Extending/Applying For Open Work Permit While Waiting For Permenant Residency?

[hordway]

Not certain whether to put this under worker class or family class thread, but regardless...

I will be applying for permanent residency VERY shortly via mailing in my application. I will be applying as a common law partner, sponsored by my common law spouse who is a Canadian citizen. I originally came to Canada through the IEC program, and as an American I was eligible for two year-long open work visas. I am about 3.5 months into my second year now - my boyfriend and I have lived together in Canada for over a full year so we are legally considered common law and have updated our status with the CRA as such.

My question is this: since there is only around 8.5 months until the end of my current work visa, and I know it may take longer than that to process my PR application, would I be able to extend my current work permit so I could continue to work in Canada? I've held the same job since I've gotten here and would like not to lose it if possible. If it's not possible to extend my current work permit, how would I go about applying for a new one? How much buffer should I give myself between the end of my work permit and when I apply to make sure I get approved for my new open work permit in time? Etc, etc...

Any advice would be welcome!

 

[WeegieInOttawa]

Not certain whether to put this under worker class or family class thread, but regardless...

I will be applying for permanent residency VERY shortly via mailing in my application. I will be applying as a common law partner, sponsored by my common law spouse who is a Canadian citizen. I originally came to Canada through the IEC program, and as an American I was eligible for two year-long open work visas. I am about 3.5 months into my second year now - my boyfriend and I have lived together in Canada for over a full year so we are legally considered common law and have updated our status with the CRA as such.

My question is this: since there is only around 8.5 months until the end of my current work visa, and I know it may take longer than that to process my PR application, would I be able to extend my current work permit so I could continue to work in Canada? I've held the same job since I've gotten here and would like not to lose it if possible. If it's not possible to extend my current work permit, how would I go about applying for a new one? How much buffer should I give myself between the end of my work permit and when I apply to make sure I get approved for my new open work permit in time? Etc, etc...

Any advice would be welcome!

No you CANNOT continue working. The IEC is "non extendable". This has been a common issue raised and there is a lot of mixed ideas about if you can continue working or not. You can't.

Hopefully being an American (and the process is usually pretty swift for Americans without complex cases) you should have your app processed by then!

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Not certain whether to put this under worker class or family class thread, but regardless...

I will be applying for permanent residency VERY shortly via mailing in my application. I will be applying as a common law partner, sponsored by my common law spouse who is a Canadian citizen. I originally came to Canada through the IEC program, and as an American I was eligible for two year-long open work visas. I am about 3.5 months into my second year now - my boyfriend and I have lived together in Canada for over a full year so we are legally considered common law and have updated our status with the CRA as such.

My question is this: since there is only around 8.5 months until the end of my current work visa, and I know it may take longer than that to process my PR application, would I be able to extend my current work permit so I could continue to work in Canada? I've held the same job since I've gotten here and would like not to lose it if possible. If it's not possible to extend my current work permit, how would I go about applying for a new one? How much buffer should I give myself between the end of my work permit and when I apply to make sure I get approved for my new open work permit in time? Etc, etc...

Any advice would be welcome!

Outland American apps are generally processed in 6-8 months, so you should be fine. Alternatively, you can apply inland and include an OWP, which is granted in about 4 months.

 

[WeegieInOttawa]

Make sure to go through the application checklist if you haven't already! Lots more required aside from updating your status with CRA (which im sure you're aware of!).

 

[hordway]

Make sure to go through the application checklist if you haven't already! Lots more required aside from updating your status with CRA (which im sure you're aware of!).

Absolutely I have! I started on this almost 4 months ago, so I've taken my time making sure everything is in order. Going to do one more sweep of everything before getting it organized to send off!

 

[hordway]

No you CANNOT continue working. The IEC is "non extendable". This has been a common issue raised and there is a lot of mixed ideas about if you can continue working or not. You can't.

Hopefully being an American (and the process is usually pretty swift for Americans without complex cases) you should have your app processed by then!

That's my hope! Both my partner and I have about the least complicated cases possible - neither of us have any criminal record, no children from either of us/between us, he has never sponsored anyone before and neither of us have been married/divorced, he's never been in any other common law relationship before now, etc...

I hope things go smoothly!

 

[hordway]

Outland American apps are generally processed in 6-8 months, so you should be fine. Alternatively, you can apply inland and include an OWP, which is granted in about 4 months.

Do they still do inland/outland applications now? I know that it used to be if you were in Canada you could still do outland, but now when I checked my application it said something in the document checklist of: "Reminder: To apply for the Spouse of Common-Law Partner in Canada Class, you must be living with your spouse in Canada." And then proceed to have me send the application by mail to a Canada address.

 

[canuck78]

Unless you have to travel out of Canada do inland sponsorship with OWP and you should receive the OWP in around 4 months.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Do they still do inland/outland applications now? I know that it used to be if you were in Canada you could still do outland, but now when I checked my application it said something in the document checklist of: "Reminder: To apply for the Spouse of Common-Law Partner in Canada Class, you must be living with your spouse in Canada." And then proceed to have me send the application by mail to a Canada address.

Yes, they still do inland/outland. Section 5 of the checklist.

 

[hordway]

Unless you have to travel out of Canada do inland sponsorship with OWP and you should receive the OWP in around 4 months.

I'm assuming it's quite doable to apply for OWP at a later date if I so choose? With approximately the same processing time?

 

[canuck_in_uk]

I'm assuming it's quite doable to apply for OWP at a later date if I so choose? With approximately the same processing time?

If you are going to apply inland, just include the OWP app upfront. Your PR app would not be done before your current permit expires.

 

[hordway]

If you are going to apply inland, just include the OWP app upfront. Your PR app would not be done before your current permit expires.

Got it, thanks for the advice!

 

[naomijernigan]

Hi! Question for you my boyfriend is American wanting to come here when you applied for the IEC were able to start working as soon as you came to Canada?