The Canadian government has made a major adjustment to its immigration laws in an attempt to expedite the immigration procedure and ease traffic at ports of entry. Foreign nationals will no longer be allowed to get work permits at ports of entry as of December 23. All work permit renewals and applications must instead be made online at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
The goal of this modification is to improve the effectiveness and convenience of the immigration procedure for international employees. In order to cut down on wait times and stop “flagpoling,” which is the practice of leaving Canada, traveling to the United States or St. Pierre and Miquelon, and then returning to Canada to obtain same-day immigration services at a port of entry, the government has mandated online applications.
Instead of applying for a work permit at a port of entry, the majority of foreign nationals in Canada will now have to do it online under the new regulations. Both new and renewed work permit applications are subject to this modification. A foreign citizen who departs Canada while on maintained status will not be able to return to work until their application is accepted.
Although the majority of foreign nationals are covered by the new regulations, there are a few exceptions and unique situations to be mindful of. For instance, this change will not affect truck drivers who have a work permit or maintained status due to a pending application for a work permit renewal and must leave Canada for their job.
The goal of the Canadian government is to facilitate and expedite the immigration process. The government hopes to cut processing times, ease port of entry congestion, and enhance the experience of international workers by mandating online work permit applications.
These improvements are a significant step towards a more simplified and effective immigration procedure, regardless of whether you’re a foreign national hoping to work in Canada or a company eager to acquire international talent.
