home3d2001 said:
Hi there,
I have a question regarding my friend who is a Protected Persons and Convention Refugees. She came to Canada in April of last year and now she is trying to apply both for her permanent residency and work permit. Here are my questions:
1- Should she apply for work permit first? if yes, what kind of document does she need to proof that she needs this to support herself?
2- Is there any specific criteria to be eligible to apply for PR? Can she send the application online or it must be submitted on paper?
I truly appreciate it if someone can direct me to the right path.
Assuming your friend has a positive decision from IRB and she is now a protected person/conventional refugee. In such a case she can apply for her work permit any time (some people even apply for open work permit before their hearing) . she will get a open work permit and she can
apply online free of cost.
she just need to upload the following documents in her mycic account/application by scanning them all and pasting them in text document (microsoft word)
1. copy of her passport
2. her refugee claimant document ( the document having her picture she got when she claim her refugee protection)
3. any other picture id if she has
4. a recent photo (she can get a new one from superstore or from anywhere)
5. Notice of decision ( the letter she received from IRB that her case is approved and she is now a conventional refugee)
6. Medical exam result she had within the last 12 months (she can use the same medical exam receipt she had for her refugee case)
7. a short explanation letter that she want to work to support her living ( just a general statement no need to mention any employer or jobs)
8. if she is receiving a social assistance/welfare she can attach the last receipt she has. (if she is not getting any welfare...no problem. i was not on a welfare so i didn't have it to attach with my application)
Note: she don't have to pay the fee for her work permit and she will get her work permit in 2,3 weeks depending on the work load of the case processing office.Her Work permit application has nothing todo with her PR application.
PR application for protected person:
She can apply for PR application
anytime because she is eligible to apply as she is a convention refugee (i.e positive decision from IRB). Most of the people apply instantly after they get their notice of decision in hand. So she must apply for her Permanent residence status without wasting any time. ( i wonder why she didnt apply till now). the only criteria to be eligible to apply for PR for her is to be a convention refugee (which she is already). no requirements such as job, funds..etc.
I came to canada in march 2014 got my refugee case accepted in May 2014 and i instantly applied for my work permit and after few days i also send my PR application. so i am now looking forward to receive my PR status in the next few months (hopefully). SO she shouldn't had wasted her time...anyways still nothing wrong she can apply anytime.
The PR application is submitted
on paper NOT online so she can gather all her documents, download the required form from cic website, pay her fee, include her spouse and any of her dependents (no matter where they are living) and send her PR application. if she is married then her husband and other dependents living outside Canada or in-canada will also get PR cards at the same time or 2-3 months after she get her PR.
Hope it helps..and if you have any other questions let me know.