If you’ve applied for your Permanent Residence (PR) in Canada, you may be wondering if you can extend your work permit while waiting for your PR application to process. The Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) could be a viable option, but there are specific eligibility criteria to meet before you can apply.
What is a BOWP?
A Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) allows you to continue working in Canada while your PR application is being processed. It essentially “bridges” the gap between the expiration of your current work permit and the final decision on your PR application, enabling you to stay employed and legally work in Canada.
Am I Eligible for a BOWP?
Simply submitting a PR application does not automatically make you eligible for a BOWP. There are several key requirements you must meet before you can apply for one.
To be eligible for a BOWP, you must:
- Live in Canada (outside Quebec) at the time of your application.
- Hold one of the following statuses in Canada:
- A valid work permit.
- Have maintained your status as a worker.
- Be eligible to restore your status as a worker.
- Be the principal applicant in your PR application:
- Only the primary applicant is eligible for the BOWP. Your spouse and dependents cannot apply for a BOWP based on your PR application.
- Have been approved in principle for your PR application:
- This means that the immigration officer has reviewed your PR application, confirmed its completeness, and determined that you meet the eligibility requirements. If this is the case, you will receive an Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR) number, which is crucial for BOWP eligibility.
- No employment restrictions on your PR nomination:
- If you’ve been nominated by a province, there must be no restrictions on your employment. For example, if your provincial nomination limits you to a specific job or occupation, you will not be eligible for the BOWP.
Case Scenarios for BOWP Eligibility
Case 1: You Have Applied for PR and Received Your AOR
- If you’ve applied for PR and received your AOR number, you can apply for a BOWP, provided you meet all other eligibility criteria.
Case 2: You Have Applied for PR but Have Not Received Your AOR
- If you’ve applied for PR but have not yet received your AOR, you are not eligible to apply for a BOWP. Instead, you may consider other options to extend your stay in Canada, such as:
- Having your employer apply for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
- Taking a French language test (TEF Canada or TCF) to apply for a Francophone Mobility Work Permit.
- Changing your status to a visitor and waiting for your AOR in Canada. You will have 90 days from the expiration of your work permit to restore your status, but you must stop working during this time.
Can My Spouse and Children Apply for a BOWP?
Unfortunately, the answer is no. Only the principal applicant in the PR process is eligible for a BOWP. Your spouse and dependents cannot apply for the Bridging Open Work Permit based on your PR application. However, they may explore other immigration or work permit options to stay in Canada during this period.
Final Thoughts
The BOWP is a useful tool for those who are in the PR application process and want to continue working in Canada. However, it’s important to ensure you meet all eligibility requirements before applying. If you do not qualify for a BOWP, there are other pathways you can explore to maintain your status in Canada while waiting for your PR decision.
For more information on how to apply for a BOWP and other immigration options, visit the official Canada immigration website.
By understanding these key points, you can better navigate the process of staying and working in Canada while your PR application is in progress.
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What is a BOWP? I have applied for my PR application. Can I apply for a BOWP to extend my work permit?
What is a BOWP?
BOWP is called the Bridging Open Work Permit. BOWP let’s you extend your stay in Canada as a worker so you can continue working while your permanent residence is in process.
If you are a Permanent Resident (PR) applicant, you may be eligible to apply for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP). However, JUST applying for a PR application does not make you eligible for a BOWP.
To be eligible for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP), you must:
- Live in Canada (outside Quebec) at the time of the application
- Have a status in Canada as one of the following:
- Valid work permit
- Have a maintained status as a worker
- Be eligible to restore your status as a worker
- Be the principal applicant in your PR application – This means that your spouse and dependents are ineligible for a BOWP. Only the principal applicant is eligible
- You are approved in principle for your PR application – This means that the officer has done a completeness check on your application and have determined that you are IN FACT eligible to apply under that specific PR category. The officer will then issue you a PR application number used for the processing of your application. This is also called the Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR)
- There must be no employment restriction on your nomination – This means that if you have been nominated by a province, there must be no employment restriction on your nomination. For example, if you were nominated by a province to work as a software developer, you nomination must not limit your occupation to just that. See the screenshot below from IRCC’s operational guidelines
Let’s discuss further what this means for YOU.
One of the following two cases can apply in your case:
Case 1: You have applied for your PR and have received your AOR number as mentioned in point 4 above
You can apply for your BOWP provided that you meet all the other eligibility criteria
Case 2: You have applied for your PR and HAVE NOT received your AOR number as mentioned in point 4 above
You will not be eligible to apply for a BOWP. You will have to look at other options for extending your stay in Canada including some of the following:
- See if your employer is willing to go through the LMIA process
- Take one of the French language assessment tests – Test d’Évaluation du Français (TEF Canada) or Test de connaissance du français (TCF). You may be eligible to apply for the Francophone Mobility work permit
- Change your status to a visitor and wait for the AOR in Canada. You will have 90 days from the date of your work permit expiry to “restore your status”. However, you MUST stop working.
Francophone Mobility work permit: How to apply – Canada.ca
Can my spouse and children also apply for a BOWP?
The answer is NO. As mentioned in point# 3 above, only the principal applicant is eligible for a BOWP. However your spouse and dependents can explore other options to stay in Canada.