Operational Bulletin 225F - February 23, 2012
This section contains policy, procedures and guidance used by IRCC staff. It is posted on the department’s website as a courtesy to stakeholders.
End of Simplified Entry Process for Information Technology specialists for Quebec
Update: The facilitated process for Quebec ends on February 23, 2012. As per Operational Bulletin 225-E, the facilitated process for British Columbia ended on December 31, 2011.
Issue
This Operational Bulletin (OB) replaces OB 225-E “Modified processing instructions for Information Technology (IT) work permit applications (software pilot) for British Columbia and Quebec”, published on January 6, 2012.
For work permits applications received by March 24, 2012 for the seven specific IT occupations that include a Certificat d’acceptation du Québec (CAQ) with the “date of issue” of February 23, 2012 or earlier, may still be processed under the facilitated process.
Background
On May 20, 2010, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC)/Service Canada issued a notice to employers that the simplified process for certain IT occupations was to end on September 30, 2010 and that effective October 1, 2010, employers who wished to hire a temporary foreign worker previously eligible for IT facilitated processing were required to apply for an Labour Market Opinion (LMO), except in British Columbia where it was extended to December 31, 2011 and in Quebec until further notice.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada, HRSDC and Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration du Québec have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This MOU is effective February 24, 2012 and includes a facilitated LMO process for selected occupations that Quebec has identified as in-demand.
Guidelines
Work permit applications received prior to February 24, 2012
For work permit applications (both initial applications and renewals) received up to and including February 23, 2012, the terms of the simplified entry process for information technology specialists for Quebec will apply. These applications, if approved, should have a maximum duration of one year from the date of work permit issuance.
Transitional Provisions
Effective February 24, 2012, work permit applications received for the seven specific IT occupations that were previously under the facilitated process will require an LMO, unless transitional provisions apply.
For work permits applications received by March 24, 2012 for the seven specific IT occupations that include a CAQ with the “date of issue” of February 23, 2012 or earlier, may still be processed under the facilitated process. These applications, if approved should have a maximum duration of one year from the date of work permit issuance.
These transitional measures have been put in place for a period of 30 days to minimize operational impacts on our partners and clients.
For more information, see below:
HRSDC:
http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/workplaceskills/foreign_workers/index.shtml