BC PNP Tech Pilot - Apply for a work permit

[Thumper]

Hi everyone,

I've thoroughly searched the forums and can't quite find an answer to which I'm looking.

I've been approved a BC PNP Tech Pilot with a valid job offer. I'm aware that in this situation you can usually apply for a work permit at Port of Entry, but with the borders being closed, this isn't possible.
My question is, once the Canadian border re-opens (Fingers crossed for the end of July!), will this still be the case? Can I fly in from the UK and apply for my work permit as normal or will the offices stay closed at POE after the borders re-open? If they remain closed, I'm assuming that means I should be applying online now?

Any clarification on this would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

 

[scylla]

Hi everyone,

I've thoroughly searched the forums and can't quite find an answer to which I'm looking.

I've been approved a BC PNP Tech Pilot with a valid job offer. I'm aware that in this situation you can usually apply for a work permit at Port of Entry, but with the borders being closed, this isn't possible.
My question is, once the Canadian border re-opens (Fingers crossed for the end of July!), will this still be the case? Can I fly in from the UK and apply for my work permit as normal or will the offices stay closed at POE after the borders re-open? If they remain closed, I'm assuming that means I should be applying online now?

Any clarification on this would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Unfortunately it's really impossible for any of us to answer that question. Once all restrictions are lifted, it will certainly be possible. But it's super hard to say when that will be. Given the mess south of the border, many of us are expecting travel restrictions to be extended. I would personally apply online rather than waiting for port of entry processing to resume. If the POE process opens up before the online work permit has been processed, you can fly to Canada to take advantage of that and ask IRCC to cancel the online application. That's how I would play this given the very large number of unknowns.

 

[Thumper]

Thanks for your reply scylla, much appreciated. I did think it was a long shot but thought I'd ask the question anyway! I'll consider putting in an application online as you've suggested.

Thanks again.

 

[Thumper]

Just in case anyone is interested in what we decided to do...

We took scylla's advice and submitted a closed work permit application for myself and a spousal open work permit application for my wife, online. Our submission was August 11th, completed biometrics August 13th. They are still procressing at the moment - I'll come back and update our timeline once we hear more.

I'd be interested to hear someone else's timeline in a similar situation.

 

[Buik84]

Just in case anyone is interested in what we decided to do...

We took scylla's advice and submitted a closed work permit application for myself and a spousal open work permit application for my wife, online. Our submission was August 11th, completed biometrics August 13th. They are still procressing at the moment - I'll come back and update our timeline once we hear more.

I'd be interested to hear someone else's timeline in a similar situation.

Still waiting?