I am crowd-sourcing for some sage advice to Save Our Residency (SOR).
This forum is excellent. I have spent several hours today perusing the forum and am very impressed with the folks providing counsel yet increasingly anxious about my own situation.
I came to Canada from US in 2009 on WP. I applied and receive one extension until Jan 2015. I am from US so the extension WP stated NAFTA intra-company transferee.
I was recently laid off from my company whilst in the midst of applying for PR. We plan to stay in Canada and I am now in the process of looking for new Canadian employment.
Here are my questions:
1. After investigating this forum and CIC, it seems if I get a job offer, I can apply to change conditions of my work permit using form IMM5710E. It looks as if that will let me apply for a WP with new employer. Since I don't need LMO (NAFTA/US), is this the right way to get a new work permit with a new employer or is there another procedure to follow?
2. Is there an issue with the fact that I have exceeded the 4-year limit stated by CIC for a WP? When I filed for my one and only extension previously, the CIC did issue me an extension that would take me to nearly 6 years. When I file the form 5710E will the 4-year limit be re-evaluated or will they just follow the expiry date on the current extension? Would they give me a WP with an expiry later than the Jan 2015?
3. When I file for the PR, can I apply for the Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) status or is that only possible when you are within 4 months of the expiry on the current WP?
4. Finally, for the PR, my ex-company has now withdrawn the legal support that they were providing to file the PR. I now will go it alone. These forums are obviously a key resource for going forward, but how critical is it to have a lawyer in the process (no offence intended to our sponsoring barristers)?
5. If all else fails, can I work for a US company and commute (or telecommute) to US even if I don't have a WP?
6. Is there a way to become an independent contractor (prior to PR) and avoid having a Canadian company support a WP?
I know this is a lot, but would appreciate any feedback to some or all of the questions.
Looking forward to being able to pay it forward.
Thanks.
This forum is excellent. I have spent several hours today perusing the forum and am very impressed with the folks providing counsel yet increasingly anxious about my own situation.
I came to Canada from US in 2009 on WP. I applied and receive one extension until Jan 2015. I am from US so the extension WP stated NAFTA intra-company transferee.
I was recently laid off from my company whilst in the midst of applying for PR. We plan to stay in Canada and I am now in the process of looking for new Canadian employment.
Here are my questions:
1. After investigating this forum and CIC, it seems if I get a job offer, I can apply to change conditions of my work permit using form IMM5710E. It looks as if that will let me apply for a WP with new employer. Since I don't need LMO (NAFTA/US), is this the right way to get a new work permit with a new employer or is there another procedure to follow?
2. Is there an issue with the fact that I have exceeded the 4-year limit stated by CIC for a WP? When I filed for my one and only extension previously, the CIC did issue me an extension that would take me to nearly 6 years. When I file the form 5710E will the 4-year limit be re-evaluated or will they just follow the expiry date on the current extension? Would they give me a WP with an expiry later than the Jan 2015?
3. When I file for the PR, can I apply for the Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) status or is that only possible when you are within 4 months of the expiry on the current WP?
4. Finally, for the PR, my ex-company has now withdrawn the legal support that they were providing to file the PR. I now will go it alone. These forums are obviously a key resource for going forward, but how critical is it to have a lawyer in the process (no offence intended to our sponsoring barristers)?
5. If all else fails, can I work for a US company and commute (or telecommute) to US even if I don't have a WP?
6. Is there a way to become an independent contractor (prior to PR) and avoid having a Canadian company support a WP?
I know this is a lot, but would appreciate any feedback to some or all of the questions.
Looking forward to being able to pay it forward.
Thanks.
