CEC from Quebec, and May I Apply for a Bridging Open Work Permit

[kevinclily]

Hi Guys,

I've made a few searches and saw several questions on CEC applications from Quebec, but not lucky enough to see specific answers. So here I would really appreciate your kind help.


I am currently working in Quebec in a closed work permit for my Quebec employer, and my work permit is expiring in 3 months (end of November). I have applied via Express Entry and specially via Canadian Experience Class with my working experience in Canada. I just received the AoR, and I believe a rough estimate of the processing time would bring me to next March.
I understand that an intention to move out of Quebec is necessary, and I am planning to do so after my work permit expires here. However, there is a delimma here: without work permit (and the worker visa alongside), I don't hold a legal status in Canada, and not expected to work and live in Canada, which means my legal status here will be invalid after November; if I wanna stay legally in Canada, I would have to apply for an extension of work permit. However, this application, to my Quebec employer, would violates my intention of moving out of Quebec, and I am not doing so since neither me or IRCC would like to see that.
So what is my best move now? Should I let stand until my work permit expires, and move to Ontario precisely before Nov. 30 (I have got friends living in Ontario)? Will I be able to stay legally in Ontario even my work permit and visa have expired?


There is another visa type, that is, bridging open work permit (BOWP), this is for those applicants who are waiting for their EE applications to be processed, but work permit is expiring in 4 months. But it says the applicants should not live in Quebec. So may I apply for that? If so, should I quit my job before my work permit expires, and move to Ontario a little earlier (say, October 31), such that I can meet the requirement of 'Not living in Quebec'?


Thank you guys so much for your precious time. Hope everybody is doing well during this hard time.

 

[primaprime]

Yes, you should leave Quebec and apply for a BOWP.

 

[erwin2020]

Hi Guys,

I've made a few searches and saw several questions on CEC applications from Quebec, but not lucky enough to see specific answers. So here I would really appreciate your kind help.


I am currently working in Quebec in a closed work permit for my Quebec employer, and my work permit is expiring in 3 months (end of November). I have applied via Express Entry and specially via Canadian Experience Class with my working experience in Canada. I just received the AoR, and I believe a rough estimate of the processing time would bring me to next March.
I understand that an intention to move out of Quebec is necessary, and I am planning to do so after my work permit expires here. However, there is a delimma here: without work permit (and the worker visa alongside), I don't hold a legal status in Canada, and not expected to work and live in Canada, which means my legal status here will be invalid after November; if I wanna stay legally in Canada, I would have to apply for an extension of work permit. However, this application, to my Quebec employer, would violates my intention of moving out of Quebec, and I am not doing so since neither me or IRCC would like to see that.
So what is my best move now? Should I let stand until my work permit expires, and move to Ontario precisely before Nov. 30 (I have got friends living in Ontario)? Will I be able to stay legally in Ontario even my work permit and visa have expired?


There is another visa type, that is, bridging open work permit (BOWP), this is for those applicants who are waiting for their EE applications to be processed, but work permit is expiring in 4 months. But it says the applicants should not live in Quebec. So may I apply for that? If so, should I quit my job before my work permit expires, and move to Ontario a little earlier (say, October 31), such that I can meet the requirement of 'Not living in Quebec'?


Thank you guys so much for your precious time. Hope everybody is doing well during this hard time.

Hi @kevinclily

Im exactly in the same situation as you , WP expiring in December and I want to apply to EE before end of this month .
I just had a meeting with my company lawyers and they told me that the best option for me is to go with a BOWP after I submit my document for EE, I already have a CSQ but they told that applying for EE and the WP renewal using the CSQ will be contradictory.
So I think the best option for you is to go with BOWP

when you applied to EE did you sent an Intention to live outside Quebec ? if yes what kind of proof did you provide them ? I want to postpone my relocation until January 2021 but Im not sure if this will be accepted by CIC

 

[primaprime]

You need to show evidence of looking for jobs, housing, etc. in Ontario or some other province, and wrapping up your affairs in Quebec.

 

[lostinquebec]

Hi Guys,

I've made a few searches and saw several questions on CEC applications from Quebec, but not lucky enough to see specific answers. So here I would really appreciate your kind help.


I am currently working in Quebec in a closed work permit for my Quebec employer, and my work permit is expiring in 3 months (end of November). I have applied via Express Entry and specially via Canadian Experience Class with my working experience in Canada. I just received the AoR, and I believe a rough estimate of the processing time would bring me to next March.
I understand that an intention to move out of Quebec is necessary, and I am planning to do so after my work permit expires here. However, there is a delimma here: without work permit (and the worker visa alongside), I don't hold a legal status in Canada, and not expected to work and live in Canada, which means my legal status here will be invalid after November; if I wanna stay legally in Canada, I would have to apply for an extension of work permit. However, this application, to my Quebec employer, would violates my intention of moving out of Quebec, and I am not doing so since neither me or IRCC would like to see that.
So what is my best move now? Should I let stand until my work permit expires, and move to Ontario precisely before Nov. 30 (I have got friends living in Ontario)? Will I be able to stay legally in Ontario even my work permit and visa have expired?


