Sep 03, 2019 – Out of status construction workers in the Greater Toronto Area can start the process of applying for permanent residence as of September 3, 2019.

The new Temporary Public Policy for Out-of-Status Construction Workers in the GTA requires candidates to first apply to the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC).

The CLC will then refer eligible candidates and their family members to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

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Applications opened on the CLC website on September 3, 2019. The IRCC will begin accepting applications referred by the CLC on January 2, 2020.

The Temporary Public Policy was announced in July to offer an opportunity to construction workers and their families who initially came to Canada on a temporary work permit, but lost their status.

The policy is also designed to help address labour shortages in the construction industry in the region.

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Eligibility Requirements: Temporary Public Policy for Out-of-Status Construction Workers in the GTA

• Foreign Nationals who either:
  • Legally entered Canada as a temporary resident; and, previously received authorization to work in the construction industry; and,
  • Provide proof of filing Canadian income tax returns or declaring income in Canada (400 principal applicants); or,
  • Legally entered Canada as a temporary resident (100 principal applicants);
• Have continuously resided in Canada for at least five years on the date of their application;
• Are currently working without authorization in the construction industry in the GTA and have accumulated three years full-time work experience within the past five years in construction in the GTA in one of the following NOC codes:
  • Major Group 72 Trades and Skilled Transport and Equipment Operators
  • Major Group 73 maintenance and equipment operation trades
  • NOC 7441: residential and commercial installers and servicers
  • NOC 7521: heavy equipment operators (except crane)
  • NOC 7611: construction trades helpers and labourers
• Have language ability at Canadian Language Benchmark 4 in all disciplines.
• Have family (mother, father, brother, sister, grandmother, grandfather, grandchild, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew or cousin) living in Canada who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, or have a spouse, common-law partner or child in Canada;
• Have a referral letter signed by the Canadian Labour Congress attesting that the applicant meets the above conditions;
• Have not been deemed inadmissible for any reason other than overstaying their temporary resident status and working without authorization.