Visa Application Centres (VACs) are intake centres which assist Canadian migration offices process various types of immigration applications, and for our purposes, work permits. Though services may vary from office to office, VACs assist with, among other matters, the collection of biometrics (fingerprints and photographs), which are important factors in work permit applications.
At the onset of the COVID pandemic, all VACs around the world closed. This meant, firstly, that work permit applications needing biometrics, already in process, were put on hold. In this regard, Immigration Canada extended the time for provision of biometrics.
But in addition, COVID-related regulations also meant that people from places outside the United States who could ordinarily seek a work permit at the port of entry, now needed to apply online – and this would trigger the need for biometrics (which would otherwise be done on arrival). This is in addition to those who need a visa, who in all cases needed to apply online. Though some accommodation was later made available in this regard for a limited group (in certain essential services – who could apply on arrival), this created a situation where an application for a work permit could become meaningless in some cases, since biometrics could not be completed.
Now, some VACs are starting to reopen. The list of VACs that are now open can be found at https://bit.ly/384LqA7. Processing of all types of applications is still of course slower than usual, but with this breakthrough, the logjam may begin to clear itself – at least to some degree. Employers and employees facing this issue should consult the web site noted to see if there is an open VAC in the relevant area for them.
The information in this article is for general purposes only, and not intended as legal advice for any particular situation.