Temporary Public Policy 2: Essential Workers

On April 14, 2021, the Government of Canada announced a temporary policy which would open pathways to permanent residence for over 90,000 essential workers and international graduates who are currently contributing to the Canadian economy. This new government initiative has three proposed paths:

1. Health Care Workers
2. Essential Workers
3. International Graduates

This new government initiative will run from May 6, 2021 to November 5, 2021, or once all 90,000 positions have been filled. In the second of this three-part blog, we will look at the path to permanent residence for Essential Workers.

What is an Essential Worker?

The first question you may be asking yourself is, “What is an essential worker?”

Under this policy, an essential worker is someone who has worked in one or more of the following occupations:

• Cashier
• Service Station Attendant
• Contractor
• Machinist
• Ironworker
• Plumber
• Installer
• Pest control
• Transport Trucks
• Construction
• Landscaper
• Letter Carrier
• Retail
• Farm Worker

This is only a sampling of the types of essential work that are covered under this policy. In addition, if you have worked in the health care field, but do not have one (1) year of full-time experience or 1,560 hours of part-time experience in the health care sector, if you have experience in one of the essential worker categories, you may qualify as well.

Essentially, essential workers are anyone from health care workers, to cashiers, to laborer’s, to farm workers, who have kept Canadian society moving while we have been in the grips of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Eligibility Requirements

If you have experience as an essential worker and have been employed in Canada for a minimum of one-year during the last three years, then this may be the program for you.

To qualify in this stream, you must meet the following requirements:

1. Have one (1) year of full-time work experience OR 1,560 hours of part-time experience in Canada as an essential worker in the last three years.
2. Must be employed in Canada.
3. Must be a worker earning paid wages or earning commission, and not self-employed. However, you can be self-employed if you are working as a medical doctor in a fee-for-service arrangement with a health authority.
4. Receive a score of 4 or higher in all language skill areas as set out in the Canadian Language Benchmark, within the last two years.
5. Have a valid temporary resident status in Canada (or be eligible to restore status)
6. Be physically present in Canada at the time of the application and when the application is approved.
7. Plan to reside in Canada in a province other than Québec.
8. Not have anything that would make you otherwise inadmissible.

Eligible Work

Unlike the pathway focused only on health care workers or recent graduates, the pathway to permanent residence for essential workers is far more flexible.

So, you’re employed in Canada in the Health Care sector, but have less than one year of full-time experience or 1,560 hours of part-time experience in this filed, and have worked in one of the listed “eligible occupations” you may qualify under this program.

Application Process

If you meet all the requirements, you may be wondering, “How do I apply?” With Akrami and Associates, we can help you make this simple.

The first step is to collect all the documentation necessary for the application. Next, you must complete all the necessary forms for the application. Once the forms are completed and you have the required documentation, you will need to apply online and pay the required government fees.

Your application must be received by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada by November 6, 2021. If any application is received after this date, then it will not be accepted.

Tips and Advice

Start collecting your documents NOW.

Test centres for the language requirement are filling up quickly. To take advantage of this program, you will want to book your language test as soon as possible to ensure that you will have the results by the time the program closes.

If you don’t have a year of full-time work, you will need to be able to demonstrate that you have 1,560 hours of part-time experience during the last three years.

Contact Akrami and Associates. This program is only available until November 6, 2021 or until all 90,000 openings have been filled up. This is a short timeline with many moving parts. It can be a time-consuming and confusing process due to all the requirements, fees, and steps to be taken. It’s not just about obtaining the required documentation and filling out the forms. You also need to understand the process and the way Immigration Canada looks at Permanent Resident applications. To ensure you have the highest chance of success, you must go above and beyond what is simply required.

At Akrami and Associates, our representatives understand the process, the challenges and difficulties that come with any immigration application. They are highly trained and experienced and can guide you through the process from start to finish to ensure that everything is completed properly, in order, and on time. We have handled many different forms of Permanent Resident applications with high success rates, and will ensure you have the best possible chances of success.

Contact Akrami and Associates

If you have any questions or personal inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact us at 416-477-2545 to book a consultation. Remember, with Akrami and Associates, there’s always a way!