Immigration Update: Upcoming Webinar May 20, 2020 @ 1 PM EDT and Expedited Work Permit Processing for Certain In-Canada Work Permit Applicants (May 13, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. EDT)

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UPCOMING WEBINAR
 
CILF Webinar Series: Join Us to Learn About:
Extension Application in Canada – Are you or your employees in Canada with expiring immigration status?
PLEASE ATTEND OUR WEBINAR ON Wednesday, May 20 at 1pm Eastern Time
Note that space is limited!
Covid-19 has had an impact on Canadian temporary residence applications (work permits, study permits and visitor visas) due to the travel restrictions and changes to Immigration Refugee and Citizenship Canada’s processing network and procedures. Our webinar will address best practices and strategies for those who are in Canada on temporary status, including concerns such as:
  • What if my status is expiring soon?
  • What if my status already expired?
  • What if I need to change jobs while I am in Canada?
  • Can I stay as a visitor?
  • Can I change my status to a worker if I am a visitor?
  • What if I have already reached the maximum duration of stay in my work permit category but I am stuck in Canada because of travel restriction?
  • And other related issues….
We will cover these topics and more.
We hope you will join us!

Expedited Work Permit Processing for Certain In-Canada Work Permit Applicants

We have some good news for certain in-Canada work permit applicants who are moving to a different occupation and/or employer. Effective May 12, 2020, eligible applicants can request expedited processing of their pending work permit applications.

Who is covered?

  • Those who currently hold a valid work permit who are applying from within Canada for a new closed (employer-specific) work permit
  • Those on implied status with an employer-specific work permit application in process
  • Those who are in Canada on work permit exempt status (regulation 186(b)-(x)) but are applying from within Canada for a new closed (employer-specific) work permit

Who is not covered?

  • Individuals who are out of status
  • Business visitors (regulation 186(a))
  • Those who have been working in Canada pursuant to the Global Skills Strategy work permit exemption

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible for consideration the foreign national must have a pending application (online or paper) for an employer-specific work permit submitted from within Canada using form IMM 5710.
Applications for open work permits do not qualify. Those who have applied for a work permit from outside Canada (form IMM 1295) and those who have a work permit approval notice and need to obtain the work permit at a port of entry also do not qualify.

What if I need to provide biometrics?

The biometrics requirement will be waived if the biometrics collection centre in the applicant’s area is closed due to the pandemic.

What will be issued?

The work permit itself will not necessarily be issued sooner to eligible applicants. Rather, IRCC will send a notice confirming that the foreign national is authorized to work for the new employer or in the new position until a determination is made on the pending work permit application or until the application is withdrawn.

Immigration is aiming to issue these notices within 10 business days, which is significantly quicker than the regular processing time of 3-4 months.

We also continue to recommend that anyone (including Canadian citizens and permanent residents) seeking to enter or exit Canada speak with an immigration lawyer before doing so.  Our lawyers can be reached by phone (416 368 1111) or via email: caruso@cilf.ca; guberman@cilf.ca; appleby@cilf.ca; cowling@cilf.ca;

Please contact your lawyer at CILF – Caruso Guberman Appleby for additional details or specific questions.