ARCHIVED – Notice – Changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program pilot project in British Columbia – open work permits for spouses/common-law partners and working-age dependent children of temporary foreign workers

February 15, 2013 — Effective February 15, 2013, CIC will no longer accept applications for open work permits (WPs) from spouses, common-law partners and working-age dependent children (aged 18–22) of temporary foreign workers (TFWs) destined for British Columbia in occupations requiring lower levels of formal training. That includes occupations defined in the National Occupation Classification (NOC) as type C, or those that usually require secondary school or job-specific training, or occupations generally requiring on-the-job training (NOC D).

The NOC is a list of all the occupations in the Canadian labour market. It describes each job according to skill type and skill level. The NOC is used to collect and organize job statistics and to provide labour market information. It is also used as a basis for certain immigration requirements.

These applications were accepted through a pilot project that was implemented under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program annex to the Canada-British Columbia Immigration Agreement. The pilot project was scheduled to run until February 15, 2013.

The pilot is being extended for working-age dependent children (aged 18–22) of high-skilled TFWs destined to British Columbia. High-skilled occupations are those classified as managerial (NOC 0), professional (NOC A) or skilled trades (NOC B). Eligible applicants can continue to apply for an open WP until February 14, 2014.

If you already submitted an application:

Applications received under the pilot project before February 15, 2013, will continue to be processed to completion.

Spouses, common-law partners and working-age dependent children of TFWs, who were issued an open WP under the original pilot project, or who submitted an application under the pilot by February 15, 2013, are eligible to apply for a work permit extension. This only applies if the WP of their family member, the principal applicant, is extended. This option will be available until February 14, 2014, and the extension cannot exceed the duration of the TFW family member’s WP.

More information on eligibility criteria and on how to apply is available here.

Features