IRCC issued a temporary policy to help Canadian Employers and Temporary Residents get work permits from within Canada.
On August 24 2020, the minister of Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada – IRCC Honourable Marco E.L. Mendicino, announced a temporary public policy In order to reduce the effects of Covid-19 on Canadian employers and temporary visitors to Canada.
As per the press release, temporary residents currently inside Canada will be able to apply for work permits, without having to leave the country. This policy will allow temporary residents to maintain legal status inside Canada while the pandemic is still not over. Additionally, the Canadian employers who have been struggling to find workers during these hard times will be benefited through this policy. In the event that no Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident is available to fulfill the requirements of an employer, an LMIA could be issued to help the employer meet the demand of the labour requirements.
In order to be eligible for a work permit, the temporary resident must:
· have a valid status of a visitor inside Canada as of August 24, 2020
· have a valid job offer
· submit an application for Labour Market Impact Assessment – LMIA or must be apply for a job that is LMIA exempt
· meet the other eligibility criteria for a work permit
This policy also provides relief to temporary workers who had work permits in the past 12 months. They may start working for their new employer even before the work permit has been fully approved IRCC.
If you have questions or need assistance if apply for an LMIA or a work permit, speak to us today.