This program is to expire on July 31, 2020, but IRCC is making it a permanent policy. This requires time to change regulations to reflect it as a permanently legislated program, instead of only a policy.
Eligibility
Officers will issue open work permits to SCLPC class applicants if they meet the following requirements:
- a complete permanent residence application has been submitted under the SCLPC class and is currently being processed, or has been received by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada for processing
- a Canadian citizen or permanent resident spouse has submitted a sponsorship application on their behalf,
- the SCLPC class applicant resides at the same address as the sponsor,
- the SCLPC class applicant has valid temporary resident status or their application for restoration of status with authorization to work has been received and the officer is satisfied that the SCLPC class applicant is eligible for restoration
For further information on maintenance of status, please see Temporary residents: Eligibility for extending temporary resident status.
The following foreign nationals do not qualify for the open work permit pilot program:
- applicants who have applied for permanent residence under the SCLPC class and have been refused or have withdrawn that application before submitting the open work permit pilot application
- applicants whose application for permanent residence is being processed under the spousal public policy (subcategory “PP” in the Global Case Management System [GCMS]) on the basis that they do not have a valid temporary resident status (these applicants must wait until they receive approval in principle to be eligible to apply for an open work permit)
- applicants who have applied as members of the overseas family class, including those living in Canada
- applicants applying for the work permit pilot program at a port of entry
Case processing centres will ensure that the requirements for the open work permit pilot program are met. They will also conduct system checks to identify any adverse information on either the sponsor or the applicant that would render the applicant ineligible for an open work permit.
If there is information that an applicant is inadmissible, their application for an open work permit will be placed on hold until a decision is made regarding their permanent residence application and the inadmissibility.
In situations where a temporary resident permit is issued to the applicant to overcome an inadmissibility and where the person is an applicant for permanent residence under the SCLPC class, they may be issued an open work permit under this pilot program, or they may meet the requirements under a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) exemption (see International Mobility Program: Humanitarian reasons [R208]).
Work permit issuance in GCMS
Under the Application screen, the work permit shall be coded as follows:
Case type: 27
Special Program Code: “SPO” (sponsored spouse or partner)
Province of Destination: “Unknown” or “Open”
LMIA – Exemption code: “A70”
NOC code: “9999”
Intended Occupation: “Open”
Duration: Maximum of 2 years or until the date the SCLPC class applicant’s passport expires, whichever is the earliest
User Remarks: “Pending SCLPC APR”
Conditions: If a medical examination has not been completed, work permits should be open employer/occupation-restricted
For more information, click here.