Work permit

[syale]

I am from the UK and have a UK passport. My wife is from Canada with Canadian passport. Currently we both live in the USA as green card holders (permanent residents). We need to move to Canada because of family reasons. I will need to work in Canada. I am a professional IT person. I have worked on a visa in Canada (18 years ago) for 2 years prior to meeting my wife (we lived together for one year in Canada before leaving). We married in the UK. In Canada we would be living in Newfoundland.

Can we apply for sponsorship for me whilst she is still in Texas or does she need to be in Canada?
Can we apply for a work permit prior to me coming to Canada?
If I find work there does the company need to sponsor me or is a spouse visa enough?
From application for work permit what is the usual processing time?

Stephen

 

[Ldonasci]

She needs to live be living in Canada to spounser you. You can’t have a work visa without applying through her unless you find a job that sponsers you. You need to
Submit your sponsorship application with an open work permit all together after both of you move to Canada. Good luck

 

[scylla]

She needs to live be living in Canada to spounser you. You can’t have a work visa without applying through her unless you find a job that sponsers you. You need to
Submit your sponsorship application with an open work permit all together after both of you move to Canada. Good luck

She is a Canadian citizen. So she can in fact apply to sponsor him while living outside of Canada using the outland method.

However you are absolutely right about the work permit. To qualify for the open work permit, they need to apply for PR using the inland method which requires both of them to be physically in Canada. Work permit processing time is approximately four months.

 

[syale]

If I find an employer that is willing to sponsor me and apply for work permit for me whilst my PR status is being processed i would be able to work there as soon as the visa/permit is granted and still have the PR process on the move?

Stephen

 

[scylla]

If I find an employer that is willing to sponsor me and apply for work permit for me whilst my PR status is being processed i would be able to work there as soon as the visa/permit is granted and still have the PR process on the move?

Stephen

Yes - you can do that. It tends to be extremely difficult to find an employer in Canada willing to go through the process of hiring a foreign worker but some are successful. To qualify for a work permit, your employer will have to go through the LMIA process which often takes 4+ months to complete and requires your employer to prove no Canadian could be found for the role.

 

[syale]

I have been a PR in USA for long enough to apply for citizenship in USA. If I did this would it make a difference? I would go for dual citizenship and keep my UK passport and likewise if my wife became a citizen she would want dual citizenship with Canada.

 

[syale]

Yes - you can do that. It tends to be extremely difficult to find an employer in Canada willing to go through the process of hiring a foreign worker but some are successful. To qualify for a work permit, your employer will have to go through the LMIA process which often takes 4+ months to complete and requires your employer to prove no Canadian could be found for the role.

I came to the US on an L1 visa (specialist knowledge). I have fairly unique skills in the oil and gas business intelligence area so it may be an option.

 

[scylla]

I came to the US on an L1 visa (specialist knowledge). I have fairly unique skills in the oil and gas business intelligence area so it may be an option.

You can certainly try. Make sure your employer is familiar with the LMIA process and meets the advertising requirements fully.

 

[YVR123]

I have been a PR in USA for long enough to apply for citizenship in USA. If I did this would it make a difference? I would go for dual citizenship and keep my UK passport and likewise if my wife became a citizen she would want dual citizenship with Canada.

And I assume that you are aware that US citizens need to pay income tax on worldwide income no matter where they live in the world. Being a US citizen will not affect your application to be a Canadian PR. I don't know how long the US citizenship process will take but if you go down that route, I assume that you won't be moving to Canada soon.