FCJ Refugee CentreFCJ Refugee Centre

Work Permits

What is a work permit? What is a work permit?

an individual written authorization to work an individual written authorization to work in Canadain Canada

issued by an immigration officerissued by an immigration officer for a specified length of time. for a specified length of time. either for a specified job or general either for a specified job or general

employment:employment:– Specified job based on HRSDC labour market Specified job based on HRSDC labour market

opinion/confirmation. Provincial Nomines- opinion/confirmation. Provincial Nomines- there are some exceptionsthere are some exceptions

– General employment are for temporary staysGeneral employment are for temporary stays..

Temporary stays which qualify Temporary stays which qualify for work permit:for work permit: Refugee ClaimantsRefugee Claimants Pre-Removal Risk Assessment ApplicantsPre-Removal Risk Assessment Applicants Under a Judicial Review before the Federal Under a Judicial Review before the Federal

CourtCourt Under Stay of Removal before the Federal Under Stay of Removal before the Federal

CourtCourt Temporary Resident PermitTemporary Resident Permit Convention RefugeesConvention Refugees Protected Persons Protected Persons H&C accepted in principalH&C accepted in principal Sponsorship accepted in principalSponsorship accepted in principal

Other situations that qualify for Other situations that qualify for work permit from within work permit from within

CanadaCanada you have a valid study or work permit, or your you have a valid study or work permit, or your

spouse or parents have a study or work permit spouse or parents have a study or work permit you have a work permit for one job but want to you have a work permit for one job but want to

apply for a work permit for a different job apply for a work permit for a different job you have a temporary resident permit that is you have a temporary resident permit that is

valid for six months or morevalid for six months or more you are in Canada because you have already you are in Canada because you have already

applied for permanent residence from inside applied for permanent residence from inside Canada (must be accepted in principle)Canada (must be accepted in principle)

Other situations that qualify Other situations that qualify for WP within Canadafor WP within Canada

You are from the United States, Greenland You are from the United States, Greenland or Saint-Pierre et Miquelon. or Saint-Pierre et Miquelon.

You do not need a medical examination (or You do not need a medical examination (or you already have a medical certificate). you already have a medical certificate).

You do not need a temporary resident visa You do not need a temporary resident visa to visit Canada and your job does not need to visit Canada and your job does not need a labour market opinion from HRSDC. a labour market opinion from HRSDC.

You hold a labour market opinion from You hold a labour market opinion from HRSDC. HRSDC.

HRSDC Confirmation-Exemption for HRSDC Confirmation-Exemption for specified jobs:specified jobs:

Entrepreneurs, Entrepreneurs, Company Transfers, Exchange Programs, Company Transfers, Exchange Programs, Students Doing Co-op, Students Doing Co-op, SpousesSpouses and common-law partners of skilled and common-law partners of skilled

foreign workers/of certain foreign students, foreign workers/of certain foreign students, employment for certain foreign students and post-employment for certain foreign students and post-doctoral fellows.doctoral fellows.

Religious Work, Religious Work, Certain persons who need to support themselves Certain persons who need to support themselves

while they are in Canada for other reasons such while they are in Canada for other reasons such as: refugee claimants, Convention Refugees, as: refugee claimants, Convention Refugees, Protected Persons and H&C.Protected Persons and H&C.

Trade Agreements: Trade Agreements: North American Free Trade North American Free Trade AgreementAgreement, , Canada-Chile Free Trade AgreementCanada-Chile Free Trade Agreement and and General Agreement on Trade in ServicesGeneral Agreement on Trade in Services

What is needed for initial or What is needed for initial or renewal of work permit for renewal of work permit for

a Refugee Claimant? a Refugee Claimant?

PIF must already be submittedPIF must already be submitted Medicals already cleared by CIC (takes 2 Medicals already cleared by CIC (takes 2

months since send by Doctor) months since send by Doctor) Proof of the CIC referral ID document to Proof of the CIC referral ID document to

the IRB;the IRB; Application properly filled out.Application properly filled out. Payment of fees is not required;Payment of fees is not required; Proof from Ontario Works Proof from Ontario Works

Work permit for a non-refugee Work permit for a non-refugee claimant?claimant?

