Operational Bulletin 433 - June 13, 2012

Centralization of Temporary Foreign Worker Units in Toronto, Ontario and Montréal, Québec

Summary

The purpose of this Operational Bulletin is to provide information regarding the centralization of the services provided by the Temporary Foreign Worker Units (TFWUs) from Vancouver, Calgary, and Moncton to the TFWUs in Toronto and Montreal. Opinions and enquiries related to exemptions from the Labour Market Opinion (LMO) and/or Work Permit (WP) will continue. Outreach will no longer be provided by the TFWUs. This change is effective July 1, 2012.

Changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Units

Effective July 1, 2012, and as a part of CIC’s modernization strategy to centralize services across the Department to reduce costs and improve efficiencies, the TFWUs in Toronto and Montreal will become the sole points of contact to Canadian employers and/or their representatives. The Toronto TFWU will be responsible for providing services to employers in Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut. The Montreal TFWU will be responsible for providing services to employers in Quebec, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador. The Toronto and Montreal TFWUs will continue processing opinions and enquiries related to exemptions from the LMO and/or WP. Outreach will no longer be provided by the TFWUs. The transition will begin on June 15, 2012.

Transition Period – Vancouver, Calgary, and Moncton TFWUs

The TFWUs in Vancouver and Calgary will accept opinion requests and respond to enquiries that are related to exemptions from the LMO and/or WP until June 15, 2012. These offices will then focus on finalizing work already in process. Opinion requests and enquiries after June 15th should be directed to the TFWU in Toronto. Moncton opinion requests and enquiries related to exemptions from the LMO and/or WP should be directed to the TFWU in Montreal effective immediately.

Admissibility

The TFWU opinion is strictly limited to whether the case presented meets an exemption from the LMO and/or WP. Foreign worker admissibility does not fall within the mandate of TFWUs. The final decision to issue a LMO and/or WP exemption and of admissibility rests with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer at the port of entry into Canada. If an applicant believes they may be inadmissible to Canada and wish to have an assessment conducted prior to arrival, they should contact the appropriate Canadian Visa post. Further information on admissibility can be found at the following link: Determine if you are inadmissible.

Who can request an exemption opinion?

The TFWUs only provide opinions for employers and/or their representatives seeking to hire visa-exempt temporary foreign workers who are outside of Canada.

Enquiries

A dedicated e-mail box is available in the Toronto and Montreal TFWU locations to respond to enquiries from employers and/or representatives that are related to exemptions from the LMO and/or WP. The TFWUs will not respond to any other enquiries.

Note: LMO-related applications and enquiries are to be directed to Service Canada.

For All Other Enquiries

Currently outside Canada, please contact a Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate. You can find the addresses, phone numbers and Web site addresses of our visa offices at Citizenship and Immigration Canada Offices

Information on programs and services offered by CIC can be found at the following link: www.cic.gc.ca

Foreign Worker Program (HRSDC – Service Canada) – General Information on LMO process

Foreign Worker Program (HRSDC – Service Canada) – Points of Contact

TFWU Points of Contact and Areas of Responsibility

Toronto (serving Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut)

Toronto Temporary Foreign Worker Unit
E-mail: TFWU-Toronto-UTET@cic.gc.ca

Montreal (serving Québec, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador)

Montreal Temporary Foreign Worker Unit
E-mail: CIC-QUE-SRTE@cic.gc.ca

Contact Information for the Temporary Foreign Worker Units can also be found on the CIC Website at www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/employers/tfw-units.asp