Bridging Open Work Permit
Bridging Open Work Permit
Are you stressed out of your mind because your work permit is about to expire and IRCC is taking forever to review your application for permanent residence? Don’t worry, this is not a reason to say goodbye to your dream of becoming a permanent resident in Canada.
If you applied for permanent residence under Express Entry, a Provincial Nominee program, or a pilot program for caregivers, you can stay in Canada and continue working until IRCC make a decision about your application.
The only thing you need to do is apply for a bridging visa. A bridging open work permit is an option available to individuals who are:
- already in Canada (except for Quebec),
- have a valid work permit that is soon to expire, and
- submitted a complete application for permanent residence or have been approved in principle.
Submitting a complete application means that IRCC received your application and you have a letter to prove it. This also means that you cannot apply for a bridging visa in Canada if you have not been pulled from the Express Entry pool. So, if you’re short on points, bridging visa is not a solution for you.
If you are a caregiver and you applied for permanent residence under Home Child Care Provider Pilot or Home Support Worker Pilot, you may also be able to apply if you are on implied status or are applying within 90 days of losing your status and you did not work or study without authorization. You will also need to show that you are approved in principle for your permanent residence application. Being approved in principle means that you met the requirements for permanent residence, but you need to complete a medical, security, or background check before your application is granted.
If you applied as a provincial nominee, your bridging visa document checklist will be different depending on whether you applied through Express Entry or on paper.
So, given that the supporting documents differ for different types of permanent residence applications, the best place to start is to review the instructions for the bridging open work permit for the type of application that you filed. You can use the online tool to do that.
The second step is ensuring that your bridging visa application is complete, so take time to review the application guide. The application is very similar to a regular work permit application, so make sure to select “Open work permit” when you fill out the forms. You can also fill out the come to Canada tool to get a personalized checklist for you application.
The bridging visa cost is the same as a regular open work permit -- $255 total. In most cases, the bridging visa duration would be enough for you to receive a decision regarding your permanent residence application, and you can check the processing times on the government website. Once you receive a bridging visa, you are able to leave the country and return, provided all of your other immigration documents are in order.
If you are ineligible to apply for a bridging visa while waiting for PR, and time is running out – contact our team of registered Canadian Immigration Consultants. Our team can help you find out what your options are and what immigration program is the best fit for your situation. Remember that points tend to go up and down, so it’s always a good idea to go for a consultation early in the process to make sure you avoid common mistakes and always have a plan B. A consultation can help you save time, money, and help you focus on your work and studies instead of immigration paperwork.
Regards,
International Experience Club
