AIP accepting applications for work permit online

The Canadian Department of Immigration is now accepting work permit applications online through the Atlantic Immigration Pilot (AIP) program.

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) began accepting applications for AIP work permits effective today, August 17th. Paper applications will be accepted until September 1, 2020.

The AIP provides a pathway to permanent residence for foreign nationals with a job offer in one of Canada’s four Atlantic provinces: Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, or Nova Scotia. Before applying for permanent immigration, applicants need a work permit to work legally in Canada.

To obtain this work permit, applicants will need to:

• a valid job offer from an employer in an Atlantic province;
• a letter of recommendation from the province; and
• a commitment to apply for permanent residence within 90 days of applying for a temporary work permit.

Once all of these conditions are met, applicants may then be eligible for an employer-specific one-year work permit. The foreign national’s partner may be eligible for an open work permit for spouses and common-law partners. Employers in Atlantic Canada do not need to complete an LMIA under this program.

Once the candidate accepts the job offer, the employer is expected to connect the candidate with a designated settlement service provider for a needs assessment and to develop a settlement plan. Employers are also expected to support the long-term integration of newcomers so that they can settle permanently in their new accommodation.

Foreign nationals must submit their employer-specific work permit application online. They are not eligible to apply at an entry point. After applying for the temporary work permit, foreign nationals must then apply for permanent residence within 90 days.

The AIP offers two programs for foreign workers and one program for graduate international students: the Atlantic High-Skilled Program, the Atlantic Intermediate-Skilled Program, and the Atlantic International Graduate Program.

Skilled workers must have at least one year of prior work experience in an occupation related to the job offer of their Atlantic Canada employer. International graduate students do not need to meet this same requirement, but the job offer must be full-time for at least one year and classified as a skill level of 0, A, B, or C.

Applicants must have a minimum language level of 4 in all areas for English and French, and test results cannot be older than two years. Canada will accept copies of test results for this program.

The AIP is in place until December 31, 2021. Canada created the pilot project in 2017 to admit more than 7,000 immigrants and their families during the duration of the pilot project. The AIP has been successful in attracting immigrants to the region, and Minister Marco Mendicino said he intended to make it a permanent immigration program in his mandate letter.

Reference is taken from CIC News