Work permit extension

[morel]

I am not going to lie, I am in a bit of a pickle here. I know that this question was answered countless times (i.e. how to extend something, that cannot be extended), but my situation is really specific. I am on a 1 year IEC working holiday visa, my country allows one WH and another year of Young Professionals. I have been basically employed in trades since I got here (got the job within the first two weeks after arrival), but I had to start as a pre-apprentice, so that union and company would sponsor my apprenticeship after I prove myself worthy. They made a decision I am good, therefore technically I would qualify under YP, because of the NOC code B. I do not have any prior experience I can prove, so Express Entry won't probably work with me. I have done IELTS and scored 8.5 overall, however it runs out by June 30th this year. I came here on my own. I don't have any family in Canada. My work permit states explicitly, that I have to leave territory of Canada in October 2020, but, as you can imagine, I would rather stay here and keep working on getting my PR and settling down here. Especially that the cost of plane tickets would kill me, short term I could go to the US. What are my options on extending my work permit?
BONUS: I realise the fact I will need study permit for the apprenticeship, but I have read, that this I can obtain while having work permit and as mentioned above - I don't pay my tuition at all (if it happens). Also the waiting time for my trade is almost 2 years I cannot imagine recent global events shortening this period (with schools closed).
2nd BONUS: My passport expires in August next year, so the best option here might involve applying for a new one via embassy right before the end of my work permit, getting new ETA and then proceeding with the rest.

 

[scylla]

I am not going to lie, I am in a bit of a pickle here. I know that this question was answered countless times (i.e. how to extend something, that cannot be extended), but my situation is really specific. I am on a 1 year IEC working holiday visa, my country allows one WH and another year of Young Professionals. I have been basically employed in trades since I got here (got the job within the first two weeks after arrival), but I had to start as a pre-apprentice, so that union and company would sponsor my apprenticeship after I prove myself worthy. They made a decision I am good, therefore technically I would qualify under YP, because of the NOC code B. I do not have any prior experience I can prove, so Express Entry won't probably work with me. I have done IELTS and scored 8.5 overall, however it runs out by June 30th this year. I came here on my own. I don't have any family in Canada. My work permit states explicitly, that I have to leave territory of Canada in October 2020, but, as you can imagine, I would rather stay here and keep working on getting my PR and settling down here. Especially that the cost of plane tickets would kill me, short term I could go to the US. What are my options on extending my work permit?
BONUS: I realise the fact I will need study permit for the apprenticeship, but I have read, that this I can obtain while having work permit and as mentioned above - I don't pay my tuition at all (if it happens). Also the waiting time for my trade is almost 2 years I cannot imagine recent global events shortening this period (with schools closed).
2nd BONUS: My passport expires in August next year, so the best option here might involve applying for a new one via embassy right before the end of my work permit, getting new ETA and then proceeding with the rest.

You can't extend the work permit you hold now (IEC).

So what you're aiming to do is qualify for a new work permit. Ways you can do this:
- Try going to YP route (probably the most likely to succeed)
- Have your employer obtain an approved LMIA so that you can obtain a closed work permit (unlikely to happen)
- Study permit (you've already said the waiting time for the school is two years - the other issue is that non-citizens and non-PRs generally aren't allowed to participate in apprenticeships).

 

[morel]

Which way would you say is the quickest? Going back home would cost me somewhere north of a grand, so if it can be done under 2-3 weeks, it would probably be cheaper for me to stay here unemployed for that period. Why obtaining closed work permit is unlikely to happen?

 

[scylla]

Which way would you say is the quickest? Going back home would cost me somewhere north of a grand, so if it can be done under 2-3 weeks, it would probably be cheaper for me to stay here unemployed for that period. Why obtaining closed work permit is unlikely to happen?

Applying for a YP visa will be similar to the IEC. You will have to enter the pool, wait to be selected, and then wait for the application to be processed. I believe processing times are around 4-6 weeks.

Closed work permit is unlikely to happen because it's next to impossible to find employers willing to go through the LMIA process.

 

[morel]

First round of invitations in 2020 in Poland was issued on January 6th, my work permit ends in October, so even if I get everything done exceptionally fast and pools are opened at a similar time next year, I will still have to wait these 6 months ("There must be a six-month break between the expiry date of your first Canadian work permit under IEC and the submission date of your second IEC work permit application." - quote from CIC site). I was only wondering whether it is really better to lose an employee for at least half year rather than the employer to go through the procedure of obtaining an approved LMIA.

 

[morel]

@scylla Would it be possible for me to start apprenticeship (online) in my home country and then stay here under International Co-Op Visa as a part of getting my education?

 

[canuck_in_uk]

First round of invitations in 2020 in Poland was issued on January 6th, my work permit ends in October, so even if I get everything done exceptionally fast and pools are opened at a similar time next year, I will still have to wait these 6 months ("There must be a six-month break between the expiry date of your first Canadian work permit under IEC and the submission date of your second IEC work permit application." - quote from CIC site). I was only wondering whether it is really better to lose an employee for at least half year rather than the employer to go through the procedure of obtaining an approved LMIA.

It's not a matter of it being "better". The LMIA process is long, has strict requirements and costs the employer $1000, which is non-refundable even if refused. The employer must show that there are no Canadian citizens/PRs who can do the job. It is hard to be approved, hence the reluctance of any employers to even try.

@scylla Would it be possible for me to start apprenticeship (online) in my home country and then stay here under International Co-Op Visa as a part of getting my education?

The co-op visa requires that you be enrolled in an institution in your own country, not Canada.

 

[scylla]

@scylla Would it be possible for me to start apprenticeship (online) in my home country and then stay here under International Co-Op Visa as a part of getting my education?

No - this won't work. You need to be attending an actually school program in your home country that requires an internship. I don't see the co-op visa as being feasible for you unless you're ready to go back to school full time for a couple of years in your home country.