Good news canada | Visitors can now apply for a work permit from within Canada

 The IRCC says the new temporary policy will benefit temporary residents with job offers and Canadian employers.

 

International visitors who are currently in Canada with job offers can now apply for a work permit without leaving the country.

According to an Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) media release, the new policy comes into force with immediate effect. This will benefit temporary residents who are already in Canada with a job offer, but it does not apply to anyone arriving in Canada after today, August 24.

Visitors who meet eligibility criteria are able to apply to the new temporary immigration policy, which includes super visa holders, business visitors and those who came to Canada through the Global Skills Strategy Work Permit Waiver.

 

 

Before today, people applying for their work permits as temporary residents would usually have to apply for their initial work permit before coming to Canada. If they already had visitor status when they were approved for a work permit, they would need to leave the country and return to activate the permit.

The policy also benefits Canadian employers who are hiring foreign workers, some of whom have faced ongoing labor shortages during the pandemic.

"We have heard from employers who continue to face the challenges of recruiting and hiring workers during the pandemic," Canada's immigration minister, Marco Mendicino, said in the release. "This exemption from normal temporary work permit requirements is aimed at removing barriers to creating a more agile workforce that leverages visitors with the skills and experience to accelerate our economic recovery."

We have heard from employers who continue to face challenges recruiting and hiring the workers they need during the pandemic. At the same time, some visitors in Canada may be able to contribute their skills where there are labour shortages. 1/2

— Marco Mendicino (@marcomendicino) August 24, 2020

Canada encouraged temporary residents living in Canada to maintain legal status. Given that air travel is restricted around the world, some visitors have been unable to leave, and some foreign workers had to change their status to "visitor" as their work permit was expiring and they could apply for a new job. were not able to. permit because he did not have a job offer. 

Applicants should fulfill the following eligibility criteria:

• Valid status as a visitor to Canada as of August 24, 2020, with the intention of staying in Canada;

• employment offer;

• An application for an employer-specific work permit supported by a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or LMIA-free job offer submitted no later than March 31, 2021; And

• All other standards meet the acceptability criteria.
  
  Applicants who meet all of these criteria, and who have had a valid work permit in the past 12 months, will be able to start working for their new employer before their work permit is fully approved.
  
  IRCC says that work permit applicants can contact them through their web form to apply for work authorization while waiting for their new permit.
  

 Can I apply for a work permit as a visitor already in Canada?

The short answer to this question is yes, but, generally speaking, no. One of the conditions for obtaining a visitor visa is that you must have ties such as a job, home, financial assets or family that will take you back to your home country, and that you will leave Canada at the end of your visit. These rules are designed to ensure that visitors are genuine visitors using a visa and are not using it as a means to enter the country for any other purpose.

Immigration rules state that you can only apply for a work permit if you are already in Canada, if any of the following apply:

 

If you are currently on a visitor visa to Canada and have decided that you want to live and work, it is important that you understand your immigration status before proceeding. This is because by applying for a job, you may inadvertently violate the terms of your visitor visa, and this could jeopardize your ability to obtain a work permit in the future.

It is always recommended that you follow the correct procedure, you enlist the services of an immigration attorney who can advise you about your options. Doing so can save you money and time, allowing you to go ahead with your plans without unnecessary delay. In this article, we'll summarize your immigration status as a Canadian visitor and how you can secure a work permit. As you will see, due to COVID-19, the rules for allowing visitors to apply for work permits have changed.

Can I apply for a work permit as a visitor already in Canada?

The short answer to this question is yes, but, generally speaking, no. One of the conditions for obtaining a visitor visa is that you must have ties such as a job, home, financial assets or family that will take you back to your home country, and that you will leave Canada at the end of your visit. These rules are designed to ensure that visitors are genuine visitors using a visa and are not using it as a means to enter the country for any other purpose.

Immigration rules state that you can only apply for a work permit if you are already in Canada, if any of the following apply: 

What are the new rules for visitors applying for work permits in Canada due to COVID-19?

The Government of Canada website currently advises, "Generally speaking, visitors cannot apply for a work permit from inside Canada. Due to COVID-19, visitors can now apply for a work permit online by following the steps below." Can apply. It should be emphasized that this applies only at the time of writing and prospective applicants should check whether this rule currently applies. As the situation related to COVID-19 is constantly changing, and the government is regularly reviewing its status, the ability for visitors within Canada to apply for a work permit may be revoked at any time,

Am I eligible to apply for a work permit?

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) provides a highly detailed guide to applying for a work permit, which must be read to ensure that you meet all eligibility criteria. To apply for a work permit, you must have a job offer from a qualified employer in Canada. When you apply, IRCC will check the following: