Applying for PR while on a temporary work permit (Working hol)

[David2736]

Hi

So this is gonna be a long one, but I'll try and break it down in to chunks.

Setting:

• I am in Canada from England on a temp work permit (working holiday initiative) that expires January 2015
• I am working in a fantastic security job in a career I don't want to risk disrupting by having to go as a tourist for a few months while I wait. It is permanent and if I have even a small break, I will lose my position in the best crew in the entire company (no joke, those are the actual words from our execs and also the client).
• I got married yesterday to a Canadian citizen.
• We want to travel out the country twice in the next 12 months. Once to England to get married again, and once to Mexico for our honeymoon. You can see how these are pretty damn important - especially in value of the 'proof of relationship' part of the PR app.

My questions/worries that I am putting forward to you guys:

• We need to know if we apply inland or outland. IN has the benefit of having immediate 'assumed status' while they look through the application and allowing me to continue working. OUT has the benefit of allowing us to travel outside of Canada during the app. Or have we missed something?
• A friend of ours that did the exact same thing as us - he said we can hand in a PR application and include an EMPTY working permit extension application with just our names on it, which will allow me to assume working permit status while they work on the entire PR app. Is he right in this or has it changed within the past 5 years since he did that?
• Can I ask CIC to give me permission to leave the country while they process an INland application?
• We were thinking to apply OUTland to allow me to travel outside of Canada but then to apply for 2015 working holiday but that's a big risk I think. If I don't get it then I have to stop working in January to wait a further 10 months for my application to be processed

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGHHHH

 

[andrew-brit]

We need to know if we apply inland or outland. IN has the benefit of having immediate 'assumed status' while they look through the application and allowing me to continue working. OUT has the benefit of allowing us to travel outside of Canada during the app. Or have we missed something?

If you apply outland, you can still reside in Canada. And yes you can leave/re-enter Canada as many times as you like (assuming you have status to enter). Everyone on this forum will recommend you apply outland.

A friend of ours that did the exact same thing as us - he said we can hand in a PR application and include an EMPTY working permit extension application with just our names on it, which will allow me to assume working permit status while they work on the entire PR app. Is he right in this or has it changed within the past 5 years since he did that?

With inland applications you can include a complete open work permit application and it will be processed after first stage approval (which is currently about 11 months for Brits).

Can I ask CIC to give me permission to leave the country while they process an INland application?

You can ask but you shall not receive. If you leave Canada while an inland application is ongoing your application will be void.

We were thinking to apply OUTland to allow me to travel outside of Canada but then to apply for 2015 working holiday but that's a big risk I think. If I don't get it then I have to stop working in January to wait a further 10 months for my application to be processed

You will probably have to stop working in January but you could stay in Canada as a visitor. I did the IEC program and I could extend it, for a maximum stay of 2 years, is this the same scheme?

Some applications are processed quicker than the published processing times. It is a possibility that you could have PR by January if you apply sharpish. Unlikely but a possibility.

 

[zardoz]

If you are legally married in Canada, how are you intending to "marry" in England? You certainly cannot do it the other way around, as we tried and were informed that it was not legally possible. We had a "blessing" instead.

 

[truesmile]

You can try any of the above. But it seems to me you need to decide which is more important, the great position you have . . . OR your desired travel. Then you can make your own decision accordingly.

 

[David2736]

With inland applications you can include a complete open work permit application and it will be processed after first stage approval (which is currently about 11 months for Brits).

Basically, don't bother, then. If it takes 11 months for the first stage to be completed before they start looking at the work permit app then I would already not be working for about 6 months before they even start looking at it, making the permit pointless as I'd have to start from the beginning from England at square 1 again.

You will probably have to stop working in January but you could stay in Canada as a visitor. I did the IEC program and I could extend it, for a maximum stay of 2 years, is this the same scheme?

