Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) under express entry - connect here

[Raptors]

Hi there,

I applied for my BOWP on March 7th and still haven't heard back. On the website, it says as of April 7th, they were processing applications received on Feb 23rd.

Their processing time seems to be increasing by the day. Has anyone over here, who applied in last week of Feb or first week of March, received their BOWP over the last week.

Would appreciate any guidance in this regards.

Thanks

 

[pilot747]

I applied for BOWP on Feb 24th. It was put "oh hold" on April 3rd.

This is from CIC.

Express Entry: determining if an e-APR has passed the completeness check

If a foreign national submits an APR using Express Entry, they may apply for a BOWP if they meet the eligibility requirements. However, a decision on the application will not be made until the Centralized Intake Office (CIO) has assessed the e‑APR for completeness. A BOWP can be issued only if the e‑APR has passed the R10 completeness check.

Before issuing a BOWP, officers must check the Global Case Management System (GCMS) to ensure that the CIO has reviewed the application and determined that it meets the requirements of a complete application as described in sections R10 and R12.01. If the e‑APR is incomplete, the application for a BOWP must be refused. The open work permit holder fee can be refunded, but the processing fees cannot.

Complete application: The CIO will enter the following note in GCMS: “R10 OK.”

Incomplete application: The CIO will cancel the e‑APR and enter the following note in GCMS: “E‑APR rejected as incomplete. Client not eligible for BOWP.”

Applicants applying for a BOWP must include a copy of their Acknowledgment of receipt - Application for permanent residence letter with their open work permit application.

 

[Aliz14]

Hi Guys

I need your suggestion. I am going to apply for BOWP. Currently, I am working & living in Alberta. I submitted my PR application on basis of PNP - Nova Scotia.
Since I decided to select New Employer in BOWP application form. So my Question is that, Do I need to submit job letter where I am currently working with the application? in BOWP application Checklist, It is not asking for to upload current job letter.

Please advice me.

Thank you in advance.

 

[ganeshac1985]

Hi there,

I applied for my BOWP on March 7th and still haven't heard back. On the website, it says as of April 7th, they were processing applications received on Feb 23rd.

Their processing time seems to be increasing by the day. Has anyone over here, who applied in last week of Feb or first week of March, received their BOWP over the last week.

Would appreciate any guidance in this regards.

Thanks

HI,
I applied on BOWP on February 17th and it went "on hold" on 29th March... I am still waiting for my BOWP
Regards

 

[ganeshac1985]

Hi Guys

I need your suggestion. I am going to apply for BOWP. Currently, I am working & living in Alberta. I submitted my PR application on basis of PNP - Nova Scotia.
Since I decided to select New Employer in BOWP application form. So my Question is that, Do I need to submit job letter where I am currently working with the application? in BOWP application Checklist, It is not asking for to upload current job letter.

Please advice me.

Thank you in advance.

I don't think u need to attach offer letter. As far as I know, it is open work permit and u don't need job offer letter. Just make sure you don;t have provisional specific restrictions when they nominate...Hope this helps

 

[Raptors]

HI,
I applied on BOWP on February 17th and it went "on hold" on 29th March... I am still waiting for my BOWP
Regards

Hi Ganesh,

Your application went on hold because they await the clearance of the R10 check (which is the eligibility check on your PR application). It takes a few months before that check is completed. Hence, they put your application on hold until that check is completed.

 

[Raptors]

I applied for BOWP on Feb 24th. It was put "oh hold" on April 3rd.

This is from CIC.

Express Entry: determining if an e-APR has passed the completeness check

If a foreign national submits an APR using Express Entry, they may apply for a BOWP if they meet the eligibility requirements. However, a decision on the application will not be made until the Centralized Intake Office (CIO) has assessed the e‑APR for completeness. A BOWP can be issued only if the e‑APR has passed the R10 completeness check.

Before issuing a BOWP, officers must check the Global Case Management System (GCMS) to ensure that the CIO has reviewed the application and determined that it meets the requirements of a complete application as described in sections R10 and R12.01. If the e‑APR is incomplete, the application for a BOWP must be refused. The open work permit holder fee can be refunded, but the processing fees cannot.

Complete application: The CIO will enter the following note in GCMS: “R10 OK.”

Incomplete application: The CIO will cancel the e‑APR and enter the following note in GCMS: “E‑APR rejected as incomplete. Client not eligible for BOWP.”

Applicants applying for a BOWP must include a copy of their Acknowledgment of receipt - Application for permanent residence letter with their open work permit application.

Hey when did you apply for the PR? As you mentioned they await the R10 check to be completed. Hopefully, it moves fast. For me, my checks were completed but the processing is so slow that they still have not started the month of March (apparently) - unless someone here submitted their application in early March and have heard back recently?

 

[pilot747]

I submitted my application on Feb 7th

 

[hasankhan27]

Thank you for answering my question!
But it's been more than a week and I am experiencing the same issue....
I don't know what to do..

try contacting CIC through "report technical issue"

at least you can take a screenshot and attach it to your application, in case you get late.

 

[hasankhan27]

Hi there,

I applied for my BOWP on March 7th and still haven't heard back. On the website, it says as of April 7th, they were processing applications received on Feb 23rd.

Their processing time seems to be increasing by the day. Has anyone over here, who applied in last week of Feb or first week of March, received their BOWP over the last week.

Would appreciate any guidance in this regards.

Thanks

I applied on March 10 and still there is no activity.

 

[hasankhan27]

Hi Guys

I need your suggestion. I am going to apply for BOWP. Currently, I am working & living in Alberta. I submitted my PR application on basis of PNP - Nova Scotia.
Since I decided to select New Employer in BOWP application form. So my Question is that, Do I need to submit job letter where I am currently working with the application? in BOWP application Checklist, It is not asking for to upload current job letter.

Please advice me.

Thank you in advance.

Its an application for an "open" work permit so it is not dependent on your employer. So no need for the employment letter.

At least that is what the opinion was from other posts on this forum.

 

[coffeeguy]

Hey guys

My work permit expired on Feb 19th and I did a paper application in order to gain some time.
I'm currently sitting on 453 points on my express entry profile and I plan to put my profile live this week, I expected to get the ETA on the next draw or on the next 2 or 3 draws.

Does being in implied status makes me not eligible for a BOWP?

 

[kaykat27]

I submitted my application on Feb 7th

I got my AOR on Jan 29, applied for BOWP on Feb 1 and I didn't get BOWP appoval till April 11.

 

[hasankhan27]

Hey guys

My work permit expired on Feb 19th and I did a paper application in order to gain some time.
I'm currently sitting on 453 points on my express entry profile and I plan to put my profile live this week, I expected to get the ETA on the next draw or on the next 2 or 3 draws.

Does being in implied status makes me not eligible for a BOWP?

Your case seems to be a unclear from the info that you have provided above.

Applicants are eligible for a BOWP in either of the two cases;

1- You have applied for PR and your existing work permit will expire in the meanwhile - makes you eligible for an open work permit
2- You have a provincial nomination and you will be applying for PR based on that - makes you eligible for a closed work permit.

In both conditions above you have to show proof that you have either applied for PR or been nominated by a province.

 

[Raptors]

I got my AOR on Jan 29, applied for BOWP on Feb 1 and I didn't get BOWP appoval till April 11.

Yeah I believe your application would have been put on hold, until the R10 check got completed. That would probably explain the delay