There is another visa type, that is, bridging open work permit (BOWP), this is for those applicants who are waiting for their EE applications to be processed, but work permit is expiring in 4 months. But it says the applicants should not live in Quebec. So may I apply for that? If so, should I quit my job before my work permit expires, and move to Ontario a little earlier (say, October 31), such that I can meet the requirement of 'Not living in Quebec'?


Thank you guys so much for your precious time. Hope everybody is doing well during this hard time.

If you´re planning to stop working but stay in Canada after your WP expires, make sure to apply for a visitor visa in order to maintain a legal status. If you´re planning to apply for BOWP, then you´ll need to do it outside Quebec.

And this is just my personal opinion but, the sooner you leave Quebec, the better your chances are. If you wait too long in Quebec, for sure you´ll get a procedural fairness letter which means VO already suspects of your intention to leave QC, or worst case, your application will be directly rejected without any letter, which has happened already if you search the forum.

 

[scylla]

Hi @kevinclily

Im exactly in the same situation as you , WP expiring in December and I want to apply to EE before end of this month .
I just had a meeting with my company lawyers and they told me that the best option for me is to go with a BOWP after I submit my document for EE, I already have a CSQ but they told that applying for EE and the WP renewal using the CSQ will be contradictory.
So I think the best option for you is to go with BOWP

when you applied to EE did you sent an Intention to live outside Quebec ? if yes what kind of proof did you provide them ? I want to postpone my relocation until January 2021 but Im not sure if this will be accepted by CIC

In my opinion you are in more risky territory since you already have an approved CSQ which demonstrates intent to settle in Quebec. I would make it a priority to move out of Quebec to another province as soon as you can. I personally would not wait. Good luck.

 

[kevinclily]

Hi @kevinclily

Im exactly in the same situation as you , WP expiring in December and I want to apply to EE before end of this month .
I just had a meeting with my company lawyers and they told me that the best option for me is to go with a BOWP after I submit my document for EE, I already have a CSQ but they told that applying for EE and the WP renewal using the CSQ will be contradictory.
So I think the best option for you is to go with BOWP

when you applied to EE did you sent an Intention to live outside Quebec ? if yes what kind of proof did you provide them ? I want to postpone my relocation until January 2021 but Im not sure if this will be accepted by CIC

I did submit a letter to elaborate my intention to live out of Quebec, but I didn't attach supplementary materials. Probably I'll resubmit some more information with my job application, etc later.

 

[kevinclily]

If you´re planning to stop working but stay in Canada after your WP expires, make sure to apply for a visitor visa in order to maintain a legal status. If you´re planning to apply for BOWP, then you´ll need to do it outside Quebec.

And this is just my personal opinion but, the sooner you leave Quebec, the better your chances are. If you wait too long in Quebec, for sure you´ll get a procedural fairness letter which means VO already suspects of your intention to leave QC, or worst case, your application will be directly rejected without any letter, which has happened already if you search the forum.

Thanks. So that means I can apply for a visitor visa, leave Quebec for Ontario, and apply for a BOWP there?

 

[Amit777.Sharma]

Hello Guys

I am also in bit weird situation like this.

I had applied for CSQ long time back. which I had received in the month of April,2020.


I had applied for Express entry in MArch2020, but in August 2020, I got a rejection because of incompletion of documents. I have filled a web form regarding that. I have been waiting for the response from IRCC. Its been a month now.

Can you guys suggest how much time will it take to get a reply from them. Because only after that I can take my next move.


Now my work permit will expire in April,2021. I am really confused what to do in my present situation.

Thanks
Amit

 

[lostinquebec]

Thanks. So that means I can apply for a visitor visa, leave Quebec for Ontario, and apply for a BOWP there?

No, those are 2 separate options, because in order to apply for BOWP you need to do it before your current WP expires and outside Quebec. With the visitor visa you can stay anywhere in Canada but you cannot work until you get your PR or another closed WP with another employer.

 

[kevinclily]

No, those are 2 separate options, because in order to apply for BOWP you need to do it before your current WP expires and outside Quebec. With the visitor visa you can stay anywhere in Canada but you cannot work until you get your PR or another closed WP with another employer.

So I have to resign before my current WP expires, leave Quebec and apply for BOWP, is that correct? Maybe I can leave one month of gap before my current WP expires?

 

[lostinquebec]

So I have to resign before my current WP expires, leave Quebec and apply for BOWP, is that correct? Maybe I can leave one month of gap before my current WP expires?

yes you need to move out to be applicable for BOWP

 

[lostinquebec]

Hello Guys

I am also in bit weird situation like this.

I had applied for CSQ long time back. which I had received in the month of April,2020.


I had applied for Express entry in MArch2020, but in August 2020, I got a rejection because of incompletion of documents. I have filled a web form regarding that. I have been waiting for the response from IRCC. Its been a month now.

Can you guys suggest how much time will it take to get a reply from them. Because only after that I can take my next move.


Now my work permit will expire in April,2021. I am really confused what to do in my present situation.

Thanks
Amit

There´s no point raising a webform when your application has been rejected. You have to start over, get ITA, then reapply with whatever document was missing.
But if you already have a CSQ you have to apply to QSWP for PR, not Express Entry. You´ve already expressed your desire to stay at Quebec and Quebec has approved you with the CSQ.