New measures for applicants to the TR to PR pathway: Open Work Permit
Canada has released instructions for applicants who are part of the temporary resident to permanent resident (TR to PR) pathway, and whose permanent residence application has not yet been finalized. According to the new measures these applicants are now eligible to apply for an open work permit. In this way, they won’t lose their status or ability to work while they wait for their PR application.
The TR to PR Pathway was opened on May 6th to health care workers (cap 20,000), essential workers (cap 30,000), and international students (cap 40,0000). The last two subcategories reached their maximum capacity. However, more than 13,000 of the 20,000 spots in the healthcare stream were unfilled. IRCC ended the TR to PR pathway as planned on Nov 5, 2021.
New Measures:
Those applying for an open work permit can now receive one with an end date of December 31, 2024. Of course, the end date will depend on how long the applicant’s passport is valid.
According to IRCC, about 2,500 TR to PR applicants already applied for and received an open work permit through this measure that have an end date of December 31, 2022. These individuals will soon begin receiving an email. The email will tell them that they may be able to get their work permit updated with a longer validity date.
What to do after receiving the mail from IRCC?
If your mailing address is up to date and you are still in Canada, you do not have to do anything. An updated work permit with a validity date of December 31, 2024, will be mailed to you. You should receive this work permit by mid-October.
If the individual needs to update their mailing address, or if they opt-out of receiving an open work permit through this process, they will no longer be eligible for the special measure. They will need to apply online.
Applicants with passports that expire before December 31, 2024
These applicants will not receive this email and will not be eligible to change the length of their current work permit through the special measure.
In this case, applicants apply for a work permit, either by:
- applying to get a work permit to match the day their passport expires, or
- applying after they have updated their passport.
You can find more about this special measure, here. We can also help you with your applications.
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