Bridging Open-work permit without LMIA

[123ganda]

Hi I am so confused about renewing my open-work permit. I am in the Express Entry poll but still waiting for an invitation to apply (hopefully I will get invited soon) and my open-work permit is about to expire. I wanted to know if I can apply for open-work permit without my employer getting an LMIA. as in the cic website it said that if you have post-grad open-work permit you dont need to get LMIA but when I tried the online application for Bridging Open-work permit in Canada. It asks me for LMIA. If I answered "No" it won't let me go through the application but if I answered "Yes" it will let me thru. I talked to some people and they said to put 'Yes' and just write a letter of explanation why I didnt get any LMIA. I am so stressed and confused about this. Anyone have any idea what to do please let me know. Thank you!

 

[scylla]

Hi I am so confused about renewing my open-work permit. I am in the Express Entry poll but still waiting for an invitation to apply (hopefully I will get invited soon) and my open-work permit is about to expire. I wanted to know if I can apply for open-work permit without my employer getting an LMIA. as in the cic website it said that if you have post-grad open-work permit you dont need to get LMIA but when I tried the online application for Bridging Open-work permit in Canada. It asks me for LMIA. If I answered "No" it won't let me go through the application but if I answered "Yes" it will let me thru. I talked to some people and they said to put 'Yes' and just write a letter of explanation why I didnt get any LMIA. I am so stressed and confused about this. Anyone have any idea what to do please let me know. Thank you!

You do not qualify for a Bridging Open Work Permit. To qualify for a BOWP, you would need to have been selected out of the Express Entry pool (i.e. received ITA), have submitted your complete application and have received AOR. Since you are just in the pool - you don't qualify.

Right now your only option is a closed work permit which requires a job offer and approved LMIA.

 

[123ganda]

You do not qualify for a Bridging Open Work Permit. To qualify for a BOWP, you would need to have been selected out of the Express Entry pool (i.e. received ITA), have submitted your complete application and have received AOR. Since you are just in the pool - you don't qualify.

Right now your only option is a closed work permit which requires a job offer and approved LMIA.

Thanks for your answer. Can I apply for bowp once i get invited? my open-work permit will expire on May 2019. I am really hoping i will get invited.

 

[scylla]

Thanks for your answer. Can I apply for bowp once i get invited? my open-work permit will expire on May 2019. I am really hoping i will get invited.

No - you can only apply once you have been invited AND submitted your complete application. Being invited isn't enough.

How many points to you have?

 

[123ganda]

No - you can only apply once you have been invited AND submitted your complete application. Being invited isn't enough.

How many points to you have?

Ok if everything is completed thats the only way I can extend it. Can I apply for a new one?

I have 454 points.

 

[scylla]

Ok if everything is completed thats the only way I can extend it. Can I apply for a new one?

I have 454 points.

With that many points, you should get an invite very soon.

I don't know what you mean by 'can I apply for a new one'.

 

[123ganda]

With that many points, you should get an invite very soon.

I don't know what you mean by 'can I apply for a new one'.

I hope so too.. I mean if I can apply for a new work permit?

 

[scylla]

I hope so too.. I mean if I can apply for a new work permit?

I still don't understand what you mean.

Right now you can only apply for a closed work permit which requires an approved LMIA and a job offer.

Once you have ITA, have submitted your application and IRCC has confirmed it's complete, you can apply for a BOWP.

 

[123ganda]

I still don't understand what you mean.

Right now you can only apply for a closed work permit which requires an approved LMIA and a job offer.

Once you have ITA, have submitted your application and IRCC has confirmed it's complete, you can apply for a BOWP.

I think im just confusing you and my self in this. I think for now I will wait and see for the invitation since I still have few months before my open-work permit expire.

I really appreciate all your answers it helped a lot in my situation.

 

[hgunawa]

With a score of 454, I think you will be fine. Just make sure to have your profile submitted and all required documents ready so that,
1) You get an invite
2) Apply for PR as soon as possible
3) Receive Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR) of the PR application

4) Once you have the AOR, you can apply for a BOWP immediately.

I was able to do all of the above within 3 days (I had all required documents ready) so I'm sure you will be fine.

 

[123ganda]

With a score of 454, I think you will be fine. Just make sure to have your profile submitted and all required documents ready so that,
1) You get an invite
2) Apply for PR as soon as possible
3) Receive Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR) of the PR application

4) Once you have the AOR, you can apply for a BOWP immediately.

I was able to do all of the above within 3 days (I had all required documents ready) so I'm sure you will be fine.

Wow thats a relief. Thank you so much for your help!

Will I be needing my passport during the application process? I renewed my passport and I will be getting it by March.

in case i can apply for a BOWP do I need a LMIA?

 

[hgunawa]

Wow thats a relief. Thank you so much for your help!

Will I be needing my passport during the application process? I renewed my passport and I will be getting it by March.

in case i can apply for a BOWP do I need a LMIA?

No worries, happy to help.

Yes you will need your passport. That's one of the first things they will ask when you are filling the express entry profile (passport number and expiration date).

No, don't need an LMIA to apply for a BOWP.

Once you get your passport in March, you will have two months to get an invite and apply so time wise I think you will be okay.

 

[allisoncheng]

Hello 123ganda !
May I ask did you apply for the BOWP after you received the invitation? If you did, was a LIMA needed?
I followed all the replies here and I chose "Yes" when the system asked me if I have a LIMA. It let me through the application but the proof of LIMA is listed in the required document. As far as I know, it won't let you submit your profile without uploading every required document. I am so confused and worried about it.

Thank you.

 

[Hopeful007]

Hello 123ganda !
May I ask did you apply for the BOWP after you received the invitation? If you did, was a LIMA needed?
I followed all the replies here and I chose "Yes" when the system asked me if I have a LIMA. It let me through the application but the proof of LIMA is listed in the required document. As far as I know, it won't let you submit your profile without uploading every required document. I am so confused and worried about it.

Thank you.

No LMIA is needed. You cannot choose you have LMIA if you don't have it.
Invitation is not enough, you need to submit your documents and then apply for BOWP.

 

[123ganda]

Hello 123ganda !
May I ask did you apply for the BOWP after you received the invitation? If you did, was a LIMA needed?
I followed all the replies here and I chose "Yes" when the system asked me if I have a LIMA. It let me through the application but the proof of LIMA is listed in the required document. As far as I know, it won't let you submit your profile without uploading every required document. I am so confused and worried about it.

Thank you.

Hi there! Just like @Hopeful007 said you need to submit your application first to get the AOR to attach to your BOWP application.
with regards to answering the questionnaire for BOWP, you should say YES for the question have been eligible for PR (something like that question, I forget the exact question) for you to get open-work permit application. Good luck!