Important update for visitors in Canada: as of August 28, you can no longer apply for a work permit from within the country. This change affects those who are in Canada on a visitor visa. You might recall that in August 2020, a temporary policy was introduce to help visitors who were stuck in Canada due to COVID-19 border closures. 

This policy allowed them to apply for a work permit without having to leave Canada. Additionally, it enabled those who had held a work permit in the past 12 months, but had switched to a visitor status, to continue working legally in Canada while waiting for their new work permit application to be processed. However, this policy has now come to an end.

Update: the temporary policy allowing visitors to apply for work permits from within Canada was originally set to expire on February 28, 2025. However, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced that it’s ending the policy effective immediately. The reason? IRCC wants to “recalibrate” the number of temporary residents in Canada and ensure the integrity of the immigration system.

But don’t worry if you already applied under this policy – IRCC will still process applications received before August 28. It’s a significant change, and we’ll be keeping an eye on how it impacts visitors and workers in Canada.

Crackdown on Bad Actors: IRCC’s Early Rollback

The Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is ending the temporary policy early, citing concerns about “bad actors” exploiting the system. These individuals were misleading foreign nationals into working in Canada without proper authorization. This move is part of IRCC’s ongoing efforts to combat immigration fraud and reduce temporary resident levels.

Here are some key highlights

– 700 Indian international students affect: Last year, it was discover that 700 Indian students were in Canada with false letter of acceptance from Designate Learning Institutions (DLIs). Many were unaware their letters were fake.

– New verification process: IRCC now requires DLIs to verify all letters of acceptance within 10 days of receiving an international student application.

– Cap on international students: Canada has capped the number of international students it will accept for the next two years to prevent similar incidents.

Canada Cracks Down on Temporary Foreign Workers

The end of the temporary policy allowing visitors to apply for work permits is just the latest in a series of changes aim at reducing Canada’s temporary foreign worker levels. 

Here are the key highlights:

– On LMIA applications: By September 26th, 2024, the processing of some Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) applications will be pause for applicants in areas with high unemployment rate (6% or higher).

– Restrictions on foreign workers: Employers can now only hire foreign workers up to 10% of their total workforce under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).

– The Canadian government is reducing the maximum employment term for Low-Wage stream workers from two years to one year.

– Rollback of pandemic-era policies: temporary policies introduced during the pandemic, such as allowing employers to hire up to 30% of their workforce through the Low-Wage stream & increasing the validity period of LMIA to 12 months.

Note: These changes are part of a larger effort to manage and reduce temporary resident levels in Canada. Immigration Minister Marc Miller has also announced plans to consider changes to permanent residence levels in the coming years.

Here’s what you need to know:

– The Canadian government has made a historic move by including temporary resident levels in the annual Immigration Levels Plan for the first time.

– Government’s focus on immigration: Immigration has become a key topic in Canada, with ongoing announcements related to managing and reducing temporary resident levels.