This question — whether someone whose work permit expired (leaving them on a visitor record) can get a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) after receiving an ITA — got two partly conflicting but useful answers worth weighing together.
What group members advised:- General BOWP eligibility rules were laid out: you must live in Canada (intending to live outside Quebec) at the time of applying, and either hold a valid work permit, have an expired one but have maintained status as a worker, or be eligible to restore status and get a new work permit.
- A stricter reading was also given: BOWP is only valid if your existing work permit is expiring after you get your AOR (Acknowledgement of Receipt) — meaning if the permit already expired before AOR and you moved to visitor status, the bridging permit may not apply.
- The gap between these two views matters — the safest approach if your permit already lapsed is to check your specific status (worker status maintained vs. visitor record) against IRCC's current BOWP eligibility criteria before assuming you qualify.
The practical takeaway: don't assume a BOWP will be available just because you received an ITA — confirm whether your work permit technically expired before or after AOR, and whether you maintained worker status or fell to visitor status, since that timing determines eligibility.