Canada tightens Atlantic Immigration Program rules for employment changes

The Canadian federal government has implemented new regulations for the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP), introducing stricter requirements for permanent residence applicants facing employment changes. Under updated instructions from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), immigration officers are now required to refuse applications if certain documentation is not provided within a 90-day deadline.

Previously, officers would place applications on hold indefinitely until required documents were received. The new rules mandate that officers issue a procedural fairness letter (PFL) notifying the applicant of the necessary documents and the 90-day window. The updated guidelines specifically address three scenarios: a change in the ownership of the applicant’s employer, a change in the applicant’s role within the same company, or a transition from one designated employer to another.

In cases of employer ownership changes, provincial authorities must re-evaluate whether the employer still meets the AIP designation criteria. If an applicant changes roles or employers, they must submit updated provincial endorsement certificates and employment notifications within the specified timeframe to avoid application refusal.