Starting March 1, once the work permit (SWAP or AgStream) is approved, applicants will be notified that they must submit their passport for the issuance of the visa counterfoil sticker.
The notice will be sent to either the worker, the Mexico Ministry of Labour (for SAWP) or a private recruiter, depending on the situation.
The Mexico Ministry of Labour is currently working on a process for collecting and submitting passports to Canada to attach the counterfoil (visa). This will increase processing times to complete work permit applications.
How will this impact specific situations? For AgStream – Contact your recruiter to confirm what you should do. The process for AgStream workers in Canada renewing a work permit is unchanged.
- Work permit issued or approved before 11:30pm EST February 29.
If the worker had a work permit issued or approved and has a valid eTA (electronic Travel Authorization) they are cleared to travel to Canada. Including SAWP – Workers who currently have a status of “Work Permit” in the WALI Portal. Please continue communicating with Mi Tierra and book the worker’s travel. Work permits will continue being printed and issued at YVR.
- Work permit application in progress.
If the work permit application is in progress, but was not approved on February 28, Canada will automatically issue a visa. HOWEVER, the worker will need to submit their passport to a Visa Application Centre (CVAC) to have the visa physically attached to their passport.
SAWP – Workers who currently have a status of “CVAC” in the WALI Portal should fall into this category. The government of Mexico is still working on the logistics of how they will collect worker passports and submit them to CVAC to have the visa attached.
Workers will likely be delayed.
- Applying for a work permit
Application for a work permit must be done outside of Canada. Workers cannot apply for a work permit at the port of entry. Visas will be automatically issued with the work permit application, but workers will need to physically submit their passports with their work permit application.
SAWP – Workers who currently have a status of “Imported” or “In SIMOL” in the WALI Portal should fall into this category. The government of Mexico is still working on the logistics of how they will collect worker passports and submit them to CVAC to have the visa attached. Workers will likely be delayed.
Workers will not be allowed to apply for a work permit when they land in Vancouver.
This process is similar to what is required by workers coming from Jamaica or Guatemala.
For more information, please refer to the Government of Canada fact sheet HERE or go to https://visa.vfsglobal.com/mex/en/can/
