Open Work "Bridging" Permit Concerns

[Digital_Tofu]

So I submitted my application for PR in December, my current work permit expires at the end of May. I submitted my application for the Open Work Permit a while ago and it SHOULD be approved before my current permit expires.

My question is...

What are the restrictions of having an Open Work Permit in regards to overseas travel? I'm hoping to hop over the boarder to a friend's wedding in San Fran in October. My PR won't be approved by then, but the Open Work Permit is valid for the year from approval date. Has anyone traveled abroad on an Open Work Permit and had issues with immigration on re entry? I would hate to make it more complicated and have a long chat with immigration if I can avoid it.

Also, I submitted my application via post, not online. The CIC website says a processing time of about 50 days. Has anyone been able to confirm this time or did it happen faster/slower?

Waiting is the hardest part....

Thanks

 

[iam_toby]

So I submitted my application for PR in December, my current work permit expires at the end of May. I submitted my application for the Open Work Permit a while ago and it SHOULD be approved before my current permit expires.

My question is...

What are the restrictions of having an Open Work Permit in regards to overseas travel? I'm hoping to hop over the boarder to a friend's wedding in San Fran in October. My PR won't be approved by then, but the Open Work Permit is valid for the year from approval date. Has anyone traveled abroad on an Open Work Permit and had issues with immigration on re entry? I would hate to make it more complicated and have a long chat with immigration if I can avoid it.

Also, I submitted my application via post, not online. The CIC website says a processing time of about 50 days. Has anyone been able to confirm this time or did it happen faster/slower?

Waiting is the hardest part....

Thanks

You can travel, no problem. All you need is a valid TRV ( if applicable ) when you re-enter Canada.
I traveled like a hundred times across the border, as I only live 10 mins away from the line.

 

[Digital_Tofu]

You can travel, no problem. All you need is a valid TRV ( if applicable ) when you re-enter Canada.
I traveled like a hundred times across the border, as I only live 10 mins away from the line.

Thanks very much! That puts me at ease. Also, how long did your permit take to arrive once you submitted your application?

 

[iam_toby]

Thanks very much! That puts me at ease. Also, how long did your permit take to arrive once you submitted your application?

I think it was around 5 days for me, I live in BC.

 

[sandy4pr]

You can travel, no problem. All you need is a valid TRV ( if applicable ) when you re-enter Canada.
I traveled like a hundred times across the border, as I only live 10 mins away from the line.

Can we travel with open work permit , I mean having only open work permit and without the TRV??

 

[pfse]

1. CIC does not promise that new WP will be approved before current WP expires. If current WP expires before new WP is approved than you enters "implied status" which mean that you can continue to work without formal WP until decision on your application is made or until you're leaving Canada. If you leaved Canada when on "implied status" and re-enter again, than you're losing right to work until positive decision is made on your BOWP application.
2. BOWP by self does not allow re-entry to Canada as it is not replacement for visa. If you're not from visa-exempt country, than you need right type of visa to re-enter Canada.

 

[Digital_Tofu]

1. CIC does not promise that new WP will be approved before current WP expires. If current WP expires before new WP is approved than you enters "implied status" which mean that you can continue to work without formal WP until decision on your application is made or until you're leaving Canada. If you leaved Canada when on "implied status" and re-enter again, than you're losing right to work until positive decision is made on your BOWP application.
2. BOWP by self does not allow re-entry to Canada as it is not replacement for visa. If you're not from visa-exempt country, than you need right type of visa to re-enter Canada.

So essentially you are saying that I will not be able to leave the country when I am here under the BOWP? This is my concern, different people say different things. I couldn't locate any information on the CIC website in regards to overseas travel on Open Work Permit.

 

[iam_toby]

Can we travel with open work permit , I mean having only open work permit and without the TRV??

No, to re-enter Canada you need a valid TRV if you're not from a visa exempt country.

 

[iam_toby]

So essentially you are saying that I will not be able to leave the country when I am here under the BOWP? This is my concern, different people say different things. I couldn't locate any information on the CIC website in regards to overseas travel on Open Work Permit.

Wrong. If you get your BOWP in the mail, you can leave and re-enter as long as you have a valid TRV if you're not from a visa exempt country.

 

[Digital_Tofu]

Wrong. If you get your BOWP in the mail, you can leave and re-enter as long as you have a valid TRV if you're not from a visa exempt country.

Ah ok, that makes more sense. I am from a visa exempt country (Australia), so the BWOP with suffice as documentation to travel down to the states then?

Thanks for you advice!

 

[iam_toby]

Ah ok, that makes more sense. I am from a visa exempt country (Australia), so the BWOP with suffice as documentation to travel down to the states then?

Thanks for you advice!

Yes. I'm from Germany and therefore visa exempt and I cross the line on a weekly basis. So yes, you can travel on a BOWP as long
as you have a valid TRV or are from a visa exempt country.

 

[Digital_Tofu]

Yes. I'm from Germany and therefore visa exempt and I cross the line on a weekly basis. So yes, you can travel on a BOWP as long
as you have a valid TRV or are from a visa exempt country.

Thanks for the assistance!

 

[iam_toby]

Thanks for the assistance!

You're most welcome!

 

[Maxim1251]

No, to re-enter Canada you need a valid TRV if you're not from a visa exempt country.

I believe you can actually enter Canada with expired TRV, but you need to come from US and some other "adjacent" territories, and, I presume, you should enter by land, not by plane. And, of course, you need a proof that you allowed to continue staying in Canada (I presume work permit with later expiration date fulfills this criteria). There was an CIC answer to similar frequently asking question

 

[iam_toby]

I believe you can actually enter Canada with expired TRV, but you need to come from US and some other "adjacent" territories, and, I presume, you should enter by land, not by plane. And, of course, you need a proof that you allowed to continue staying in Canada (I presume work permit with later expiration date fulfills this criteria). There was an CIC answer to similar frequently asking question

Looks like you're right. However, the OP is from a visa exempt country and therefore doesn't even need a TRV.

Expired Temporary Resident Visa

You can ask to come back to Canada on your original temporary resident visa, even if it is expired, if:
you will only visit the U.S. or St. Pierre and Miquelon, and
you will return to Canada before the end of your approved stay in Canada.

>> http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?q=208&t=17