Anyone out there able to help me with a few questions.. [u]Please!! [/u]

[Kieran66]

Hello, I came to Canada at the start of June 2013, on a 2 year open work visa. I am from Ireland and I have been working in Saskatchewan with an electrical company, I am an Industrial Electrician.

I would like to find out the steps of what I have to take now to either to get an extension on my work visa or apply for residency. I know I have a year and 3 months left on my visa but I would like to get on top of things so when I need to act I understand what the requirement are.

Any help would be much appreciated, Kieran!!

 

[zardoz]

Hello, I came to Canada at the start of June 2013, on a 2 year open work visa. I am from Ireland and I have been working in Saskatchewan with an electrical company, I am an Industrial Electrician.

I would like to find out the steps of what I have to take now to either to get an extension on my work visa or apply for residency. I know I have a year and 3 months left on my visa but I would like to get on top of things so when I need to act I understand what the requirement are.

Any help would be much appreciated, Kieran!!

I assume that you are on an IEC Working Holiday. This cannot be extended and when it expires, that's it.
You would need to find an employer who is prepared to a) offer you a job and b) successfully apply for an LMO. This will lead to you being probably granted a closed work permit.

For PR, you would have to see what your eligibility is at the time you wish to apply, as it varies from time to time. Check the CIC web site for possible future options as CEC, FSW, PNP or whatever....

 

[Kieran66]

Cheers Zardon for replying, was looking at a few sites for info and they aren't that great. When you said ''I assume that you are on an IEC Working Holiday.'' I have an open work permit to work as an electrician to work in Canada for two years so I don't need an LMO, is that correct?

Thanks Kieran.

 

[JGK]

Check and see if you might be eligible for provincial nomination go for that and if granted you may find it easier to get a closed work permit when your IEC visa expires.

 

[Matthew Iwama]

My friend, your best bet is to acquire 12 months of work experience and then apply through the CEC, after 60 days you will get a Bridging Open Work Permit which will be good for another year. PM if you need a hand.

 

[Leon]

If you have 1 year skilled work experience in Canada, you can apply through CEC, see http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/cec/apply-how.asp Processing time is right now 13 months, see http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/perm-ec.asp but you can apply for a bridging open work permit once you have received first stage approval and once you have only 4 months left on your permit.

It may be possible for your employer to sponsor you under PNP. You would have to look into the PNP of your province for that: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/provincial/apply-who.asp It is possible that you will need an LMO permit to apply.

You can also look into applying under the skilled trades program but you would need an LMO to be issued for that: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/trades/employment.asp

CEC is however the most straight forward way to apply for PR if you qualify.

 

[Kieran66]

Thanks guys, so I'll just keep working until I get a full year experience in Canada. Is the year of work done according to year to date or hours worked??

Thanks Kieran.

 

[Leon]

Thanks guys, so I'll just keep working until I get a full year experience in Canada. Is the year of work done according to year to date or hours worked??

Thanks Kieran.

Year to date but with a minimum of 30 hrs. per week. If you worked less, they will accept the equivalent of a full time year in part time, that is if you work 20 hrs. a week, it'll take you a year and 6 months.

 

[Kieran66]

Thanks Leon, am working 12 hour nights so shouldn't be a problem having the evidence after I have worked a Year to date, when I have worked a year too date where do I get the forms for my application or can I download them off the CEC website?

Thanks!!

 

[Leon]

Thanks Leon, am working 12 hour nights so shouldn't be a problem having the evidence after I have worked a Year to date, when I have worked a year too date where do I get the forms for my application or can I download them off the CEC website?

Thanks!!

You can find your forms and other info here: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/cec/apply-how.asp