Leaving Country While Applying (Family Class + OWP)

[Veelia11]

Hello all!

About Me:
Female
24
American
Applying for Inland Family-Class Sponsorship by my common-law spouse as well as the OWP (through the one-year pilot program).

I have a tricky question.
I originally submitted my Sponsorship Forms + the Open Work Permit (Pilot Program): Jan 21 2015
It was returned w/missing documents and I resubmitted today: March 13 2015


November 6th and 7th there is an event in the United States (where I am from) that I would like to attend.
I assume that I will have my OWP by then. My question is:

Will I be able to leave Canada and attend this event? My package (by that point) will have been 8 months out. If I receive my OWP while my PR/Sponsorship app is processing, will that grant me access to return home for two days to attend this event? It's a large event and I would need to start planning in advance (around now).

Thanks for the answers guys/gals!

 

[MaryLou6]

Do you have a status in Canada?
I'm on a study permit and I come and go, travel to Europe at least twice a year, never had problems with CBSA. I'm from Poland - visa exempt, so I'd say, when you'll have your OWP there should be no worries. But there's always that 1% of risk, specially if you CBSA officer has a bad day...

 

[Veelia11]

My current status is Canada is Worker under the Post-Graduate Work Permit. But it's expiring April 15th. I know that I have implied status because I've sent my package before my current status runs out, but I guess I'm just curious as to if my new OWP would also allow me to leave the country once I receive it (while my Family Class PR app is still processing).

 

[MaryLou6]

My current status is Canada is Worker under the Post-Graduate Work Permit. But it's expiring April 15th. I know that I have implied status because I've sent my package before my current status runs out, but I guess I'm just curious as to if my new OWP would also allow me to leave the country once I receive it (while my Family Class PR app is still processing).

It will, just like your current work permit.

 

[Veelia11]

It will, just like your current work permit.

oooh awesome Thank you

 

[Ponga]

My current status is Canada is Worker under the Post-Graduate Work Permit. But it's expiring April 15th. I know that I have implied status because I've sent my package before my current status runs out, but I guess I'm just curious as to if my new OWP would also allow me to leave the country once I receive it (while my Family Class PR app is still processing).

Two things to keep in mind:

A PGWP cannot be extended, so unless you receive your OWP by April 15th (which you won't), you should seriously consider NOT working until you actually receive the OWP. There has been a lot of debate here about how/if an OWP application that was submitted with an Inland application gives a PGWP holder implied status as a worker. It does, however, give you implied status as a visitor.

An OWP will not have any bearing on whether or not you are allowed to re-enter Canada, as it will usually have something written on it that states that it does not guarantee re-entry. Most people that are visa-exempt (and have not lost their status) seem to have little trouble getting back into Canada, but it is never guaranteed. Remember...if you are denied re-entry it could jeopardize your Inland application.

 

[Veelia11]

Two things to keep in mind:

A PGWP cannot be extended, so unless you receive your OWP by April 15th (which you won't), you should seriously consider NOT working until you actually receive the OWP. There has been a lot of debate here about how/if an OWP application that was submitted with an Inland application gives a PGWP holder implied status as a worker. It does, however, give you implied status as a visitor.

An OWP will not have any bearing on whether or not you are allowed to re-enter Canada, as it will usually have something written on it that states that it does not guarantee re-entry. Most people that are visa-exempt (and have not lost their status) seem to have little trouble getting back into Canada, but it is never guaranteed. Remember...if you are denied re-entry it could jeopardize your Inland application.

I thankfully already thought ahead about it and contacted immigration about the first concern, and the immigration agent assured me that I still had implied status as a worker, regardless of the type of work permit I had, and I could continue working at my current job. He even sent me documents to give to my HR department, and then I spoke to my HR department and cleared everything to continue working, so thankfully that's good to go.

I just left/re-entered the country with less than a month left on my PGWP and my PR/OWP returned sitting in my mailbox without issue so with a valid OWP not close to expiration I don't foresee any issues hopefully!