The International Experience Class (IEC) was non-extendable you had to instead re-apply for a whole new 12 month period. At least that's what it says at the IEC FAQ under work and study: canadainternational DOTgcDOTca/united_kingdom-royaume_uni/experience_canada_experience/faq.aspx#uk3-5

When did you do this? Did you do it from the UK in the last year or so?

Some applications are processed quicker than the published processing times. It is a possibility that you could have PR by January if you apply sharpish. Unlikely but a possibility.

BIG RISK

 

[David2736]

If you are legally married in Canada, how are you intending to "marry" in England? You certainly cannot do it the other way around, as we tried and were informed that it was not legally possible. We had a "blessing" instead.

Through a 'blessing' read to us by my best friend and 'best man' in a 'marriage-like' ceremony.

 

[PMM]

Hi

Hi

So this is gonna be a long one, but I'll try and break it down in to chunks.

Setting:

• I am in Canada from England on a temp work permit (working holiday initiative) that expires January 2015
• I am working in a fantastic security job in a career I don't want to risk disrupting by having to go as a tourist for a few months while I wait. It is permanent and if I have even a small break, I will lose my position in the best crew in the entire company (no joke, those are the actual words from our execs and also the client).
• I got married yesterday to a Canadian citizen.
• We want to travel out the country twice in the next 12 months. Once to England to get married again, and once to Mexico for our honeymoon. You can see how these are pretty damn important - especially in value of the 'proof of relationship' part of the PR app.

My questions/worries that I am putting forward to you guys:

• We need to know if we apply inland or outland. IN has the benefit of having immediate 'assumed status' while they look through the application and allowing me to continue working. OUT has the benefit of allowing us to travel outside of Canada during the app. Or have we missed something?
• A friend of ours that did the exact same thing as us - he said we can hand in a PR application and include an EMPTY working permit extension application with just our names on it, which will allow me to assume working permit status while they work on the entire PR app. Is he right in this or has it changed within the past 5 years since he did that?
• Can I ask CIC to give me permission to leave the country while they process an INland application?
• We were thinking to apply OUTland to allow me to travel outside of Canada but then to apply for 2015 working holiday but that's a big risk I think. If I don't get it then I have to stop working in January to wait a further 10 months for my application to be processed

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGHHHH

You have an IEC work permit, which cannot be extended, so you can't get implied status. So that shuts one avenue.

 

[scylla]

Basically, don't bother, then. If it takes 11 months for the first stage to be completed before they start looking at the work permit app then I would already not be working for about 6 months before they even start looking at it, making the permit pointless as I'd have to start from the beginning from England at square 1 again.

First stage processing is actually up to 13 months now.

 

[David2736]

How about this:

I stay in Canada and apply as outland. Is there any way I can continue working after my IEC open work permit expires in January?

Is my only option to do the IEC again for 2015 or can I apply for a work permit to keep me working and living in Canada while that is processed?

 

[scylla]

Your options are to obtain a new IEC or for your employer to obtain an approved LMIA so that you can apply for a closed work permit.

 

[andrew-brit]

You cannot do the IEC for longer than 2 years. When I said extend before, I meant apply for the second year.

I am in the same position as you - my IEC ended in 2013. I am currently waiting for my employer to get me a Labor Market Opinion.

If you can do the second year of the IEC, do it, apply for PR at the start and you should be good.

 

[David2736]

Thank you to both scylla and andrew-brit - that's the info I think I need!

 

[brucem]

I'm just curious can you apply for a second year on IEC if you are already in Canada, basically extending your first year? Hopefully you can just wondered whether that would cause any problems?

 

[David2736]

I'm just curious can you apply for a second year on IEC if you are already in Canada, basically extending your first year? Hopefully you can just wondered whether that would cause any problems?

No. The IEC initiative is one seperate year at a time. Work permits can be extended but not these ones. I posted a URL on this topic regarding where in the IEC FAQ it explains it.

 

[brucem]

Ah I see that makes sense thanks David.