On April 1, 2011, CIC introduced a regulatory amendment that establishes a 4-year cumulative duration limit a TFW can work in Canada. As a result, employers wishing to make a job offer to a TFW who has previously worked in Canada should be aware that TFWs reaching or close to reaching the 4-year limit may not be granted a new work permit, or an extension to their current work permit or they may have its duration limited. In addition, once the 4-year limit has been reached, the TFW will have to wait 4 years before being eligible to work in Canada again. The 4-year cumulative duration limit will only be counted starting from April 1, 2011 which means that as a result of this regulation, refusals of work permits will potentially begin April 1st, 2015.
Note: TFWs being hired under this stream for occupations, where the National Occupational Classification (NOC) code skill level is A, meaning the position requires a university degree (bachelor’s, masters or doctorate), such as a nurse, are exempt from the maximum cumulative duration.
The idea is that the TFW should apply for permanent residency & he/she is not exploited by the employer.
(NOC) code skill level A:
1111 - Financial Auditors and Accountants
1112 - Financial and Investment Analysts
1113 - Securities Agents, Investment Dealers and Brokers
1114 - Other Financial Officers
1121 - Specialists in Human Resources
1122 - Professional Occupations in Business Services to Management
2111 - Physicists and Astronomers
2112 - Chemists
2113 - Geologists, Geochemists and Geophysicists
2114 - Meteorologists
2115 - Other Professional Occupations in Physical Sciences
2121 - Biologists and Related Scientists
2122 - Forestry Professionals
2123 - Agricultural Representatives, Consultants and Specialists
2131 - Civil Engineers
2132 - Mechanical Engineers
2133 - Electrical and Electronics Engineers
2134 - Chemical Engineers
2141 - Industrial and Manufacturing Engineers
2142 - Metallurgical and Materials Engineers
2143 - Mining Engineers
2144 - Geological Engineers
2145 - Petroleum Engineers
2146 - Aerospace Engineers
2147 - Computer Engineers (Except Software Engineers and Designers)
2148 - Other Professional Engineers, n.e.c.
2151 - Architects
2152 - Landscape Architects
2153 - Urban and Land Use Planners
2154 - Land Surveyors
2161 - Mathematicians, Statisticians and Actuaries
2171 - Information Systems Analysts and Consultants
2172 - Database Analysts and Data Administrators
2173 - Software Engineers and Designers
2174 - Computer Programmers and Interactive Media Developers
2175 - Web Designers and Developers
3111 - Specialist Physicians
3112 - General Practitioners and Family Physicians
3113 - Dentists
3114 - Veterinarians
3121 - Optometrists
3122 - Chiropractors
3123 - Other Professional Occupations in Health Diagnosing and Treating
3131 - Pharmacists
3132 - Dietitians and Nutritionists
3141 - Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists
3142 - Physiotherapists
3143 - Occupational Therapists
3144 - Other Professional Occupations in Therapy and Assessment
3151 - Head Nurses and Supervisors
3152 - Registered Nurses
4111 - Judges
4112 - Lawyers and Quebec Notaries
4121 - University Professors
4122 - Post-Secondary Teaching and Research Assistants
4131 - College and Other Vocational Instructors
4141 - Secondary School Teachers
4142 - Elementary School and Kindergarten Teachers
4143 - Educational Counsellors
4151 - Psychologists
4152 - Social Workers
4153 - Family, Marriage and Other Related Counsellors
4154 - Ministers of Religion
4155 - Probation and Parole Officers and Related Occupations
4161 - Natural and Applied Science Policy Researchers, Consultants and Program Officers
4162 - Economists and Economic Policy Researchers and Analysts
4163 - Business Development Officers and Marketing Researchers and Consultants
4164 - Social Policy Researchers, Consultants and Program Officers
4165 - Health Policy Researchers, Consultants and Program Officers
4166 - Education Policy Researchers, Consultants and Program Officers
4167 - Recreation, Sports and Fitness Program Supervisors and Consultants
4168 - Program Officers Unique to Government
4169 - Other Professional Occupations in Social Science, n.e.c.
5111 - Librarians
5112 - Conservators and Curators
5113 - Archivists
5121 - Authors and Writers
5122 - Editors
5123 - Journalists
5124 - Professional Occupations in Public Relations and Communications
5125 - Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters
5131 - Producers, Directors, Choreographers and Related Occupations
5132 - Conductors, Composers and Arrangers
5133 - Musicians and Singers
5134 - Dancers
5135 - Actors and Comedians
5136 - Painters, Sculptors and Other Visual Artists