Now It Is Much Easier to Get A Bridging Open Work Permit

Recently, Canada has announced the changes to the Bridging Work Permit (BOWP) program that will definitely make it more accessible to applicants. The said program is open to all qualified applicants who hold work permits who applied for permanent residency. Through BOWP, workers are allowed to continue work in Canada legally while they are waiting for Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada to come up with a decision with regards to their application for permanent residency.

As mentioned last September during the announcement for the changes, when you apply for the BOWP, there will no longer be a limit as to when you can apply; unlike the previous rule that you only get to apply within four months of your work permit’s expiry date. In addition to the changes, you are now also eligible to apply even if your status has already expired and you are qualified for restoration or you are in Canada on “maintained status”; contrary to the old rules, wherein, you are not eligible to apply BOWP if your work permit has already expired.

Aside from the aforementioned changes, the BOWP has also opened to the following types of applicants:

• Quebec Skilled Workers – applicant may be eligible once their file passes a completeness check
• Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) – if the applicants have a copy of their nomination letter indicating that their employment is unrestricted and they have selected “Open Work Permit” on their application form
• Agri-Food Pilot – if the applicants submit their application online and are able to provide their approval in principle letter in the “Client Information” that is filed with their application

Note that BOWP that was issued to applicants in other immigration categories will be valid for a year or 12 months. In addition to this, spouses of the BOWP holders do not automatically get a BOWP themselves; if they wish to work in Canada, they will have to apply either as a spouse of a skilled worker or as a spouse of a full-time student, whichever applies to the spouse’s situation.