In October 2025, New Brunswick Immigration took decisive action to safeguard permanent residence (PR) applicants who risked losing their work authorization due to extended application processing times. This emergency measure is providing new hope and stability to hundreds of skilled workers and their families, ensuring continued employment and a smoother path to permanent settlement in the province.
An Urgent Problem: Delayed Processing Risks Work Status
Recent months have seen a dramatic rise in the processing time for Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) applications. What was once a 13-month timeline has jumped to 37 months, leaving many AIP endorsees facing an unexpected expiration of their two-year work permits well before a final decision is made on their PR cases. AIP candidates are not eligible for Canada’s Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP), which normally allows PR applicants to keep working past their permit’s expiry date. This gap created a crisis, threatening both livelihoods and the province’s ability to retain essential talent.
New Brunswick’s Lifeline: Letters of Support for New Work Permits
To solve this, Immigration New Brunswick announced it will now issue letters of support for closed work permits to AIP applicants whose permits are about to expire. These letters enable endorsees to apply for C18 closed work permits, which will authorize them to continue working for their current employer while their PR application is still in process. This intervention is designed to plug the gap left by longer AIP processing times, empowering skilled professionals to maintain employment, income, and status during a potentially stressful waiting period.
This support is available to AIP endorsees who contact Immigration New Brunswick using the province’s Post-Endorsement Request Form. Applicants must promptly notify officials of any changes in their employment, such as switching jobs, promotion, or termination, as these changes may impact eligibility and require updates to their endorsement certificate.
Who Qualifies and How the Process Works
The lifeline is specifically targeted at AIP endorsees whose work permits are approaching expiry with no permanent resident status yet granted. These candidates must provide evidence of their status and employer, and any employment changes while their PR case is in process must be reported immediately. Once they receive a support letter, AIP candidates can apply directly to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for their new work permit. With this permit, they are able to legally remain in Canada, supporting themselves and their families while continuing to contribute to the provincial economy.
Why the Lifeline Matters Now
For employers and applicants alike, this new measure helps avoid disruption in critical sectors, from healthcare to construction and hospitality. Many AIP applicants fill essential roles in communities where labor shortages are acute. Losing authorized work status would not only affect individual income and family security, but also reduce manpower for vital provincial industries. By ensuring continuity of employment for these skilled individuals, New Brunswick is enhancing both social stability and economic resilience.
Challenges and Outlook for the Future
It remains to be seen whether other Atlantic provinces will adopt similar measures for AIP endorsees, but New Brunswick’s innovative response is drawing national attention. The processing delays are a symptom of rising demand and complex federal-provincial coordination, and ongoing reforms may be needed to streamline immigration programs and prevent vulnerable workers from falling through the cracks. Meanwhile, PR applicants are advised to track updates on the provincial immigration website and act swiftly if their status is at risk.
In summary, New Brunswick’s lifeline is a timely, compassionate response to a complex challenge, reaffirming the province’s commitment to its immigrant workforce and the strength of its regional immigration partnerships. Skilled workers facing long PR application waits now have a practical solution to avoid loss of employment, helping them build stable futures in the province they call home. As immigration policy evolves, measures like these may set a new standard for applicant support across Canada.
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