Open Work Permit & PR

[Motho]

Hi all,

Your advice/clarification three things would be highly appreciated:

1. Does one need to have prospective work or a job offer to apply for an open work permit? Applying and wanting to make sure that if I leave this area blank, I won't be playing myself.

2. Can/Should I include (check) the OWP box on the permanent residency document checklist? (IMM5533, Part A, 5)? And does this mean I would have to include the Open Work Permit application to my PR app? (Didn't see the OPW payment option when paying for the PR app).

3. Being in Canada on a 10 year visa is not the same at "living in Canada" on a Temporary Resident Visa?

I'm applying under Family Class, sponsored by a common law spouse.

Thanks for this forum.

 

[np08]

1. You don't need to have a job lined up. That's for work permits that you get based on job offers. For the open work permit, you leave all those employer, company, expected duration of employment, etc fields empty. Or rather, I wrote N/A in all those fields.

2. You should include your OWP app with your PR app and you should definitely pay for it and include the receipt. If not, the OWP app will be returned and you'll have to send it in again, while delaying the whole process. Fees are listed here: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/fees/fees.asp

All in all it's $255 for the OWP (Work permit (including extensions) – per person and Open work permit holder fees). You pay that amount and include the receipt with the rest of your package.

We put both the PR app receipt and the OWP receipt at the very top under the checklist so they can immediately see it's all been paid for.

I'm not sure about your last question.

 

[KBH]

3. The length of validity of your visa has nothing to do with your stay in Canada, the visa just allows you to enter Canada. If you are visiting Canada for an extended period of time you are considered to be living in Canada, even if you are a temporary resident.

 

[Motho]

Thanks a lot.
Makes perfect sense.
Much appreciated.