Tag: Canada Immigration

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Canada Announces New Open Work Permit for Family Class and Spousal Applicants

Canada Announces New Open Work Permit for Family Class and Spousal Applicants

Introduction

In a welcome move for individuals seeking to reunite with their families in Canada, the Canadian government has recently announced a new policy to introduce an open work permit for family class and spousal applicants. This initiative aims to facilitate the immigration process and provide greater opportunities for family members to work while residing in Canada. Let’s delve deeper into the details of this new policy and its potential impact.

New Policy Details

On May 27, 2023, Canada’s government announced the introduction of an open work permit for family class and spousal applicants. This policy allows individuals who are in the process of sponsoring their spouse or common-law partner, as well as parents and grandparents, to obtain an open work permit while their application is being processed. The open work permit will enable them to work for any Canadian employer and gain valuable Canadian work experience during this period.

Benefits for Applicants

The introduction of the open work permit for family class and spousal applicants brings several benefits. Firstly, it allows individuals to be reunited with their loved ones in Canada while they await the outcome of their sponsorship application. This helps reduce the stress and emotional burden of being separated from family members during the immigration process.

Moreover, the open work permit provides individuals with the opportunity to support themselves financially and contribute to the Canadian economy. By being able to work for any employer in Canada, family class and spousal applicants can explore job opportunities that align with their skills and qualifications, thus enhancing their professional growth.

Benefits for Canada

The new open work permit policy aligns with Canada’s commitment to family reunification and supporting immigrants’ successful integration into Canadian society. By allowing family class and spousal applicants to work, Canada acknowledges the importance of their contributions to the country’s economy and social fabric.

The policy also addresses labor market needs in certain sectors by providing Canadian employers with access to a diverse pool of talent. By welcoming skilled individuals who are waiting for their sponsorship applications to be processed, the open work permit facilitates the filling of job vacancies, contributing to economic growth and reducing labor market gaps.

Enhanced Opportunities for Permanent Residency

In addition to the immediate benefits of reuniting with family and gaining work experience, the open work permit for family class and spousal applicants also enhances their prospects for obtaining permanent residency in Canada. Canadian work experience is highly valued when assessing applicants for immigration programs, such as the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). The open work permit allows individuals to accumulate valuable work experience, which can significantly strengthen their immigration profile.

Conclusion

Canada’s new policy of introducing an open work permit for family class and spousal applicants is a significant step towards facilitating family reunification and supporting immigrants in their journey to establish themselves in Canada. By granting individuals the opportunity to work and contribute to the Canadian economy, this policy demonstrates the country’s commitment to inclusivity and integration.

The open work permit not only provides immediate benefits for family members waiting for their sponsorship applications but also enhances their long-term prospects for permanent residency. As Canada continues to prioritize family reunification and the economic well-being of immigrants, this policy will undoubtedly play a crucial role in shaping a more vibrant and diverse society.

References:

  1. Canada announces new open work permit for family class and spousal applicants. (2023, May 27). Business Today. Retrieved from https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/in-focus/story/canada-announces-new-open-work-permit-for-family-class-and-spousal-applicants-383091-2023-05-27
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PGWP Application in Canada: Why Last-Minute Submissions Can Result in Rejections

PGWP denied

Submitting a visa application can be a stressful experience, especially if you’re unsure about the requirements and the timeline. When it comes to the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) application in Canada, it’s crucial to understand that the application process can be affected by your immigration status, time zone differences, and online application submission policies. In this blog post, we’ll explore how missing out on some key details could result in a rejection of your PGWP application.

If you stay in Canada after your study permit expires, you need to restore your status as a student to apply for a PGWP. One of the essential requirements for restoring your status is to pay additional fees. The restoration of status fee is currently $200 CAD, and it must be paid along with your PGWP application.

The Canadian government website states that “if you stay in Canada and let your permit expire, you must apply to restore your status as a student to apply for your PGWP. To restore your status, you must pay additional fees.” This requirement is often overlooked by international students, leading to unnecessary delays or even rejections of their PGWP applications.

Another crucial detail to keep in mind is the time zone difference between your location and the UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) time zone, which is used by IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) for online application submissions. IRCC requires all electronic applications to be submitted before midnight UTC on the date the applicant’s status expires.

According to the IRCC website, “receipt dates and times do not depend on time zones; all applications must be submitted before midnight UTC on the date the applicant’s status expires.” This means that if you’re submitting your application on the day your status expires, you need to ensure that it’s submitted well before midnight UTC, taking into account the time zone difference between your location and UTC.

