Am I elligible to apply for the CEC?

[Gary_87]

Hi guys,

I was wondering if anyone can give me some advice please. I was reffered here as this may be a posible option for me.

I have been living in Canada since January 2011 (with about 2 months of that time in the UK where I am from) on bunac and IEC permits.

I am getting married in August and my visa expires in March. I pretty much NEED to stay in Canada somehow, prefferably working.

I was wondering if I can apply under CEC?

I have been here for almost 2 years, I have a degree and I am also a fully qualified ESL teacher, with a diploma from a Canadian college which I recieved in October last year and I have been working full time subbing in this field ever since.

Is there anyway I am applicable for this type of visa?

Any help would be great.

Thanks!

 

[Gary_87]

Also, would this grant me any implied status onmy IEC visa? Would I be able to work at all?

 

[computergeek]

If your work experience is in an allowed job category (NOC O, A, or B) then you would be fine - the rules only require one year of experience and even paid vacation time counts against that one year.

You're eligible to apply for the CEC open work permit now (your work permit is about to expire), except that you need to have the AOR letter from CIO-S:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/manuals/bulletins/2012/ob485.asp

From a quick read, it appears to take CIO-S about three months to issue an AOR letter. Thus, I suspect you won't get an answer back in time for a new work permit. If that's the case, you should apply for visitor status before your current work permit expires. You will need to stop working, but once you have the AOR letter you can then apply for a new open work permit.

What isn't clear to me is if you can apply for the open work permit AFTER your existing permit expires. The OB doesn't sound like it, though "expiring within 4 months" could be read as "forward or back", but I suspect that's not how CIC will interpret it.

Good luck!

 

[Gary_87]

Thank you for the reply!

An ESL teacher comes under NOC code 4021 and is in class B. My problem is that I have only been working as an ESL teacher since October 2012 as that is when I graduated so this doesn't make eligible correct? I haven't had a years experience.

Is there any way around this?

Am I simply not eligible?

 

[computergeek]

Sadly, no, it sounds like you are not eligible. You'd need to find an employer able to obtain an LMO to hire you.

Sorry.

 

[Johnny31]

Thank you for the reply!

An ESL teacher comes under NOC code 4021 and is in class B. My problem is that I have only been working as an ESL teacher since October 2012 as that is when I graduated so this doesn't make eligible correct? I haven't had a years experience.

Is there any way around this?

Am I simply not eligible?

Since your WP expires in March, that means you'd only have 5 months of work experience (12 months is the requirement). And this would make you ineligible to apply for CEC.

 

[Gary_87]

Thank you both for the replies. Yeah, that's what I thought!

At least I can rule out this option though and narrow my options down! Thanks again!

 

[Johnny31]

Thank you both for the replies. Yeah, that's what I thought!

At least I can rule out this option though and narrow my options down! Thanks again!

You could apply for marriage license ASAP and let your future spouse sponsor you.

 

[Gary_87]

... as in, get married now?

 

[computergeek]

... as in, get married now?

Right. Do a civil wedding now and then do a "gather all the family and loved ones around" event in August. It's hardly the first time someone has done that.

I know I wouldn't want to be apart from my spouse/partner just because of some stupid immigration rules.

 

[Gary_87]

So if we did a civil wedding now, we would then just apply for spousal sponsorship instead yeah? Would this grant me any status in Canada to work or to stay after my IEC runs out?

 

[computergeek]

If you file for inland sponsorship and include an open work permit application it will allow you to work once you have the open work permit to which you are eligible after AIP (5-6 months). Plus you can remain in Canada.