
CHANGING EMPLOYERS ON A CLOSED WORK PERMIT
Immigration law
29 Jan
A closed work
permit restricts you to working for a specific employer, meaning you can only
work for that employer for the entire duration of your permit. Generally, a
work permit is required to work in Canada. Specifically, temporary closed work
permits enable you to start a work experience in Canada more quickly.
In some cases,
changing employers may be possible - yes,
you heard that right! Temporary foreign workers on closed work permits
might just get the green light to start a new job before their shiny new work
permit even arrives. It's like getting a head start on the race - just
don’t forget to collect your permit at the finish line!
Before the
implementation of this temporary public policy, workers on closed work permits
were required to wait for approval of their new work permit application before
changing employers, which could take several months.
To put it
simply: If you've already received your letter of introduction to come to
Canada, but your employer changes their mind or can't offer you the job
anymore, and you're not yet in Canada, you can ask to cancel your young
professional permit application. If you do, you'll automatically get a refund
of the application fees.
You can also
decide to back out of your application if you are still not in Canada, you
might need to cancel it and request a refund. But here's the catch—this
can only happen if the Canadian government hasn't already sent you the letter
of introduction for the port of entry. So, if that letter's already in the
mail, you're out of luck!
IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE TO CHANGE EMPLOYERS, YOU MUST:
- Be in Canada with valid temporary resident status (including maintained status)
- Have applied for the public policy exemption as specified by the department
- Have submitted a work permit application or be renewing an application for an employer-specific work permit (for which a decision is pending).
- Intend to work for the new employer as outlined in the job offer.
- Have requested that the exemption remain valid until a decision is made on their work permit application.
- Have held a valid work permit or have been authorized to work without a work permit when applying for a new work permit or permit renewal.
NOW THERE CAN BE CERTAIN REASON AS WHY YOU WOULD WANT TO CHANGE EMPLOYER WITH CLOSED WORK PERMIT:
- Your working conditions are unsafe or do not match what was originally promised.
- You have been terminated or let go from your position.
- You haven't received the compensation that was promised to you.
- You were employed by a company that has since shut down.
TO CLARIFY, THERE ARE SITUATIONS IN WHICH YOU ARE UNABLE TO CHANGE EMPLOYERS.
- You wish to work in a different location.
- You are dissatisfied with your job or employer.
- Another employer has offered you a higher salary.
Book a
consultation with RRM Law at 905-798-3776
and speak with an experienced Immigration Lawyer to help you with your Work Permit application.
RRM Law, a Brampton
immigration lawyer and one of the best law firms in Brampton, can assist
you regardless of the changes by providing expert guidance on eligibility
requirements, preparing and submitting your application, and ensuring all
necessary documents are accurate and complete
After you submit
your application, officers will review it based on the public policy. But
beware—if it doesn't include a request for assessment or enough info to confirm
your employer-specific work permit application has been received, they might
just send it back. It's like going to a party without an invitation—things
might not go as smoothly!
If you applied
online, expect an email in about 10-15 days. However, if you went the
old-school paper route, it might take a bit longer for that email to reach you.
Patience is key!
This temporary
public policy was introduced during the pandemic to help temporary foreign
workers in Canada start new jobs more quickly while waiting for their work
permit applications to be processed, and to ensure that their applications are
finalized, offering better protection under employer compliance regulations.
The policy is in
effect as of January 14, 2025, and can be revoked at any time without notice,
as is the case with all temporary public policies.
In addition to
immigration services, RRM Law offers support in other legal areas, such as criminal
defense attorney, real estate
lawyer, and family law
attorney. They can represent you in communications with the government and
help you navigate the application process, including the next steps toward
applying for permanent residence with the Canadian federal government.