Canada: British Columbia Suspends Work Permit Program for Some Dependents
Open-market work permits are no longer available to spouses, partners or working-age dependents of Temporary Foreign Workers in British Columbia whose occupations require lower levels of formal training. Work permits remain available to dependents of foreign workers in higher-skilled occupations.
Dependents of lower-skilled Temporary Foreign Workers (TFWs) in British Columbia are no longer eligible for open-market work permits, Citizenship and Immigration Canada has announced. A pilot program that allows the spouses, common-law partners and working-age dependent children of TFWs employed in British Columbia to obtain open-market work permits remains open to dependents of TFWs in higher-skilled occupations only.
The pilot program, which was launched in August 2011, will remain open through February 14, 2014 for dependents of TFWs in National Occupational Classification (NOC) levels O (managerial), A (professional) or B (technical jobs and skilled trades). However, as of February 16, 2013, dependents of TFWs in positions with NOC levels C and D, which require lower levels of formal training, are no longer eligible for the program. These occupational categories include trades, manufacturing, sales and services, as well as certain clerical and administrative categories. All applications received on or before February 15, 2013 will be processed normally.
Dependents who have already obtained open work permits under the pilot program, or submitted applications under the pilot program on or before February 15, 2013, will be eligible to apply for work permit extensions if the principal applicant’s work permit is extended.
Source: Fragomen