Spousal Sponsorship and Open Work Permit

[fishbone17]

I'll be getting married July 2013 in Canada. My fiance is a Canadian citizen and we're planning on filing inland. I currently have a visitor visa that expires September 2013.

Would appreciate help on the following questions:
1. What steps should we take to apply for an open work permit for me?
2. Should the open work permit application be sent along with the PR application?
3. Should I already have an employer willing to hire me to apply for the open work permit?
4. Will I need to file for change of status if the PR is not processed within the time I can legally stay in Canada using my visitor visa?

Thanks so much to anyone willing to shed light on this.

 

[Victorswife]

I'll be getting married July 2013 in Canada. My fiance is a Canadian citizen and we're planning on filing inland. I currently have a visitor visa that expires September 2013.

Would appreciate help on the following questions:
1. What steps should we take to apply for an open work permit for me?
2. Should the open work permit application be sent along with the PR application?
3. Should I already have an employer willing to hire me to apply for the open work permit?
4. Will I need to file for change of status if the PR is not processed within the time I can legally stay in Canada using my visitor visa?

Thanks so much to anyone willing to shed light on this.

Hey Congrats, We are in the same boat!
1.) You can apply for an Open work permit and submit it with your PR application. IMM 5556
2.) Having a LMO (Labour Market opnion) means that an employer has advertised and can find no other Canadian suitable for this position. you could also have this lined up and submit this application with your PR
3.) Are you on a single Entrance Visa? or Multiple? It is not continuous until Sept 2013, You will need to leave after 6 months and re-enter I believe.
4.) Change of status ( to Temp Resident Visa) can be found on the same IMM 5556 form.. check both boxes and be sure to pay both fees.

If you look in the other Forum.. I have asked these same questions and had the experts respond,, Hope that is helpful!

 

[Victorswife]

If you apply inland, you should send the visit visa extension along with your application package so you don't get out of status in case your processing takes a bit longer.

For the open work permit, use the change of status form for a temporary worker. You can find that here: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/extend-worker.asp If you send it with your application package, you can get your open work permit as soon as you get 1st stage approval. If you don't, you have to wait until you get 1st stage approval and then apply for the open work permit.

 

[Victorswife]

Quote from: computergeek on November 01, 2012, 11:30:31 am

You do not need an LMO - you aren't bound to an employer or job, which is why it is "open". Don't fill it in or write not applicable (whichever it takes to make the form validate properly). The online form apparently has an "open work permit" option.

In my experience, people use the IMM 5710 (change conditions) because you are asking to change from visitor status to worker status. The annoying thing is that the forms are generic. But CIC seems to figure out what you want when you include a copy of your AIP request and ask for an open work permit...

Thank you so much... the "general forms" have def been the confusing part. Do we apply now with sponsorship in harcopy and have page on top saying we would like this to be processed immediately after AIP?

 

[fishbone17]

Thanks so much for your replies! These have definitely helped a lot as I wasn't really sure when exactly to submit the open work permit application.

Should you have any more information regarding this, kindly share -- truly appreciate it!