COVID-19 Public Policy: LMIA Based or LMIA Exempt Work Permit Application Currently in Canada with Visitor Status

Priority Code visit2work2020: I am requesting consideration under the Temporary Public Policy to Exempt Certain Visitors in Canada from Immigration Requirements during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic and ask that the applicable exemptions be granted until a decision is made on my work permit application or it is withdrawn.

My previous work permit number U######### expired on [Date].

I have submitted my application for a work permit online. or I have submitted my application on paper and the postal/courier tracking number is number.

I intend to work for [employer name] / [occupation] as specified in the aforementioned work permit application.

I understand that providing false, misleading or incorrect information is a violation of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and may result in enforcement measures against me.

Processing of public policy requests

Step 1: Receipt of IRCC Web form

On receipt of the IRCC Web form, the Client Support Centre (CSC) will separate these requests and move them to a specific folder for the Centralized Network (CN) to access.

CSC may use the following key word to auto-triage requests under this specific public policy: visit2work2020.

CSC agents will not be reviewing or responding to the incoming Web forms to ensure compliance with the public policy. They will simply move the Web forms to the appropriate email folder for CN to assess.

Step 2: Assessment under the public policy

There is a 30 business day service standard for assessment of requests under the public policy. Officers should review the public policy consideration request to determine if all of the following apply:

1. there is a request for assessment under this public policy
2. the request has sufficient information to find the work permit application in the Global Case Management System (GCMS)
3. the applicant previously held a work permit in the 12 months preceding the application

The following are the applicable procedures if the public policy

• request is not complete
• request is complete
• request does not meet eligibility requirements

Public policy request is not complete

The processing officer may send a rejection notice if the IRCC Web form does not include any of the following:

• a request for assessment
• sufficient information to confirm the receipt of an employer-specific work permit application
• an indication that the applicant held a work permit in the preceding 12 months

The rejection notice should use the following template. It is recommended that this simply be a reply to the incoming IRCC Web form request. Officers should attach the incoming request in GCMS under Incoming Correspondence or as a case note.

Rejection notice template [delete paragraphs that do not apply]

Important: The officer should ensure that the rejection notice is entered in the case notes of the application. If the officer is unable to find the new work permit application but can find the client in GCMS, a client note with the submission and the response should be added.

Public policy request is complete

If the request has all 3 requirements, the processing officer should then review the documentation in the work permit application to determine if the application is complete and a final decision can be rendered.

Public policy eligibility not met: requester has not submitted an employer-specific work permit application

If on review of the work permit application it is determined that the foreign national is not applying for an employer-specific work permit, the request does not meet the eligibility requirements. The officer may choose not to process the application on a priority basis and may refuse the public policy request using the template for a Negative public policy decision.

Important: A case note should be added to GCMS on the work permit application with the request and response.

Step 3: Work permit application

The following are the applicable procedures if the

• work permit application is not complete
• work permit application is complete

Work permit application is not complete

If the work permit application is incomplete, other than biometric enrolment, the processing officer will request the additional documentation and give the 90 days allowed during the pandemic period.

They will also provide either a positive or a negative public policy assessment decision as a reply to the IRCC Web form email and add a case note on their decision.