A non-refugee claimant is: A non-refugee claimant is: Pre-Removal Risk Assessment, Under a Judicial Review or Stay of Pre-Removal Risk Assessment, Under a Judicial Review or Stay of Removal before the Federal Court, H&C Acceptance in principal, Removal before the Federal Court, H&C Acceptance in principal, sponsorship acceptance in principal and Temporary Resident sponsorship acceptance in principal and Temporary Resident Permit.Permit.

What is needed?What is needed? Letter of employmentLetter of employment Medical doneMedical done Proof of status Proof of status

(CIC ID document, letter of H&C acceptance in principal, (CIC ID document, letter of H&C acceptance in principal, federal court documents, TRP)federal court documents, TRP)

Application properly filled out.Application properly filled out. Payment of fees is required;Payment of fees is required;

What is needed for a What is needed for a Convention Refugee or Convention Refugee or

Protected Person?Protected Person? Proof of status Proof of status

(IRB decision, PRRA decision)(IRB decision, PRRA decision) Application properly filled out.Application properly filled out. Payment of fees is not required;Payment of fees is not required;

Name of Application for Name of Application for Work Permit:Work Permit:

Application to change conditions, extend my Application to change conditions, extend my stay or remain in Canada stay or remain in Canada

Number of the form is (IMM 1249)Number of the form is (IMM 1249)

This form can be used to apply for more than This form can be used to apply for more than one of the servicesone of the services

At the top of the application you can choose At the top of the application you can choose for “B” student or “C” work permit (either or for “B” student or “C” work permit (either or both) both)

parts “A” and “B” of parts “A” and “B” of applicationapplication

Part “A” is for singles or main applicant of Part “A” is for singles or main applicant of a familya familyIt is important to include the correct addressIt is important to include the correct address

Part “B” is for all nuclear family members Part “B” is for all nuclear family members (in Canada or abroad). Must include all (in Canada or abroad). Must include all nuclear family membersnuclear family members

Under each family member, depending on Under each family member, depending on the age, you can request “B” student or the age, you can request “B” student or “C” work permit (either or both). “C” work permit (either or both).

Non refugee claimant must pay fee for Non refugee claimant must pay fee for each serviceeach service

Parts “C” and “D” Parts “C” and “D”

Part “C”:Part “C”: Q #7 & #8: Q #7 & #8:

same as in the PIFsame as in the PIF

Suggested answer for Q. # 9: Suggested answer for Q. # 9: Fleeing persecution.Fleeing persecution.

Part “D”:Part “D”: Q # 10: Q # 10:

check change of conditionscheck change of conditions

Q # 11: Q # 11: less money is bestless money is best

Parts “E”, “F” & “G”Parts “E”, “F” & “G”

Part “E”: Part “E”: If you answer yes to any of the following questions, ask If you answer yes to any of the following questions, ask

for legal help. Your WP could be refused.for legal help. Your WP could be refused.

– Q # 12: in theory it is not a problem to say the Q # 12: in theory it is not a problem to say the truth truth

– Q # 13: immigration detention is not considered Q # 13: immigration detention is not considered a criminal charge. a criminal charge.

– Q # 14: for serious illness you need medical Q # 14: for serious illness you need medical confirmation. Do not go by your personal opinion.confirmation. Do not go by your personal opinion.

Part “F”: no photographsPart “F”: no photographs Part “G”: Do not forget to sign. Part “G”: Do not forget to sign.

Payment of FeesPayment of Fees

On-line by credit cardOn-line by credit card At any bank At any bank You must include proof of payment You must include proof of payment

with your application:with your application:Print on-line receipt Print on-line receipt include the pink and white portion of the include the pink and white portion of the

receipt stamped by bankreceipt stamped by bank

How long does it take and how How long does it take and how to checkto check

Better to use registered mail Better to use registered mail According to CIC it takes 55 days According to CIC it takes 55 days

after the application is received.after the application is received. The only way to check is by phoning The only way to check is by phoning

1 888 242 21001 888 242 2100