Cornerston Immigration is informing all clients and prospective immigrants about significant updates to Canada’s immigration policies recently announced by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

The first change is effective immediately. 

1. The temporary public policy that allowed visitors to apply for a work permit from within Canada has been rescinded.

The second change will come into effect on Sept 26, 2024

       2. Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) in the Low-Wage stream will not be processed for census metropolitan areas where the unemployment rate exceeds 6%

The First Change – Inside Canada Applications

This policy, initially introduced in August 2020, was designed as a temporary measure during the COVID-19 pandemic to assist visitors who were unable to leave Canada due to travel restrictions. It allowed those visitors to apply for a work permit without needing to exit the country. Additionally, foreign nationals who had held a work permit in the previous 12 months and had switched to “visitor” status could work legally in Canada while awaiting a decision on their new work permit application.

The policy states that visitors in Canada are now required to apply for a work permit from outside the country.  This does not necessarily mean that you would need to be physically outside of Canada to apply but rather that the applications themselves will be sent to processing centres outside Canada.  Previously for example, work permit applications were sent to Buffalo, NY, USA and study permits were sent to Los Angeles CA, USA.

The Second Change – Low Wage LMIA’s

LMIA’s in low wage categories will no longer be accepted for individuals wanting to work in metropolitan cities where the average unemployment rate is higher than 6%. Furthermore, Employers can now only hire 10% of their employees under the Temporary Foreign Worker program. 

There are however exceptions with respect to jobs in sectors deemed “critical to food security” such as primary agriculture, food processing, and fish processing jobs.  There are also exceptions in the construction and healthcare sectors.

Important to remember is that, outside major Canadian cities, most areas continue to experience unemployment rates below 6%, which still leaves many opportunities for low wage LMIA applications in Canada.

What This Means For You

These changes come just as IRCC also announced a high backlog of over one million applications.  As a result, processing times for work permits and permanent residency applications will be getting longer

How We Can Help

Call us to schedule a consultation in which we will assess your unique situation and determine the best steps to take in moving forward.  Cornerston Immigration is here to help you navigate these complex changes and ensure your path to staying in or coming to Canada remains clear. We provide you with personalized guidance and up-to-date information on how any policy changes now or in the future may impact your immigration journey.

We Recommend

We recommend that anyone thinking about applying for Permanent Residency, a work permit, or a work permit extension, do so as soon as possible.  Even if you think you are currently not eligible to apply at the moment, we can prepare your application in advance and submit it when the time is right for you.

For more information, please email us at [email protected] or call  +1 250-940-3597