Overview

• Immigration Program Development Officers (IPDOs) with the Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism (OIM) are responsible for processing applications under the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) and the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP). The policy outlines OIM’s approach to assessing jobs where the nature of work is remote, or where the employer grants them permission to work from home.
• The ability to qualify for a provincial economic immigration program using a remote job is dependent on a number of factors that are to be considered by the IPDO. Additional consideration is needed for applications supported by the employer’s Job Vacancy Assessment (JVA) or AIP Designation.

Procedures for NLPNP applications:

• The IPDO will review an NLPNP application to see if an applicant has declared their job as “remote” on the application. Failure to disclose a remote work arrangement may be subject to OIM’s policy: https://www.gov.nl.ca/immigration/pdf-4-misrepresentation/.
• If an applicant is applying under the NLPNP and has declared that they have a job with a remote work arrangement, the IPDO will correspond with both the employer and applicant to gain further information on the agreed upon arrangement.
• Once the IPDO has gathered information on the remote work arrangement for the applicant, they must assess how the arrangement impacts other requirements of the program, if at all, and if the job duties can reasonably be expected to perform remotely.
• If the IPDO has reason to believe that the remote work arrangement may impact another program requirement or render the applicant ineligible, or that the job duties cannot reasonably be performed remotely for the job, the IPDO will then follow OIM’s applicable policy: https://www.gov.nl.ca/immigration/pdf-9-procedural-fairness/.
• If the NLPNP application for a remote worker is JVA supported, OIM reserves the right to refuse the application, as working remotely upon entry to Canada may have adverse effects on an applicant’s settlement, community connections and intention to reside in the province long term. Exemptions may be made for JVA supported applications for remote workers, where the employer can demonstrate both a long history of establishment in the province, as well as a proven track record for supporting settlement needs of former nominees.
• Where the IPDO supports nomination under this policy, the rationale must be documented in the application system. The rationale should clearly explain how the applicant has demonstrated residence in Newfoundland and Labrador, intention to reside permanently in the province, and ability to economically establish.