cap)
- Workers in Canada – Stream B basically for French-speaking essential non-healthcare workers (no cap)
- French-speaking international graduates (no cap)
All the newly released programs are scheduled to take down on November 5 or until IRCC gets the maximum number of applications filed for every program. As of now, there are only international graduate programs, and routes for the essential workers in non-healthcare professionals have been filled up.
When can TR to PR applicants apply?
As per the recent announcements from immigration, refugees, and citizenship Canada (IRCC), TR to PR applicants can apply four months before the current temporary status expiry. In addition, a family member of the applicants can apply for the permits at any time. However, applicants can also apply for the permit anytime only if they are presently on the maintained status or eligible to restore it.
How to apply?
The only way through which you can apply for the passes is online. You do not have the facility to apply for the passes at the port of entry. In case due to some reasons if you are unable to apply for the permits online, like for disability reasons or due to poor internet connection. For such a case, IRCC also allows the applicant to accept the paper application.
Step 1. Get everything you need
To apply online, you will require keeping all the essential things with you, like a scanner or a camera. However, you will require having your debit or credit card with you to pay the fees.
You must check the official release instruction of IRCC to fill the forms properly; you will require an Adobe Acrobat reader installed on your computer.
Step 2. Pay your fees
The applicant will be required to pay the $155 work permit extension fee by visiting the government’s official website. The reason behind this is that you are exempted from paying $100, i.e., open work permit holder’s fee that you need to pay before applying online.
Step 3. Login to IRCC account
Before you start applying online, ensure that you have an account with IRCC. With the help of this account, you can submit your required application form and check the status of your application.
After you have signed into your account, you will require to visit the “Start your application” section allocated on the account home page. After that, you need to click on the “Apply to come to Canada.” After doing the above step, you will have to scroll down to the “I do not have a personal reference code” section. After that, you need to tap on the “Visitor visa, study and work permit” button. Now, the final step is to move on to the next page and choose “work.”
Step 4. Get document checklist
After you have successfully created your account, you will then require answering few questions to get the personalized document checklist.
Suppose you are looking to work in Canada temporarily for more than six months. However, both the student and workers are required to choose “worker” whenever asked, “Current immigration status in Canada?”
Whenever you are questioned about, which scheme applies to you, then select “I am applying for an open work permit under an active public policy or pilot program announced by IRCC.”
After that, you will be asked that “Are there any fees associated with this application. Do you need to pay the fee, or you are fee exempt? Finally, you will need to answer, “No, I am exempted from paying the application fees even when you have already paid the $155 fee but exempted from paying for the open work permit holder.
Step 5. Fill out the forms
The official instructions released by the IRCC will help you fill out the form after you have followed all the instructions for the document checklist.
One of the relevant documents you need to submit will be the IMM 5710 form, also known as “Application to Change Conditions or Extend my Stay or Remain in Canada as a Worker.” First, in the “Details of Intended Work in Canada” section under dialogue box 1, choose “Open Work Permit.” After that, in Box 4, key in “TRPR pathway PP OWP” in the Job Title box. Then you will require to key in the name of the PR stream you have applied for in the “Brief description of duties” box.
For the “timeframe of the expected employment,” you can request the ending date, which should not be later than December 21, 2022. Moreover, you cannot demand the date that falls beyond the expiry of the passport.
Step 6. Upload the correct documents
For the principal applicant, there are some of the documents that you require to include is the photocopy of your fees receipt, any valid evidence which proves that you were previously working lawfully when you applied for the work permit, a photocopy of your passport, a digital photo, Family information form, test results and proof of language.
You might also be required to undergo the medical exam and submit the medical report or several other documents, including marriage certificates or birth certificates, for any family members accompanying you.
After applying
Once you have successfully applied for the application, the immigration officer will thoroughly review your application. The officer will check your employer’s compliance record to ensure that you are eligible. They also ensure that you have successfully qualified for applying for the work permit.
If the officer found that your application is incomplete, they will return it without even processing it. However, the immigration officer might also demand submitting some additional information.
Moreover, suppose you are eligible, and your application gets processed. In that case, the Canadian government will mail the work permit to your registered Canadian address, which you entered while completing the application. The work permit will contain information about the type of work you are eligible for, the employer you will be working for, the work location, and how long you can work.