The Canadian government encouraged temporary residence to maintain legal status. The global health crisis compelled the federal government to issue a travel ban in and out of the country. Many visitors were unable to leave, leaving many foreign workers with no other option but to change their status to “visitor.” Their permits had expired, and they didn’t have the opportunity to renew them.
Canadian Foreign Work Permit: Eligibility Requirements
Working-class immigrants applying for work permits must meet the following criteria:
1. They must have a valid “visitor” status on August 24, 2020, with the desire to continue living in Canada.
2. They must have a job offer.
3. They must apply for an employer-specific work permit backed by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or an LMIA-exempt employment opportunity. The document must comply with other standard eligibility requirements and be submitted by March 31, 2021.
4. Applicants who satisfy these requirements and have had work permits within the last 12 months can commence working in their new job positions before their work permits have been fully approved.
IRCC has open communication channels for use for foreign workers with work permit issues. The department welcomes work permit applicants to contact them on their website by filling the online application form, which grants them the freedom to apply for work authorization as their new permits are being processed.
