Client Portal
+1(514) 937-9445 or Toll-free (Canada & US) +1 (888) 947-9445
  • Forums
  • Temporary Entry to Canada
  • Foreign Workers

LMIA approved, Work Permit (GTS) delayed

C

canadabound2019

Newbie
Dec 3, 2018
8
2
Hi All,

Thanks for taking out the time to go through this post! I was curious to know if anyone on the group is also experiencing a similar situation as mine.

I and my family are currently in Australia. My LMIA (filed by my US-based employer via a Canadian Law Firm) was approved in Oct 2018 and the Work Permit application (GTS) was submitted on Oct 30th.

We are 2 days shy of 5 weeks now and still awaiting the approval.

As per the official website (https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/temporary-residents/foreign-workers/two-week-processing.html) - the processing time for GTS applications is 2 weeks.

However, since I am currently based in Australia, I checked up the regular processing time (non-GTS) from here (https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/check-processing-times.html) and it shows up as 7 weeks (it was 5 weeks a few days ago).

1. What could be the reason for the delay?
2. Which processing time will apply in my case?
3. Is it possible that my application might be mistakenly getting processed as a non-GTS application via the Sydney office?
3. Is anyone else on the forum also experiencing a similar situation and delays?

Thanks!
 
B

blinkymila

Full Member
Dec 15, 2018
44
15
Job Offer........
Yes
canadabound2019 said:
Hi All,

Thanks for taking out the time to go through this post! I was curious to know if anyone on the group is also experiencing a similar situation as mine.

I and my family are currently in Australia. My LMIA (filed by my US-based employer via a Canadian Law Firm) was approved in Oct 2018 and the Work Permit application (GTS) was submitted on Oct 30th.

We are 2 days shy of 5 weeks now and still awaiting the approval.

As per the official website (https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/temporary-residents/foreign-workers/two-week-processing.html) - the processing time for GTS applications is 2 weeks.

However, since I am currently based in Australia, I checked up the regular processing time (non-GTS) from here (https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/check-processing-times.html) and it shows up as 7 weeks (it was 5 weeks a few days ago).

1. What could be the reason for the delay?
2. Which processing time will apply in my case?
3. Is it possible that my application might be mistakenly getting processed as a non-GTS application via the Sydney office?
3. Is anyone else on the forum also experiencing a similar situation and delays?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Hey,
Our Immigration lawyer just filed our LMIA application yesterday and she told us that they are having delays in the WP application progress and it quicker to just fly to Canada and apply for your WP at the airport so we're doing that. We're from Australia as well so I reckon the same thing shoudl apply to you as well? Our lawyer is preparing our WP and all the other paperwork for us to take to the airport and to make it heaps easy.
How long did it take you to get a positive LMIA? Our lawyer told us 10 - 20 business days but seeing that everyone is having to wait 4-6 months does not seem that promising anymore. :)

Good luck! Mila
 
russ6970

russ6970

VIP Member
Sep 14, 2017
3,067
627
Newfoundland
Category........
FAM
LANDED..........
31-12-2020
blinkymila said:
Hey,
Our Immigration lawyer just filed our LMIA application yesterday and she told us that they are having delays in the WP application progress and it quicker to just fly to Canada and apply for your WP at the airport so we're doing that. We're from Australia as well so I reckon the same thing shoudl apply to you as well? Our lawyer is preparing our WP and all the other paperwork for us to take to the airport and to make it heaps easy.
How long did it take you to get a positive LMIA? Our lawyer told us 10 - 20 business days but seeing that everyone is having to wait 4-6 months does not seem that promising anymore. :)

Good luck! Mila
Click to expand...
You can't apply for a work permit at the airport unless you have a status in Canada. Has your employer been through the LMIA process? This generally takes 4-6 months. For information, a lawyer does not apply for the LMIA, the employer does.
 
C

canadabound2019

Newbie
Dec 3, 2018
8
2
blinkymila said:
Hey,
Our Immigration lawyer just filed our LMIA application yesterday and she told us that they are having delays in the WP application progress and it quicker to just fly to Canada and apply for your WP at the airport so we're doing that. We're from Australia as well so I reckon the same thing shoudl apply to you as well? Our lawyer is preparing our WP and all the other paperwork for us to take to the airport and to make it heaps easy.
How long did it take you to get a positive LMIA? Our lawyer told us 10 - 20 business days but seeing that everyone is having to wait 4-6 months does not seem that promising anymore. :)

Good luck! Mila
Click to expand...
Hey Mila,
Thanks for your note.
My LMIA application was approved in about 16 calendar days. Since the submission of my WP application, I am in the 7th week of waiting now. As per the CIC website, the current processing time from Australia is 9 weeks (updated from 5 weeks a few weeks ago).
Regarding the approach of just showing up in one of the Canadian airports and getting a WP stamped there, I am not sure if it applies to all nationalities. Being an Indian Passport holder, I may not be able to avail this option (if at all it exists for other nationalities such as yours).
P.S.: 4-6 months of waiting time is not fun!
 
B

blinkymila

Full Member
Dec 15, 2018
44
15
Job Offer........
Yes
russ6970 said:
You can't apply for a work permit at the airport unless you have a status in Canada. Has your employer been through the LMIA process? This generally takes 4-6 months. For information, a lawyer does not apply for the LMIA, the employer does.
Click to expand...
Hey Mate,

You sure do as long as your passport does not need a visitor visa to travel to Canada.
Please see the CIC website :)
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=171&top=17
And yes the employer does but my lawyer filed the application on behalf of my employer - but thanks :)
 
B

blinkymila

Full Member
Dec 15, 2018
44
15
Job Offer........
Yes
canadabound2019 said:
Hey Mila,
Thanks for your note.
My LMIA application was approved in about 16 calendar days. Since the submission of my WP application, I am in the 7th week of waiting now. As per the CIC website, the current processing time from Australia is 9 weeks (updated from 5 weeks a few weeks ago).
Regarding the approach of just showing up in one of the Canadian airports and getting a WP stamped there, I am not sure if it applies to all nationalities. Being an Indian Passport holder, I may not be able to avail this option (if at all it exists for other nationalities such as yours).
P.S.: 4-6 months of waiting time is not fun!
Click to expand...
I am really wishing for the same quick approval that you had. And I really hope that your visa gets approved soon as well!
Oh that's right I assumed that you had an australian passport and it would have applied to that. I don't think that you can do the same with an Indian passport.
Have you called CIC for an update at all?
 
russ6970

russ6970

VIP Member
Sep 14, 2017
3,067
627
Newfoundland
Category........
FAM
LANDED..........
31-12-2020
russ6970

russ6970

VIP Member
Sep 14, 2017
3,067
627
Newfoundland
Category........
FAM
LANDED..........
31-12-2020
An LMIA is usually granted if the job is specialized or needs special skills. The reason for this is that the LMIA process requires the employer the advertise the job so that no Canadian can do the job or wants the job. This job to me sounds like a lot of people could apply for it and do it. I don't know what your lawyer thinks he is applying for but it will not take 10-12 days..
 
You must log in or register to reply here.