NAFTA Work Visa --> Permanent Residence

[kitaguy]

Hello.

After much discussion, my company has finally decided to move me to our Canadian subsidiary! As an American, I believe I will be an intercompany transferee under the NAFTA program. Right now the company is working on getting me "pre-approval." I've been told that this process will take about 4 -6 weeks, and then I will make my move and have an interview at the border to receive my official Work Permit. Supposedly, the permit will be good for 3 years, renewable once for 3 years, and then renewable once more for 1 year, for a total of 7 years.

My goal is to apply for permanent residence as soon as possible; however it has not been decided if the company will support me in this way or not. What are my options to get permanent residence once I am in Canada on this work permit?

My understanding is that since I have "arranged employment" I should be able to apply as soon as I am in Canada. But I'm a little confused about the offer letter -- my offer letter says "pending Work Visa" not "pending permanent residence" -- so I'm not sure if I need something else from the company before I can apply.

Thanks for your help!

 

[Leon]

If you are looking to apply as a skilled worker with arranged employment (category 2), you need to have an approved job offer (AEO) or a work permit and a letter stating they offer you a job after you get your PR. If you don't have that, you can wait until you have been working in Canada for 1 year and then apply under skilled worker category 3. If that doesn't work out, you can wait until you have been working in Canada for 2 years, as long as your job is considered skilled, and then apply under Canadian Experience Class.

 

[kitaguy]

Thanks for the quick reply! This seems to confirm what I've been able to piece together reading on the CIC website.

I haven't been able to find any good examples of what the letter should look like.... Since I'm going under NAFTA rules, I understand I don't need the LMO, but I can't tell if just asking the company to replace the "pending work permit" to "Pending permanent residence" will do it or not... Any idea where I can find some guidelines as to a format for that letter?

 

[Leon]

From what it says on the CIC website:

your current employer must have made an offer to give you a permanent job if you are accepted as a federal skilled worker

 

[kitaguy]

Absolutely. I guess my question is more around the contents of that "offer letter." It's unclear to me what I need to ask the company to do so that I can apply right away.

 

[Leon]

The letter must be offering you a permanent job if you are accepted as a PR.

 

[kitaguy]

OK -- thanks for the help.
Once I get the pre-approval for my visa I think I might consult an Immigration Lawyer/consultant just to make sure I've got the details down right.

Thanks!
Ken