ARCHIVED – Operational Bulletin 225D - September 30, 2011

Modified processing instructions for Information Technology work permit applications (software pilot) for British Columbia and Quebec

This Operational Bulletin has expired.

Update: Facilitated process for British Columbia is extended to December 31, 2011.

Summary

This Operational Bulletin (OB) replaces OB 225-C – May 11, 2011, “Modified processing instructions for Information Technology work permit applications (software pilot) received prior to October 1, 2010.” It is published to update processing instructions for Information Technology work permit applications (software pilot) for British Columbia and Quebec.

Purpose

This is a follow-up to OB 210 “End of Simplified Entry Process for Information Technology (IT) specialists – Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program,” which was published on June 4, 2010. The purpose of this OB is to advise officers that, as a result of the cancellation of the national Labour Market Opinion (LMO)/software pilot on September 30, 2010, there are changes to the processing of work permit (WP) applications in relation to the facilitated process for IT workers destined to British Columbia and Quebec.

Background

On May 20, 2010, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada/Service Canada (HRSDC/SC) issued a notice to employers that the simplified entry process for certain IT occupations was to end on September 30, 2010, and that effective October 1, 2010, employers who wished to hire TFWs previously eligible for IT facilitated processing were required to apply for an LMO. Further to this, the provinces of British Columbia and Quebec requested from HRSDC/SC that the previous exemptions be extended in their provinces to allow them to consider other facilitative measures for IT workers and federal-provincial foreign worker agreements.

Previous instructions

From October 1, 2010, until March 31, 2011, employers interested in hiring TFWs for positions located in British Columbia and in one of the seven occupations covered under the information technology facilitated process were required to first notify SC and the Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development (AELMD) of their offer of employment before processing to have the foreign workers apply to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) to obtain a WP.

In Quebec, processing for IT workers continued as per standard operating procedures under the software pilot.

Current Instructions

From October 1, 2010, until December 31, 2011, employers interested in hiring TFWs 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 Regional Economic and Skills Development of their offer of employment before proceeding to have the foreign workers apply to CIC to obtain a WP.

Note that until further notice, the change does not apply to Quebec.

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