Published
Pardeep S. Grewal is a lawyer at Lawgical Law Corporation, called to the BC bar in 2024, and a member of the Law Society of British Columbia.
Updated November 13, 2026: IRCC’s February 2026 instructions and its 2023 briefing to the Immigration Committee checked that day.
Timing: in 2023, 80% of applications were decided within 34 days. IRCC doesn’t promise a time; check its current processing times.
Approval: 58% were approved in 2023. Missing evidence was the main reason for refusals.
Possible steps: a request for documents, an interview, or a procedural fairness letter. Why a lawyer
Our immigration lawyers
Sundeep S. GrewalBarrister and Solicitor
Prabhpreet Kaur SanghaBarrister and Solicitor
Pardeep S. GrewalBarrister and SolicitorAbout our lawyers
Sundeep S. Grewal founded Lawgical Law Corporation and argues immigration cases at the Immigration and Refugee Board and the Federal Court of Canada.
Prabhpreet Kaur Sangha focuses on refugee claims, immigration appeals, inadmissibility, detention reviews and Federal Court cases, and has presented at Continuing Legal Education seminars and the National Immigration Conference.
Pardeep S. Grewal is an immigration and estates lawyer known for clear communication and practical strategy.
After you apply for the open work permit for vulnerable workers, an officer reviews your letter and evidence, may ask for more, may interview you, and then decides. IRCC’s last published figures, for 2023, show 80% of applications decided within 34 days and 58% approved. Since February 2026, IRCC no longer has a target to contact you within five business days, so the time from filing to first contact can vary.
Lawgical Law Corporation, an immigration law firm in Surrey, Abbotsford and Vancouver, BC, prepares open work permit applications for vulnerable workers, from the letter of explanation and evidence to refusals and Federal Court reviews; this guide is by Pardeep S. Grewal.
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What happens, step by step
| Step | What it means |
|---|---|
| Review | The officer checks your permit and decides whether your facts are established, then whether they give “reasonable grounds to believe” there is abuse or a risk of it |
| Request for documents | If something is missing, such as the letter or a translation, the officer should ask and give you a reasonable time to send it |
| Interview | By phone, video or in person, usually if something needs clarifying or credibility is in question; an interpreter is provided if needed |
| Procedural fairness letter | If the officer has information from elsewhere that could lead to a refusal, they must tell you and let you respond |
| Decision | Approval: an open permit, usually 12 months. Refusal: reasons that say which requirement wasn’t met |
How to avoid delays
- Send everything at once, in one file, with a table of contents.
- Include certified translations.
- Make your letter specific: dates, what happened, who was involved.
- Watch your online account and email every day.
If you’re called for an interview
Officers are told that trauma can affect memory, and that small inconsistencies shouldn’t decide a case on their own. Prepare by reviewing your letter and evidence.
While you wait
Your employer-specific permit stays valid until it expires. If it is about to expire, apply to renew it on time so you stay on maintained status. See the vulnerable worker open work permit.
Why this needs a lawyer
One lawyer, one file, every step:
- preparing a complete application so the officer doesn’t need to come back;
- answering document requests and fairness letters;
- preparing you for an interview;
- acting quickly on a refusal.
The fastest decisions go to complete, well-organized applications.
Immigration lawyers are members of a provincial law society (in our case, the Law Society of British Columbia), and only a lawyer can represent you in the Federal Court if a refusal has to be challenged there. An immigration consultant cannot appear in that court for you.
Mistakes I have seen
- Sending evidence in pieces.
- Missing a request for documents in your online account.
- Letting the employer-specific permit expire while waiting.
- Reapplying after a refusal with nothing new.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a fast track?
IRCC processes these on a priority basis, but IRCC does not commit to a set time.
Can I work for a new employer while I wait?
Not until the open permit is approved, unless another permit allows it.
What is the approval rate?
58% in 2023, the latest year IRCC has published.
What should I do right now?
Check your online account daily, keep your current permit valid, and get help quickly if IRCC asks for more.
Book a consultation with our immigration lawyers in Surrey, Abbotsford or Vancouver, or online from anywhere.
Ready to book? Open the booking form ↑
Sources (official)
- IRCC instructions: Open work permits for vulnerable workers [R207.1 – A72] (modified February 6, 2026)
- IRCC program delivery update, February 6, 2026
- IRCC briefing to the Immigration Committee: Open work permit for vulnerable workers (2023 data)
- Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, s. 207.1
This article is general information, not legal advice. Every case depends on its own facts.