Question Period Note: MEASURES FOR FOREIGN NATIONALS IN CANADA+D8:E9

The COVID pandemic may be affecting temporary residents in a number of ways. Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada has taken proactive measures to ensure that foreign nationals in Canada are aware of their options to renew or extend their status.

• Temporary residents in Canada who find themselves unable to leave the country need to apply to extend their status in Canada.

• IRCC is providing more time for those foreign nationals to provide documentation or to complete biometrics.

• In addition, we are prioritizing work permit processing for critical occupations, such as those in the agricultural/agri-food and health care sectors.

• Special measures have been introduced to allow international students to work full-time in essential industries.

• We continue to assess the impacts of the current situation on those who use IRCC’s services and operations, and to make adjustments as needed.

• As of mid-March, there were approximately 800,000 foreign workers and 650,000 foreign students who held valid Canadian immigration documents. It is not known how many visitors, or work and study permit holders remain in Canada due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• The COVID pandemic may be affecting temporary residents in a number of ways. Some may be unable to leave Canada due to a lack of commercial flights, while those with work authorizations may have lost their job and be looking for new employment. Reduced immigration processing capacity (due to work from home arrangements) is also affecting the speed at which new work permits can be issued, for those who remain here and have a new job offer.

• Temporary residents who wish to apply to extend their stay in Canada, must do so before their existing temporary status expires. If they do so, they benefit from implied status.

• A number of temporary residents in Canada that hold valid work authorization, including international students and most open work permit holders (approx.. 75% of work permit holders), already benefit from the ability to change jobs and employers immediately (as long as they remain in status).

• Temporary workers who are in Canada and whose temporary resident status will soon expire are being advised to apply online to extend their status before it expires. Many temporary workers and international students who have authorization to work may continue to do so while on implied status.

• IRCC has provided information to provinces and territories about implied status for workers and students to help them assess eligibility to social and health benefits.

• Work permit holders who lose their job continue to have valid status in Canada until that status expires. They don’t have to leave Canada immediately and may look for another employer.

• IRCC has established a process that will allow temporary workers who are in Canada with an employer-specific work permit to quickly change employers when they find a new job.

• For students, we have introduced the following flexibilities, providing that:
o the shift to online courses will not impact eligibility for the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program or the length of work permits for students already enrolled, or those beginning studies in May/June 2020, provided that they complete 50% of their program within Canada;
o students who are unable to travel or return to Canada at this time due to travel restrictions may begin, or continue classes while outside Canada and retain their eligibility for the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program, with allowance for up to 50% of the program to be completed outside Canada; and
o study permit holders who are in an academic session and eligible to work off-campus may work more than 20 hours/week to assist with delivering essential services or functions, such as through working in the health care sector.

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