A Bridge to Permanent Residency: GTA Construction Workers’ Solution

Get Permanent Residency in GTA

The Temporary Public Policy for Out-of-Status Construction Workers in the Greater Toronto Area recognizes these workers’ important role in the local economy. This policy makes it possible for long-term residents to apply for permanent residency.

The policy started on January 2, 2020, and will continue until January 2, 2024, or until 1,000 applicants (including their families) have been granted permanent residency.

Follow these steps to apply:

• Read the complete guide.
• Fill out the required forms.
• Gather your supporting documents.

This manual contains all the details you need to know before applying and advice on completing the forms appropriately.

Who Can Use This App?

This app is for construction workers in the Greater Toronto Area who have come to Canada with a valid temporary residency permit but have lost their status and family members. This policy helps these workers get permanent residency if they meet the requirements.

Before applying, meet all the eligibility requirements and talk to the Canadian Labour Congress.

Note: Family members can also get a temporary resident permit, visitor permit, study permit, or work permit.

Important: The worker and their family cannot be rejected for any reason other than overstaying their temporary residency and working without permission.

Family Member Eligibility for Immigration

Family members of the principal applicant eligible to immigrate to Canada under this policy will have the same eligibility exceptions. Family members fit the definition of a “family member” in the regulations, as determined by a designated official.

Who are considered family members?

You and your spouse/common-law partner, any dependent children you have, and any of their offspring are considered family members.

Spouse

If you and your partner are married in Canada and the country where you got married, either of you can call yourself a spouse.

Necessary: For immigration purposes, a marriage must occur in person to be legally recognized. Marriages conducted by proxy, phone, fax, or other means in which one or both spouses were absent are not identified.

Common-law Partner

A common-law partner has lived in a committed relationship with another person (of any gender) for at least one year. A committed relationship exists when there is a significant level of commitment between two people, which can be shown through evidence such as living together, supporting each other financially and emotionally, having children together, or presenting themselves as a couple in public.

Common-law partners who have been in a committed relationship for at least one year but are unable to live together or appear in public together due to legal restrictions in their home country or who have been separated due to reasons beyond their control (e.g., war or conflict), may still be eligible and should be included on the application.

Dependent Children

We determine a child’s eligibility as a dependent based on age at a specific time, known as the “lock-in date.” This is usually the date we received the application. To see if a child qualifies as a dependent, we consider their age on the lock-in date, even if their age changes during processing.

A child or the child of your spouse or common-law partner can be considered a dependent child if they meet the following requirements on the lock-in date:

• They are under 22 years old and do not have a spouse or common-law partner.

A child 22 years or older can be considered a dependent if they:

• Have lived at home with their parents until they were at least 22 years old
• Are unable to support themselves due to a mental or physical condition financially

Note: Dependents must continue to meet these requirements until we finish processing the application, except for age.

A different definition of dependent children might apply if your child’s age was locked in on or before October 23, 2017.

Dependent Child of a Dependent Child

This refers to children of dependent children of the principal applicant and their spouse or common-law partner, if applicable.

Biometric Information Is Required

You and your family may need to go to a special place to have your fingerprints and photo taken (this is called biometric information).

People who are already citizens of Canada or have Permanent Residency don’t need to give biometrics.

Starting December 3, 2019, if you’re applying from within Canada, you must give biometrics. You can go to a place called Service Canada to do that.

Check if you need to give biometrics.

If you do, you must:

• Pay for your application and biometric fees, and
• Get a Biometric Instruction Letter (BIL) to tell you where to give your biometrics.

You must bring the BIL with you when you give your biometrics.

It’s best to give your biometrics as soon as possible after you get the BIL. Your application will start being processed after we get your biometrics.

Where to Give Biometrics

Schedule a time to have your biometrics taken at one of the authorized collecting locations.

Step 1: Prepare Required Documents

You’ll need to gather a list of required documents. Use the Document Checklist (IMM 0123) to help you. Your application may be returned if any missing documents or the photocopies are unclear. More documents may be needed later.

Translating Documents

You must include the following if any papers are not in either English or French:

• an English or French translation
• an affidavit from the person who translated it

The translation can be done by:

• someone fluent in both languages, or
• a Canadian certified translator (a member of a provincial or territorial organization of translators and interpreters in Canada)

The person who translated the document must provide an affidavit that confirms their language skills and the accuracy of the translation. The affidavit must be sworn in front of the following:

• a notary public, commissioner of oaths, or commissioner of taking depositions in Canada
• a notary public outside of Canada

It’s important to note that family members, including parents, siblings, spouses, children, and first cousins, cannot translate the documents. Certified translators in Canada don’t need to provide an affidavit.

