Applying for Express Entry. Can I extend my work permit before I get picked?

[MarshyLou]

I plan to apply through Express Entry after I get my IELTS results back. My work permit expires in 2 months. Does anyone know if I can apply to extend my work permit (bridge open work permit) even if I haven't been picked out of the "pool of candidates" yet?

My boss didn't get an LMIA and we're trying to avoid that (quite expensive).

I'm getting pretty anxious here so if anyone knows the answer, please let me know!

 

[dukhi]

I plan to apply through Express Entry after I get my IELTS results back. My work permit expires in 2 months. Does anyone know if I can apply to extend my work permit (bridge open work permit) even if I haven't been picked out of the "pool of candidates" yet?

My boss didn't get an LMIA and we're trying to avoid that (quite expensive).

I'm getting pretty anxious here so if anyone knows the answer, please let me know!

Same questiin

 

[doubleym]

I plan to apply through Express Entry after I get my IELTS results back. My work permit expires in 2 months. Does anyone know if I can apply to extend my work permit (bridge open work permit) even if I haven't been picked out of the "pool of candidates" yet?

My boss didn't get an LMIA and we're trying to avoid that (quite expensive).

I'm getting pretty anxious here so if anyone knows the answer, please let me know!

You can't get a BOWP until you have submitted your PR application and you can't do that until you've been issued an ITA after being selected from the pool.

If you are on an open permit without an LMIA then you'd need one in order to get a TWP to tide you over before PR (If you get selected) but that would take longer than 2 months.

Failing that you just have to hope you'd get selected in the first draw, submit your PR application immediately and then apply for a BOWP when you receive your AOR.

Your only other option is to stop working and switch to visitor status but obviously you can't do that indefinitely, or return to your home country and wait.

 

[A.B.123]

I second the OP's question. I'm on an open work permit issued after I'd graduated from a Canadian university. I've applied for PR through EE, my application has just been updated and reads "no invitation at this time". My work permit expires in May. What am I supposed to do now? Am I eligible for bridge open work permit? I wish CIC had more information on this, I am totally confused.

Also, summer is the most stressful time at work, so I have to be sure I'll be able to work and help them out. Otherwise, they'll have to find someone else but that takes time. I don't want to let my boss down.

Also, does anyone know the dates when they choose candidates for ITA?

 

[A.B.123]

You can't get a BOWP until you have submitted your PR application and you can't do that until you've been issued an ITA after being selected from the pool.

If you are on an open permit without an LMIA then you'd need one in order to get a TWP to tide you over before PR (If you get selected) but that would take longer than 2 months.

Failing that you just have to hope you'd get selected in the first draw, submit your PR application immediately and then apply for a BOWP when you receive your AOR.

Your only other option is to stop working and switch to visitor status but obviously you can't do that indefinitely, or return to your home country and wait.

So, do we have to get ITA to be eligible for bridge work permit? Or we are eligible for BWP after the application status chages to "open"?

That's what my EE profile says ...

Where is this application? Details

Application/profile status Open

Province/Territory Nomination No nomination at this time

Job Bank Registration Accepted

Review of Minimum Entry Criteria Met

ITA Status No invitation at this time

Review of submitted documents

Am I eligible for BWP or any other type of work permit extension?

 

[doubleym]

So, do we have to get ITA to be eligible for bridge work permit? Or we are eligible for BWP after the application status chages to "open"?

That's what my EE profile says ...

Where is this application? Details

Application/profile status Open

Province/Territory Nomination No nomination at this time

Job Bank Registration Accepted

Review of Minimum Entry Criteria Met

ITA Status No invitation at this time

Review of submitted documents

Am I eligible for BWP or any other type of work permit extension?

As I said previously, you can't apply for a BOWP until you have a PR application in process and have received your AOR, you also need to have a work permit ending in the next 4 months.

So you fill in your EE profile, enter the pool, wait until you get selected and receive an ITA, complete your PR application, submit it and wait for AOR once you receive that you can apply for a BOWP, but obviously if your current permit has ended before this time, then you cannot get one and just have to wait until your PR comes through.

