The process for some holders of Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWPs) to apply for a new open work permit or to extend their current permit has been made clear by Canada.
In April, Immigration Minister Sean Fraser first announced the extraordinary measure. The minister had said last week that the impediment in issuing the new instructions was due to a technical problem.
Those who have PGWP which is expiring between 20 September 2021 and 31 December 2022 should heed the instructions, PGWP usually runs only once. A three-year open work permit is available for international graduates of full-time study who qualify. Nevertheless, the new rule will enable PGWP holders who meet the requirements to do so to renew existing work permits or can apply for new open work permits that are valid for an additional 18 months.
You are not permitted to apply for this work visa at the entrance port, according to the IRCC. By 31 December 2022, every application for a work permit under this Public Policy must be made online.
In the interim, while their permit is being renewed or a new one is being obtained, individuals who are already in Canada will also be eligible to work.
Each applicant’s experience with these requirements will vary. IRCC has provided the following examples:
1. Your PGWP is expiring between October 2 and December 31, 2022, your passport is still valid till April 2024, and your residence is current.
There is no action required from you. Never confirm your mailing address in response to an email from IRCC. By mid-October, you will receive a new work permit by mail to your address.
2. you must change your residence or passport validity if your PGWP expires between 2 October 2022 to 31 December 2022.
IRCC will email you to request confirmation of your mailing address. To notify IRCC that your mailing address needs to be updated, adhere to the instructions in the email.
This first email will not be sent to you if IRCC cannot renew your work visa for 18 months due to the expiration of your passport; Instead, you will receive a separate email in September.
Instructions to amend the postal address and passport validity of your online account will be emailed to you in September, if necessary. You have two weeks to complete it. If you change this information, you will be given a new work permit by mid-November.
Requesting a passport extension is the best way to ensure that you can take advantage of the offer if your passport expires before April 2, 2024. If you apply for your PGWP through a paper application, it should be linked to your online account.
3. You can’t amend your address or passport’s validity, and your PGWP expires between October 2 and December 31, 2022.
You must fill out an online application to renew your work permit. You can either wait to apply until your passport is renewed or obtain a work permit that is valid until the expiration date of your passport.
4. Although your PGWP expires between October 2 and December 31, 2022, IRCC made no attempt to get in touch with you.
If you haven’t received a notification from IRCC by mid-September, there may be another reason, for example, new information about your acceptance to Canada has been added to your file and needs to be reviewed further, your work visa was extended under this special procedure.
5. Your PGWP expired on September 20, 2021, or it will on October 1, 2022.
According to IRCC, you must submit an online work permit application. On 2 August 2022, applications are accepted. when your temporary status expires while you are still in Canada. You must simultaneously apply to have it reinstated. If your status has terminated over 90 days ago, you may be able to revive it under some extraordinary circumstances.
If you’ve left Canada and want to come back after being accepted, you may submit an application from overseas.
Candidates may perform interim employment
PGWP holders with expired or soon-to-expire credentials will get email notifications from IRCC between September 20, 2021, and December 31, 2022. In accordance with the email, individuals are allowed to be employed in Canada in the duration.
Anyone who receives the email can include it in their PGWP as proof of authorization to work in Canada for their employer. The purpose of this one-time action is to make sure that those who qualify for the additional 18-month work period can continue working or enter the workforce while they submit an application for a new work permit. The interim work period will last through May 31, 2023, according to the IRCC.
According to IRCC, this email notice merely permits the recipient to go to work. It does not reinstate a person’s status as a legitimate temporary resident if such status has already expired. Its objective is to guarantee that those whose PGWPs have expired or are about to expire will continue their employment while they wait for an amended or renewed open work permit.
When applying for a new work visa, if you are out of status, you must also apply to get back into status. If your status has expired more than 90 days ago but you are still eligible, you may still submit an application for restoration.
If you live presently outside of Canada and possess a legitimate temporary residence visa, you may return and apply for a work permit. However, email notices of temporary work licenses cannot be used in and of themselves to leave for Canada.
Candidates for the paths from temporary residents to permanent residents must have work permits
An open work permit can also be applied for by candidates who are members of the temporary resident to permanent resident (TR2PR) and whose permanent residency application has not yet been approved. By taking this precaution, TR2PR applicants can continue to work while awaiting a decision on their application for permanent residency.
According to IRCC, “Those requesting for an open work permit may now obtain one that has an end date of December 31, 2024, if your passport is acceptable through that date.” This is because it is anticipated that processing TR to PR applications may take some time.
The immigration service also reported that this strategy had already resulted in roughly 2,500 TR to PR candidates receiving an open work permit. The validity period for these work permits expires on December 31, 2022, and holders will soon get an email advising them that they might be able to extend the validity period.
According to the IRCC, these employees do not require to take any action if they have a current mailing address and are still living in Canada. It is possible to mail them an updated work permit with an expiration date of 31 December 2024. By mid-October, they should have got it.
This email will not be sent to applicants whose passports expire before December 31, 2024, and they will not be qualified to modify the period of their current work permit using the special measure. They are still eligible to make an application and request a prolonged work permit, whether they do it before their passport expires or when they’ve replaced it.
The person will lose their eligibility for the special measure if they need to amend their mailing address or if they choose not to get one through this process. Online applications are required.
What makes the announcement so crucial?
The legislation’s main objective is to give Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates respite from the burden of having to wait until September 2021 to file an Express Entry application.
IRCC suspended draws for these applicants, who often conduct PGWPS, in an effort to reduce the backlog in immigration petitions following the final CEC-specific draw on 21 September 21. Due to the large number of applicants queuing up, IRCC was unable to complete these applications within the required six months. Since July 6, all candidates can participate in Express Entry drawings. The IRCC invited 1,164 CEC applicants in total throughout the month of July after holding a second all-program draw on July 20.
A PGWP holder can generally qualify for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) if they respond to an ITA for permanent residency if their work permit expires before the IRCC can reach a decision on their filing. While their PR application is being processed, immigrants who have expired or other temporary work permits are still allowed to live in Canada under BOWP.
The applicant will be entitled to continuous status if the PGWP expires while the BOWP is being completed. It’s crucial to realize that the retained status clause only applies if you, as a temporary resident, file an application for another temporary residency status. The lack of application when a person transitions from a temporary resident to a permanent resident is the reason that BOWP is required.
To offer new permanent resident status alternatives for temporary residents, IRCC is currently developing a proposal. In the first several years after arriving, studies have indicated that immigrants with Canadian experience typically perform better on the job market.
In addition to being mentioned in the minister’s letter of authority, Fraser has been given a deadline to come up with a solution according to a resolution introduced by Randeep Sarai, the British Columbia representative for Surrey Centre. On May 11, the minister was given 120 days to create and publish a plan that would enable more temporary residents to become permanent residents.
In an interview with Media on June 21, Fraser said that “We should be able to provide some clarification around what these courses would entail over the next few months. I’m eager for it because it’s a tremendous opportunity for Canada.
