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 work permit rules and its February 2026 vulnerable worker instructions checked that day.
The usual route: a new employer gets an LMIA or makes an LMIA-exempt offer, and you apply for a new employer-specific permit.
If you’re being abused: the open work permit for vulnerable workers lets you leave without a new job offer.
Timing: keep your current permit valid while you change. 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.
A closed, or employer-specific, work permit only lets you work for the employer named on it. To change jobs, you normally need a new permit for the new employer, usually based on a new LMIA or an LMIA-exempt job offer. If you need to leave because your employer is abusing you, the open work permit for vulnerable workers is a separate and faster route that doesn’t need a new job offer.
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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Your routes
| Route | What it needs |
|---|---|
| New employer-specific permit | A new employer, an LMIA (or an LMIA-exempt offer), and a new permit application from inside Canada |
| Open work permit for vulnerable workers | Abuse or risk of abuse in your current job, and a valid employer-specific permit; see the vulnerable worker open work permit |
| Another open work permit | For example, as the spouse of an eligible worker or student |
Changing with a new LMIA
The new employer applies for the LMIA. Once it is approved, you apply for a new permit. Low-wage LMIAs are limited in some BC regions; see the low-wage LMIA freeze in BC. Ask us whether you can start the new job before the new permit is issued; working for a new employer without authorization can cause serious problems.
Keep your current permit valid
Apply for the new permit before your current one expires so you stay on maintained status.
Why this needs a lawyer
One lawyer, one file, every step:
- finding the right route to change employers;
- checking the new employer’s LMIA or exemption;
- preparing the new permit or vulnerable worker application;
- keeping your status valid throughout.
Working for the wrong employer, even for a few days, can lead to refusals later.
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
- Starting the new job before you’re authorized.
- Letting your current permit expire.
- Paying for an LMIA (that’s illegal).
- Missing the vulnerable worker route when you’re being abused.
Frequently asked questions
Can I change employers on an LMIA work permit?
Yes, with a new employer-specific permit, usually based on a new LMIA.
Can I change a closed work permit to an open one?
Only through specific programs, such as the vulnerable worker permit or a spousal open permit.
Do I have to tell my current employer?
No, but you can’t work for the new employer until you’re authorized.
What should I do right now?
Check your permit’s expiry, and get advice before accepting a new job.
Book a consultation with our immigration lawyers in Surrey, Abbotsford or Vancouver, or online from anywhere.
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Sources (official)
- IRCC instructions: Open work permits for vulnerable workers [R207.1 – A72] (modified February 6, 2026)
- Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, s. 207.1
This article is general information, not legal advice. Every case depends on its own facts.