Citizenship and Immigration Canada has been implementing budget cuts that are part of ongoing efforts to streamline the immigration system. As part of this, the approach to submissions of work permit applications to visa offices in the USA has changed. Until now, applicants may have applied to one of the six consular offices in the USA, typically selected based on geographical jurisdiction. The six offices were in New York City, Buffalo, Detroit, Washington DC, Seattle, and Los Angeles.

The office in Buffalo has been closed entirely to the public, and will no longer accept any temporary resident applications. The offices in Detroit, Washington DC, and Seattle will only accept Temporary Resident Visa (i.e., Visitor) applications from those with legal admission to the USA, but will not accept Study Permit or Temporary Work Permit applications. All such applications must now be submitted either to Los Angeles or New York City.

Applicants residing East of the Mississippi River, including Puerto Rico, Bermuda and St. Pierre and Miquelon, should submit cases to New York City, and those west of the Mississippi should submit cases to Los Angeles. Temporary Resident Permits and Authorization to Return to Canada applications may be submitted to any of these five remaining offices responsible for temporary resident applications. Those who remain exempt from the requirement to obtain a passport visa to travel to Canada, may still apply for work permits at ports of entry when that option is available.