On August 31, 2021, the temporary foreign nationals residing in Quebec are selected by Quebec as skilled workers and are allowed to apply for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP).
Foreign nationals having BOWP will be able to work for any kind of employer of their choice while waiting for the IRCC (Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada) to process their permanent residence application.
Eligibility for Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP)
To get eligible for this Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP), temporary foreign workers should:
Submit their Quebec skilled worker application for permanent residence to IRCC as the principal applicant
Receive an Acknowledgment of Receipt (AOR) from IRCC confirming the permanent residence application has been received by IRCC and passes the completeness check.
Requirements forBOWP
The completeness check entails the IRCC officer that the applicant has submitted and met all the requirements like
Forms
Information
Evidence
Signatures
Fees
The principal applicants like a spouse or common-law partner are also eligible to obtain an open work permit, and they are also included in the permanent residence application.
Purpose ofBOWP
The purpose of BOWP is to support skilled workers selected by Quebec by providing employment until they receive permanent residence.
IRCC takes more than 24 months to process Quebec skilled worker applications. It is based mainly on the applicant’s passport validity. This long duration minimizes the number of applicants to submit multiple BOWP applications while waiting for IRCC to finalize their permanent residence.
If there is any duration extension, then it will be up to 12 months, but IRCC’s officers will be deciding to extend the duration for processing permanent residence applications.
Benefits in getting a BOWP
Receiving a BOWP offers several benefits to the skilled workers selected by Quebec in:
Enabling permanent residence applicants to remain in Canada