Certified True Copies

A photocopy of a document must be certified by an authorized person. The person must compare the original document to the photocopy and then print the following on the photocopy:

• “I certify this is a true copy of the original document.”
• the name of the original document
• the date of certification
• their name
• their official position or title
• their signature

Only authorized people can certify copies, and family members cannot. In Canada, this can be done by a notary public, commissioner of oaths, or commissioner of taking affidavits. Outside of Canada, it can be done by a notary public. The authority to certify varies by country, province, or territory, so check with local authorities.

Police Certificates

Suppose For getting a Permanent Residency, you or any of your family members are over 18 years old and are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents. In that case, you’ll need to provide a police certificate from any country where you have spent six or more consecutive months since age 18 (other than Canada). You don’t need to provide a police certificate from a country if you were under 18 years old the entire time you lived there.

If the police certificate is not in English or French, you must get it translated by an accredited translator. You’ll need to include both the police certificate and the translation. Canada will also perform its background checks to ensure you and your family are eligible to enter Canada.

Step 2. Complete the Application

To complete the application for temporary public policy in the Greater Toronto Area for out-of-status construction workers, follow these steps:

Download the forms: You’ll need the following forms, which can be found online:

Document Checklist [IMM 0123]

Generic Application Form for Canada [IMM 0008]

Additional Dependants/Declaration [IMM 0008DEP]

Schedule A – Background/Declaration [IMM 5669]

Additional Family Information [IMM 5406]

Schedule 1: Temporary Public Policy [IMM 0113]

Application to change conditions, extend my stay or remain in Canada as a student [IMM 5709]

Application to Change Shape, Extend my Stay or Remain in Canada as a Worker [IMM 5710]

Application to change conditions, extend my stay or remain in Canada as a visitor or temporary resident permit holder [IMM 5708]

Use of a Representative [IMM 5476]

Complete the forms: Fill out all sections of the documents unless it’s indicated that you can skip a section. If a team does not apply to you, write “Not Applicable” or “NA.” If you need more space for any team, print out an extra form page with the relevant section.

Validate the forms: Use the checklist to ensure you’ve included all the necessary forms and documents. Place the list on the top of your application package as a cover.

Fill out the Generic Application Form for Canada (IMM 0008) on a computer: Answer all questions unless indicated otherwise. You can save the form and complete it later if you need to.

Validate the form: The form must be validated with 2D barcodes. Validate your answers and make sure the barcodes are correctly generated. The application will be returned to you if the barcodes are missing or can’t be machine read.

Note: It is more straightforward and less likely to contain errors while completing the form online, which will speed up the processing of your application.

Step 3. Pay the Fees

To pay the fees for your permanent residency application, follow these steps:

1. Use the fee table to calculate the total amount you must pay. Paying the permanent residency fee ($515) is recommended to avoid delays.
2. You will require a working email, access to a printer so you may print the receipt, and a credit card, debit MasterCard® or debit Visa® card.
3. Go to the Online Payment link and follow the instructions.
4. After you pay, print two copies of the IRCC official receipt with a barcode.
5. Attach a copy of the receipt to your completed application, and keep the second copy for your records.

Note: You can only pay online in Canada. If you spend any other way, your application will be returned.

There may be additional fees for medical examinations, police certificates, and language assessments for you and your family members.

If you do not pay the total fees for your application, it will be returned to you. If you overspend, the excess will be instantly repaid to you.

For more information, refer to section 10 of the IRPR for immigration applications and section 13 of the Citizenship Act for citizenship applications.

Step 4. Contact the CLC

To apply for permanent residency in Canada, you need to follow these steps:

1. Complete the required application forms and submit them with any required documents (no staples, binders, or plastic sleeves).
2. Pay the application processing fee.
3. If your application is complete, you will receive a letter or email from IRCC with a file number and basic instructions for contact.
4. You and your family must undergo a medical exam by a doctor on the IRCC list of Panel Physicians to ensure you don’t have any health conditions that could be a danger to public health or safety or cause excessive demand on health or social services in Canada.
5. If your application is approved, you and your family will receive permanent resident status in Canada.

To help speed up the permanent residency process, submit all required documents and information, pay required fees, and provide biometrics if needed. Keep IRCC updated on any changes to your contact information. Delays can occur if your application is missing information if there are verification issues, or if there are medical or security problems.

To check the status of your application, you can contact IRCC or go online. Your personal information is kept confidential and is only shared by IRCC and the Canada Border Services Agency to provide services to you.