Operational Bulletin 225A - September 30, 2010

Modified processing instructions for Information Technology work permit applications (software pilot) received prior to October 1, 2010

Update: Facilitated process to remain in place for British Columbia and Quebec.

Purpose

As a follow-up to Operational Bulletin 210 – End of Simplified Entry Process for Information Technology (IT) specialists – Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program – published June 4, 2010, the purpose of this bulletin is to provide guidance to officers processing work permit applications received prior to October 1, 2010, when the national Labour Market Opinion (LMO)/software pilot will be cancelled.

Background

On May 20, 2010, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada/Service Canada (HRSDC/SC) issued a notice for employers that the simplified entry process for certain IT occupations will end on September 30, 2010, and that effective October 1, 2010, employers who wish to hire TFW previously eligible for IT facilitated processing will be required to apply for an LMO.

Note:
For employers wanting to hire foreign workers for positions in Quebec or British Columbia, the facilitated process will remain in place until further notice.

Work permit applications received prior to October 1, 2010

Under the simplified entry process, the national LMO will remain in place for seven specific IT occupations identified at www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/special-tech.asp up to and including September 30, 2010.

Work permit (WP) applications received at a Citizenship and Immigration Canada visa office or at the Case Processing Centre in Vegreville, or requests for WP issuances received by Canada Border Services Agency at a port of entry prior to October 1, 2010, will not need to be accompanied by an LMO.

Limiting the duration of WPs issued prior to October 1, 2010

Requests for an extension of a WP or a new WP application that has been filed prior to October 1, 2010, if approved, will allow a maximum duration of one year from the date of issuance of the WP.

WP applications received on or after October 1, 2010

Effective October 1, 2010, WP applications received for the seven specific IT occupations that were previously under the facilitated process will require an LMO.

Note that until further notice, the change does not apply to Quebec. Additionally, from October 1, 2010, until March 31, 2011, employers interested in hiring TFW for positions located in British Columbia and in one of the seven occupations covered under the information technology facilitated process will be required to first notify SC and the Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development (AELMD) of their offer of employment before proceeding to have the foreign workers apply to CIC to obtain a WP.

WP durations will be in accordance with the requirement stated within the LMO.