Canada/U.S. Job Offer - Need Help ASAP!

[GoJets]

Hello,

I have been getting very mixed answers through everything online, therefore I am hoping someone can help me out here!

Here is my situation:

I am a Canadian Citizen, living in California, and working as a permanent resident here in the U.S.
My Wife is an American Citizen, living and working in California as well.

I recently received a job offer letter from a company in Calgary, AB with a start date of May 1st, 2014. Both my wife and I want to go. However, have a few questions.

What is the quickest way for my wife to work in Canada? She does not fall under any skilled workers category.

From what I'm seeing it looks to be 15+ months applying right now outland of Canada (Which doesn't do us any good as my job starts soon)

Apply inland once we get there, but from what that looks like, she would not be able to get an open work permit until I am approved as a sponsor, which takes 10 months? (Correct me if i'm wrong please)

What it comes down to is that we cannot afford to move to Canada and not have my wife work for 12+ months. 3-4 months is manageable, but not a year.

Please help me! I am going nuts.

Thanks,

Mark

 

[Hnhkrk]

Hello,

I have been getting very mixed answers through everything online, therefore I am hoping someone can help me out here!

Here is my situation:

I am a Canadian Citizen, living in California, and working as a permanent resident here in the U.S.
My Wife is an American Citizen, living and working in California as well.

I recently received a job offer letter from a company in Calgary, AB with a start date of May 1st, 2014. Both my wife and I want to go. However, have a few questions.

What is the quickest way for my wife to work in Canada? She does not fall under any skilled workers category.

From what I'm seeing it looks to be 15+ months applying right now outland of Canada (Which doesn't do us any good as my job starts soon)

Apply inland once we get there, but from what that looks like, she would not be able to get an open work permit until I am approved as a sponsor, which takes 10 months? (Correct me if i'm wrong please)

What it comes down to is that we cannot afford to move to Canada and not have my wife work for 12+ months. 3-4 months is manageable, but not a year.

Please help me! I am going nuts.

Thanks,

Mark

First off, it's unlikely to take 15 months to process your wife's application, it's more likely to take around 7 or 12 since you're story is very straight forward and you're a canadian citizen. Second off, the only way to get your wife status so quickly is for her to find an employer that is willing to get her a closed work permit.

Now, under the circumstances that you decide to take the job and have your wife apply outland, she can technically stay in Canada for 6 months as visitor while her application processes, and if her application isn't finished in those 6 months she can apply for an extension which is almost always granted to US citizen in that circumstance, it was for me.

Your wife can also apply in-land, which means she'll be able to get a workers permit after stage one approval and will be granted implied status meaning she doesn't need to apply for an extension, but that can take up to a year to get fist stage approval last time I checked.

Have you looked at the cost of living in Calgary? My ex-boyfriend lived there and it was rather cheap. I'm sure if you got a smaller apartment and minimized your expenses it would be doable, you just might have to count your pennies for a little while.

 

[GoJets]

Even if we find a company to apply for her closed work permit, don't they still need a LMO confirmation letter? And if she doesn't fall into any skilled category won't that LMO be denied?

Thanks for the quick response!

 

[Hnhkrk]

I'm sorry, what do you mean by LMO?

 

[jomz]

LMO is a labour market opinion, and yes chances of having it approved are not that great, but with any job its worth a try. Problem is however many employers don't want to go through the hassle.

As for cost of living, Calgary is one of the highest ones in Canada. This is always the caveat, they pay more here but everything is also more expensive.

 

[Hnhkrk]

Well, if she gets an employer then she won't need an LMO, and then she'd apply in-land under a spousal sponsorship.

And you're right, for some reason I was thinking that Montreal was more expensive than Calgary but I'm wrong. Still, I think it's doable... even if you have to live in a really small place.

 

[GoJets]

From my knowledge (I may be wrong) in order to get a Positive LMO Canada must feel that a Canadian Cannot do the job in which your trying to get. I.e They must see value you having you come to the country.

I could be wrong though? I am no expert in immigration - hence my presence here

 

[scylla]

Even if we find a company to apply for her closed work permit, don't they still need a LMO confirmation letter? And if she doesn't fall into any skilled category won't that LMO be denied?

Thanks for the quick response!

Your wife may not need an LMO if her job falls under NAFTA. Otherwise, yes, an LMO will be required to be approved for a close work permit.

 

[GoJets]

So it's looking like the quickest way is to apply inland, have her 'visit' and then once I get approved as a sponsor, she we receive an open work permit? And this process is looking like 7 months - ish?

 

[jomz]

Well, if she gets an employer then she won't need an LMO, and then she'd apply in-land under a spousal sponsorship.

And you're right, for some reason I was thinking that Montreal was more expensive than Calgary but I'm wrong. Still, I think it's doable... even if you have to live in a really small place.

I think it's doable with an income of $50,000+ to live comfortably, of course without having much debt payments (credit cards, credit lines, store cards etc).

Decent place to live (condo) would be around 1400-1500 per month plus electricity (approx $50)
Car insurance is cheaper on average than other provinces
Food/household items are priced slightly higher, however there is no provincial tax, only GST at 5%

All in all, I think without too much debt, a couple without kids can live in Calgary for around $2500 per month, which on a $50,000 salary after taxes would still leave $500 for savings/emergencies.

 

[GoJets]

I think it is do-able, however having plenty of student debt, will not make it fun.

I am just more so thinking for her sanity, she is not going to want to be un-employed for 7+ months.

Is there anyway to apply for sponsorship outland - get approved - move to Canada - and then she gets a work permit while finishing the inland application?

 

[Hnhkrk]

So it's looking like the quickest way is to apply inland, have her 'visit' and then once I get approved as a sponsor, she we receive an open work permit? And this process is looking like 7 months - ish?

For her to apply inland she needs to already be in Canada to start the application. She'll get applied status after you send it in, and I think it takes more than 6 months to get the work permit, but I didn't apply inland, I did outland so I'm not an expert on that.

It's not really possible to do it like you just mentioned only because getting a work permit would mean that you would need to change your application to in-land, I think (I'm 98% certain). When you apply outland it means that you hold no status in Canada, if you have a work permit you hold status. Besides, to get a work permit without a job you need to get an LMO, and you just said that she can't.

Have you thought about her staying in Cali while the application processes?

 

[GoJets]

How long did it take your application to go through outland? I am seeing that for California, the L.A offices it looks lil 28 days to get approved for a sponsor and 24 months for her application? How accurate are these times.

Applying inland and roughing it out for 7-12 months looks like this is the only to go?

Thanks for your help everyone!

 

[Hnhkrk]

It took my 7 months to get approved. My application went to the LA office and was then sent to Ottawa. The times aren't that accurate.... it's the calculated average, meaning it' includes the super straight forward cases like yours and the super complicated ones that can take years to process.

 

[GoJets]

So after 7 months, you were able to move to Canada and work freely with an open work permit or at that time were you completely approved as a permanent resident of Canada?