“It all ends like this? That’s what Thomas said to himself when his girlfriend read him the email from Immigration Canada in tears.

The couple have lived in Montreal for two years. Lucile Charrier, 28, received a closed work permit with an obligation to work at CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal. Thanks to her, her 30-year-old husband obtained an open work permit and found a job in construction.

“Our goal was to move to Bromont soon. We fell in love with the Eastern Townships. Lucile could have worked there as a nurse,” says Thomas Bonnier, who contacted a real estate agent to buy a property in the area.

When they applied for a work permit extension last October, Immigration Canada’s website offered Lucile two options: renew her closed permit or opt for an open permit, says Thomas Bonnier. To move to Bromont, the couple opted for open approval.

But on March 25, her dream was shattered. “You haven’t proven that you are [admissible] to apply for an open work permit under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations reads a letter from Immigration Canada signed by “Officer YK”.

Thomas Bonnier says he is disappointed and discouraged. “We don’t know why. We don’t understand. We sent all the documents,” he said.

“In France, there are always ads or sponsored reports promoting Quebec because of the jobs, security and welcoming environment there. We are told: “French graduates, come! We have room for you!” »

“We did that, but it gets complicated. It’s an obstacle course to stay on the territory,” he emphasizes.

Since receiving the letter from Immigration Canada, Thomas Bonnier and Lucile Charrier are no longer permitted to work in the country. In addition, the nurse learned the devastating news as she was leaving the operating room at Verdun hospital. The nurse informed her supervisor, who immediately had her replaced. Thomas Bonnier also warned his employer that he could no longer work. The couple have 90 days to settle their status.

Thomas Bonnier’s boss describes him as a hardworking and reliable person. “It’s a pity we don’t give him a chance in Quebec,” said Nicolas Chénard when we contacted him. The owner of their accommodation in La Petite-Patrie also spoke of a polite couple who always pay their rent and take care of the premises “impeccably”.

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The immigration attorney M.^e Maxime Lapointe does not know all the details of this file, but he believes that Lucile Charrier should have applied for a closed work permit extension. The open work permit, with which one can change employers, is rather the exception, says the lawyer. It is granted, for example, to the spouses of holders of a study permit or a closed residence permit.

“The open work permit is the exception. The normal case is the closed work permit,” emphasizes the lawyer.

M^e However, Lapointe regrets that the criteria for the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) changed in July 2020. Before that date, immigrants could apply for permanent residence after working in the province for 12 months and demonstrating a good knowledge of French.

“Now we require 24 months of work,” explains the lawyer. That is, the day the person who has a closed work permit can finally apply for permanent residency, they will no longer be able to work,” he explains.

“We leave people on the sidelines by asking them to work 24 months instead of 12,” he says.

As Thomas Bonnier and Lucile Charrier’s work permits have just expired, they can no longer apply for permanent residence. “They have to start all over again and have an employer take an international approach to recruitment for them. Once they get their approval, they have to accumulate months of work. It’s sure to be dramatic for them,” says M^e The point.

Immigration Canada declined to comment “due to privacy laws.”