Hi All,
I'm currently doing my Masters as an int/l student in Ontario and intend to apply for PR as per the Masters Graduate Stream PNP program for Ontario students. Here is my scenario:
Duration of Ms program (4 semesters/16 months): Sep 2013 to Dec 2014
Graduation: June 30, 2015
Study Permit: Given until Aug 31, 2015
Passport expires: Sep 25, 2015
I took a leave of absence for the Summer 2014 semester, so now my program ends in April 2015, everything else remains the same.
Now, I have the following doubts:
1) I know I can apply for PR in my last semester (Jan-Apr 2015) but on their website, it is mentioned "applicant must demonstrate at least one year of residence in Ontario in the past two years", however as I keep flying back to my home country at the end of every semester, my total stay so far is 3 months (Sep-Dec '13) + 3 months (Jan-Apr '14) = 6 months, and I'll be staying another 3 months now from Sep '14 to Dec'14, which is total 9 months. And then 3 months in the last semester (Jan-Apr '15). Does that mean I would have to wait till April-May 2015 to apply for PR which means I will apply AFTER my course ends?
2) Keeping in mind my course end dates, study permit expiration and passport expiration dates, would it be a bad idea to travel back to my home country in April 2015 after my course ends? I ask this because I'm afraid I wouldn't be allowed back inside Canada when I try to return? Or am I allowed to travel to/from Canada as and when I like once I've applied for PR?
3) I heard somewhere that you need to show a minimum of CAD $11,000 in your a/c when you apply. Is this correct? Also, should it be a chequing a/c in CAD only?
4) My passport expires in Sep '15 but one of the conditions to apply states passport should be valid for 2 years. This means I would need to renew it in December (as I can't renew it before 12 months in advance) in my home country, right?
5) If I apply in May 2015, and get my nominee certificate in 90 calendar days as stated, how long then would it take before I get my PR from CIC? What if my study permit expires in Aug '15 and I don't have it by then?
6) Finally, I completely forgot about PGWP amidst all this. I know that this PNP doesn't require a job offer, but to be able to work, I would need a PGWP. So how does that process work and when to apply for that? The timeline for the two things, PNP and PGWP are really confusing me.
Thanks for all the help!