COVID-19 in Canada

COVID-19: More Time To Restore Status For Visitors, Study and Work Permit Holders in Canada

More time has been given for visitors, study and work permit holders in Canada affected by the COVID-19 pandemic to restore their status.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced an extension of a temporary public policy first announced in July 2020.

It initially expired on December 31, 2020, but has been extended until August 31, 2021.

The policy overrides the usual 90-day window for former workers, students and visitors currently in Canada whose status expired after January 30.

They must meet the requirements for the type of status and authorization they are applying to restore.

The policy also covers former work permit holders applying for an employer-specific work permit to work while their application for restoration is processed.

To qualify, former work permit holder must:

  • Have a job offer.
  • Submit a work permit application supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or for a position that is LMIA-exempt.
  • Notify IRCC through the process set up for eligible foreign nationals

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An IRCC statement said: “Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada is renewing a temporary public policy that provides more time for temporary residents to apply to restore their legal status in Canada.

“This public policy … recognizes that many temporary residents in Canada have been affected by worldwide health- and travel-related restrictions, and may need to remain in Canada for longer than they anticipated.” 

Colin Singer

Colin Singer is an international acclaimed Canadian immigration lawyer and founder of immigration.ca featured on Wikipedia. Colin Singer is also founding director of the Canadian Citizenship & Immigration Resource Center (CCIRC) Inc. He served as an Associate Editor of ‘Immigration Law Reporter’, the pre-eminent immigration law publication in Canada. He previously served as an executive member of the Canadian Bar Association’s Quebec and National Immigration Law Sections and is currently a member of the Canadian Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Colin has twice appeared as an expert witness before Canada’s House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration. He is frequently recognized as a recommended authority at national conferences sponsored by government and non-government organizations on matters affecting Canada’s immigration and human resource industries. Since 2009, Colin has been a Governor of the Quebec Bar Foundation a non-profit organization committed to the advancement of the profession, and became a lifetime member in 2018.

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