IEC to EE / Bridge Visa (BWOP) when I've already paid for Biometrics

[nll]

Hi everyone,

I have a question about the bridge visa and the biometrics.
I'm currently under the IEC (Work Holiday) program and my visa expires and the end of January 2020 so I have to ask for a bridge visa before the end of the month.

I've sent my PR application and paid the fees on July 5th but I've only recently figured out that I needed to also pay for the biometrics so I could get the letter asking me to go to a center (I thought it was the other way around).

I paid the biometrics fees a week ago and I have submitted the receipt via the online form. They gave me an answer under 3 working days and said that it was sent to the department in charge for consideration.

Now, my common-law work and mine are asking for a proof that we have submitted a bridge visa and I have the following questions:

1/ When starting to apply for the visa, what should I say for the following question: What is your current immigration status in Canada?

Should I select "Worker" or "Temporary Permit Resident Holder"?

I think Worker would be the most appropriate as the second option is saying the following when you click on the help icon "A temporary resident permit holder is a person issued a permit showing they have special permission to be in the country, when they would normally not be allowed to enter Canada or remain here (which I guess is the TRP - https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/temporary-residents/permits.html)

2/ What should I answer to the following question as I don't want to pay the biometrics fee twice but also don't want to lie about the current situation?

"In the past 10 years, have you given your fingerprints and photo (biometrics) for an application to come to Canada?"
The answer would be "No" but then they will later ask me to pay the biometrics fee.
Should I say yes and provide a LoE and the receipt? Or say no and pay again as I don't have a choice?

Thanks

 

[nll]

I sent my application so here's what I ended up doing after talking to multiple immigration lawyers. I also called IRCC twice and what they told me was nonsense. Don't take their answer for a given and ask an immigration lawyer instead.

1/ Select "Worker" if you're under the IEC program (Work Holiday Visa)
- The questionnaire should offer the "Open Work Visa" (Permis de travail ouvert)
- Later on, in the IMM5710 form, for the question 3, select "Apply for a work permit for the first time or with a new employer"

2/ There's no choice but to pay again, we got the letter asking us to go to the center the day after we sent the application.
- I'll ask Service Canada during the appointment if there's a way to get my money back

-- If you apply and have a common-law, you can apply online, on the same profile. There should a distinct section for your common-law asking for documents under the section of the main applicant.

 

[nll]

2/ There's no choice but to pay again, we got the letter asking us to go to the center the day after we sent the application.
- I'll ask Service Canada during the appointment if there's a way to get my money back

Service Canada didn't know how to proceed since, I quote, "this is a new process" and the people doing the biometrics "have only been trained for this specific task and nothing else."

 

[nll]

I got my PR and I am now a Permanent Resident.
Turned out I didn't need to provide/pay biometrics for the PR.

Since I got CoPR before the BWOP, I'll ask to be reimbursed for the bridge and the PR biometrics.
I'll update this thread on how that goes.