For instance, if you’re located in Toronto, Canada, and your status expires on March 30th, you need to submit your application before 8 PM (EST), as this is when midnight UTC occurs. If you submit your application at a later time, it will be considered as received on March 31st, and you will be out of status when the application was submitted.

Missing the deadline for submission or failing to pay the restoration of status fee can have serious consequences, leading to the rejection of your PGWP application. In such cases, you would need to leave Canada and apply for a new study permit from outside Canada, which can be a time-consuming and expensive process.

In conclusion, it’s essential to understand the requirements and policies related to the PGWP application process to avoid any delays or rejections. Make sure to pay the restoration of status fee along with your PGWP application and submit your application well before the deadline, taking into account the UTC time zone. By doing so, you can increase your chances of obtaining a PGWP and securing your post-graduation career in Canada.

These resources provide more detailed information about the requirements and policies related to the PGWP application process in Canada.

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Reason for Your Canada Immigration Application is Stuck

GCMSApply-Canada-Immigration-Application-Stuck

If you are one of the many people who have applied for immigration to Canada, you may be wondering about the status of your application and who is processing it. Also you are wondering why your application is on hold. You may have received a confirmation letter or email from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) with a code that identifies your immigration officer or placeholder code. But what does that code mean, and how can you find out if it is active or inactive?

What are inactive users?

Inactive users are codes that represent former employees or computer placeholders that are no longer working within IRCC’s Global Case Management System (GCMS). GCMS is the worldwide internal system using by IRCC to process citizenship and immigration applications. They record their observations in GCMS Notes.

According to IRCC data obtained by CBC News through an Access to Information Act request, as of February 2022, there were 779 inactive users on GCMS, with 59,456 open, pending or re-opened applications assigned to them. Some of these inactive users last logged in and processed files up to 16 years ago, and some are from airports and visa offices around the world.

IRCC says that it reuses old codes and uses them as placeholder bins, where applications wait for the next stage in processing. For example, some applications may be assigned to a placeholder code while they are waiting for a security check or a medical exam. IRCC says that this is part of its triage strategy and that it helps to manage the workload and prioritize applications.

However, some immigration experts and applicants have raised concerns about this practice, saying that it creates confusion, delays and lack of transparency. They say that assigning applications to inactive users may give applicants false hope or misleading information about their status. They also say that it may prevent applicants from contacting their immigration officer or requesting updates on their file.

How to check if your Canada Immigration Application is assigned to an inactive user?

If you want to check if your application is assigned to an inactive user, you can follow these steps:

  1. Find your confirmation letter or email from IRCC that contains your Canada Immigration Application number and your immigration officer or placeholder code. The code usually consists of a mix of letters and numbers (like AB12345, for example).
  2. Go to the IRCC website and log in to your online account or use the online tool to check your application status.
  3. Enter your application number and other personal information as required.
  4. Look for the section that says “We are processing your application” or “Your application is in progress”. There you should see the name of the office where your application is being processed and the code of your immigration officer or placeholder code.
  5. Compare the code you see online with the code you received in your confirmation letter or email. If they match, then your application is assigned to that code. If they do not match, then your application may have been transferred to another office or officer.
  6. If you want to find out if the code you see online is active or inactive, you can use the IRCC data obtained by CBC News through this link: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ircc-immigration-officer-container-placeholder-code-inactive-list-1.6669571
  7. On the webpage, scroll down until you see a table with four columns: Code, Location, Last Login Date and Number of Applications Assigned.
  8. Use the search function on the top right corner of the table to enter the code you see online.
  9. If you find the code on the table, then it means that it is an inactive user according to IRCC data as of February 2022. You can also see when it last logged in and how many applications are assigned to it.
  10. If you do not find the code on the table, then it means that it is not an inactive user according to IRCC data as of February 2022. It may be an active employee or a new placeholder code.

What to do if your application is assigned to an inactive user?

If you find out that your application is assigned to an inactive user, you may be wondering what to do next. Here are some possible options:

  • Contact IRCC through their web form or call center and ask for an update on your application status. You can also request to speak to a supervisor or escalate your case if you have urgent or compelling reasons.
  • Contact your local MP or senator and ask for their assistance in following up with IRCC on your behalf.

Click Here to Apply GCMS Notes Online