Can a FSW application be fast tracked?

[jessan41]

Hello,

My boyfriend (from Scotland) has been offered a job in Alberta and the employer has said that they will arrange all paperwork and get it fast tracked so that it will be approved within a month or 2. Is this possible? Also, can he stay in Canada while he waits for approval, or does he have to wait in Scotland? If he must wait in Scotland, can he visit in the meantime? Finally, if we decide to get engaged after he moves here and before he becomes a permanent resident, will he have to go back to Scotland while we wait for approval or can he continue to work for his employer here in Canada?

Thanks for any help.

 

[namaste]

I think the employer means that the paperwork for a valid job offer will be approved in a month or 2. You did not mention the kind of job he was offered as that is very much relevant here. Most jobs will need a positive LMO (labor market opinion) even before applying for FSW. It can take many months to get the LMO alone. After that is done, then only FSW through employment offer can be filed, and that takes at the very least 6 months from filing.

So in short, the FSW process or any PR application route for that matter will not be complete in a month or 2. Here is the link with relevant info:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/apply-who-instructions.asp?expand=arranged#arranged

The faster route might be to first get a temporary work permit and start working and then apply for FSW.
He can stay in Canada while he waits, as long as he has other visas that will allow him to do that.

 

[namaste]

Also, an employer can only provide employment-related documents to support an application. The applicant (your boyfriend) needs to be the one to apply and gather all the other documents for the application. There are additional requirements for the FSW program that he needs to fulfill too (such as language test). You might want to check the following website and weigh in all your options.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/

 

[jessan41]

Thank you Namaste,

He is being offered a position as an IT consultant and the language and other qualifications won't be an issue.So if the employer has told him it will be a month or 2 for the paperwork to be approved then I'm assuming they must mean a temporary work visa, and the others can be applied for once he's here? How long does a temporary work visa usually take to be approved, do you know?

Thanks again.

 

[namaste]

For an IT consultant, LMO is required, which might take a couple months at the least. After that, the time for temporary work permit might take another 2-4 months depending on the visa office. He can apply for PR once he is in Canada. I really suggest you (and your boyfriend) read CIC's website thoroughly for all available options.

 

[scylla]

FSW cannot be fast-tracked by an employer. What your boyfriend will be getting is a temporary work permit (not permanent residency).

Once the employer has an approved Labour Market Opinion (this will take 6-20 weeks), your boyfriend can fly to Canada and obtain the work permit as he enters Canada. He has this option since he's from Scotland and has a visa exempt passport. If his passport wasn't visa exempt, then he would have to apply for a work permit which would add a few months to the overall processing time.