When can I enter Canada

[chris-visa]

Hi all,

I am an Australian living in the US. I have a job offer for a position in Vancouver.

QUESTION: If I get a temporary worker's permit to start December 1, can me and my family enter the country with that permit on August 1?

BACKGROUND: I can start the job at any time. I am sponsored for the PNP for Express Entry and working on that application. In an ideal world I would:

1. Enter Canada August 1, move into an apartment and enroll our child in school so they can start on Sep 1.
2. Begin work on December 1.

Any advice appreciated, thank you!

Chris

 

[iSaidGoodDay]

Hi all,

I am an Australian living in the US. I have a job offer for a position in Vancouver.

QUESTION: If I get a temporary worker's permit to start December 1, can me and my family enter the country with that permit on August 1?

BACKGROUND: I can start the job at any time. I am sponsored for the PNP for Express Entry and working on that application. In an ideal world I would:

1. Enter Canada August 1, move into an apartment and enroll our child in school so they can start on Sep 1.
2. Begin work on December 1.

Any advice appreciated, thank you!

Chris

What is sponsored for PNP for Express entry? You've a work permit that's either supported by LMIA or is LMIA exempt, do you have PNP nomination or ITA from express entry?

If you got none of the above, ask this question in the right section of the forum - either ask under Skilled Worker / Professional Immigration or PNP part of the forum.

 

[chris-visa]

Thanks for your response!

I am applying to migrate to become a permanent resident in Canada under the 'Federal Skilled Worker' program, through Express Entry (health care worker TEER 1). The position is LMIA exempt. The employer is sponsoring me to apply for the BC PNP. I'll apply for myself, my wife, and my children to become PRs.

My understanding is that the function of the PNP sponsorship is to make it easier for us to get permanent residency, by increasing our score for the FSW program. is that correct (or is that just one of the things it does)?

And that while this is being processed, I can get a temporary worker's permit (supported by the PNP)?

 

[YVR123]

Thanks for your response!

I am applying to migrate to become a permanent resident in Canada under the 'Federal Skilled Worker' program, through Express Entry (health care worker TEER 1). The position is LMIA exempt. The employer is sponsoring me to apply for the BC PNP. I'll apply for myself, my wife, and my children to become PRs.

My understanding is that the function of the PNP sponsorship is to make it easier for us to get permanent residency, by increasing our score for the FSW program. is that correct (or is that just one of the things it does)?

And that while this is being processed, I can get a temporary worker's permit (supported by the PNP)?

So you already have a close work permit that's LMIA exempt?
Then you can enter anytime. You should for spouse work permit and study visa for your children if they plan to come with you. (You may need to include pay stub but if they are Americans/Australians, then they can first enter as visitor and wait here for those.)

 

[Lord_Tony]

QUESTION: If I get a temporary worker's permit to start December 1, can me and my family enter the country with that permit on August 1?

Mate, can you please clarify if you already have a Workpermit (WP) or not? This sentence seems to tell me you don't have a WP today and plan to apply and get one before August 1.

If you don't have a WP today even then yes you are allowed to Canada on a visa waiver program using your Australian passport. However, without a WP
1) you still neither enroll your kids in schools (as both private and public schools ask for Student permits or visitor permits depending on the age of the kid)
2) Nor will the provinces give you a healthcare card (the Canadian equivalent of the green Australian Medicare card). Without a health card, you have to buy for IHP - Inpatriate Health care programs which are astronomically expensive.

If you have a WP yes as @YVR123 says above you can move in Aug, even if your job start date is in Dec, it doesn't matter. However be careful to check one thing if yours is an open WP, then some provinces ask for pay local stubs which you won't have which is big trouble also.

 

[chris-visa]

Thanks so much Tony - this is extremely helpful!

Sorry I was unclear – you are right, I do not have a WP or any active visas or permits for Canada. We are green card holders in the US.

It sounds like based on this, if I apply next week and am approved for a closed work permit with the job starting Dec 1, we could travel to Vancouver August 1 on that work permit and get set up with the kids in school and the like. I obviously won't rely only on this advice, but this is super promising.

Thanks again, chris

 

[Lord_Tony]

Thanks so much Tony - this is extremely helpful!

Sorry I was unclear – you are right, I do not have a WP or any active visas or permits for Canada. We are green card holders in the US.

It sounds like based on this, if I apply next week and am approved for a closed work permit with the job starting Dec 1, we could travel to Vancouver August 1 on that work permit and get set up with the kids in school and the like. I obviously won't rely only on this advice, but this is super promising.

Thanks again, chris

On WP it is a minimum two-step process. It will become a three-step for folks from countries that need an entry visa.

As you will apply from outside Canada,
1) the first step is your employer's attorney will do the needed online submission and will get a WP approval letter (a PDF), the attorney will ask you to travel to the Border post assuming you drive from Seatle or at the airport if you fly carrying this PDF letter.
2) The CBSA agent at the border/airport will issue your WP document (a one-page watermarked document stapled in your passport), this is the second step.
3) For those who need a visa label, there is an intermediate step of sending the passport to the local Canadian embassy and getting an entry visa so that they can enter Canada but they will have to still do step 2.

Please be informed that for visa waiver country passport holders there is a mechanism to get the WP directly at the border or airport itself bypassing the step of applying for approval in the IRCC portal. i.e. do both 1 and 2 at the border or the airport.

But I learned that directly getting WP at the border is getting trickier and chances of rejection are higher as agents won't have time to verify boatloads of documents and can be grumpy, or we might miss carrying documents, etc.... But some applicants still do it because it is quicker.

Please talk to your employer's attorney and decide the option that suits you.