 

[immigration.in]

Wait for some times.. The new Express Entry system will launched in end of January 2015..

 

[fl_pie]

Wait for some times.. The new Express Entry system will launched in end of January 2015..

It's launched already, it's just the first draw that will happen at the end of January.

 

[A.B.123]

As I said previously, you can't apply for a BOWP until you have a PR application in process and have received your AOR, you also need to have a work permit ending in the next 4 months.

So you fill in your EE profile, enter the pool, wait until you get selected and receive an ITA, complete your PR application, submit it and wait for AOR once you receive that you can apply for a BOWP, but obviously if your current permit has ended before this time, then you cannot get one and just have to wait until your PR comes through.

how much time does it usually take to get AOR once you completed and sent your application? (in case you get an invitation, of course)

offtopic and speculation, not a question to anyone. hmmm... do I have chances to actually get AOR soon enough to get an extension of work permit? cause if I have to stop working in May cause my work permit expires and I'm still not eligible for BOWP or if I'm still in the process of getting a BOWP, most likely I'll loose a job. I only have 10 work days of paid vacation per year and I'm not allowed to take that vacation time off from April to September due to heavy workload. I work in a small company and no one is going to wait until I get a work permit extension. Now I wonder if I stay eligible for PR in case I loose a job and have to come back home and whether the whole process of application makes any sense now. And I feel like many people will find themselves in the very same situation. And if that happens to me and other people, our Canadian bosses will be forever biased against hiring people on work permits.

 

[MarshyLou]

Ok thank you for all that info.

My next question:

If I apply for EE and my work permit expires before I get the ITA, but I stay here as a visitor (stop working of course), then I get my ITA later, can I apply to "restore" my work permit?

Thoughts?

 

[jes_ON]

Does anyone know if I can apply to extend my work permit (bridge open work permit) even if I haven't been picked out of the "pool of candidates" yet?

No. BOWPs are only available (under current rules) to those who have submitted their application to a program (FSW, CEC, FST, PNP) and have received a positive eligibility decision. Information on BOWPs and eligibility is on the CIC website:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/tools/temp/work/prov/bridging.asp

My boss didn't get an LMIA and we're trying to avoid that (quite expensive).
Encourage your boss to reconsider. Not only is that likely the only way for you to renew your work permit, but it will give you 600 extra points for your EE application and is the nearest thing to a "sure thing" for PR that exists.

 

[dukhi]

But few employers like mine are just so afraid of it or they dont want to go in that direction

 

[doubleym]

how much time does it usually take to get AOR once you completed and sent your application? (in case you get an invitation, of course)

Well applications submitted before EE have been taking a couple of months for an AOR, but I don't believe new applications with an ITA should take that long, since now you will be filing your PR application online.

Also, if they are aiming to process the majority of those applications in less than 6 months then they can't exactly take 3 months to issue an AOR and expect to complete all the additional processes, request medicals etc all within that last 3 months, judging by how long things take at the moment.

The fact that the draws will be throttling the number of applications that CIC officers have to deal with at one time implies to me that an AOR *should* come within a couple of weeks to a month I'd have guessed.

Although like everything with EE, this is pure speculation.

 

[doubleym]

Ok thank you for all that info.

My next question:

If I apply for EE and my work permit expires before I get the ITA, but I stay here as a visitor (stop working of course), then I get my ITA later, can I apply to "restore" my work permit?

Thoughts?

Unfortunately no, at least from the information we have available.

The best option to cope with that is the LMIA route, because if you receive a positive evaluation, not only will you get 600 points to pretty much guarantee selection in the next draw, but you'll also be able to get a TWP off the back of it.

 

[JOSH EVORA]

hallo everyone need help please.my question is ?my work permit is going to expiredthis comming january and my employer have already apply lmia but we dont have any idea when that lmia will approve.then i plan before my work permit expired to apply for extend of work permit.do im still qualified to apply for express entry even my status is just only the extensyon of work permit.any poseble answer please..