Spousal sponsorship - work permit.

[Brandon_L]

Hey guys,

I got married to my lovely Canadian wife last month, but since I ran out of money I had to go back to Belgium and live with my parents. (I'm 20 years old)

I'm incredibly insecure about something I can't seem to figure out right now; which is how I will be able to live with & support my wife financially in Canada right now.

So my questions are; how do I legally stay and work in Canada with an outland spousal PR-application going on? (I heard something about phase 1-privileges) Do I have to be in Canada to apply for a work permit? Or is there a way I can go to Canada and immediately start working, so I'm not a financial hazard to my wife?


I tried to go to bed just now, but panic attacks caused by my ignorance about this keep me up. I hope someone has the information that can calm me again, so I get a sharper image of what will happen next.
I just feel like I'm burning out after all this immigration law research... It would be really nice to be able to talk someone who has already been through this.

Anyways, thanks for reading.

 

[scylla]

Applying outland does not give you access to a work permit.

If you want to work before you become a PR, you will first have to find an employer in Canada who is willing to offer you a job, that employer will then have to obtain an approved LMO (including proving that they advertised the job and were unable to find a Canadian for the role) and then you'll have to apply for a work permit.

 

[scylla]

Having said that, given you're only 20 you should look into the IEC program. That's certainly an option...

 

[Sweden]

Indeed - your best bet is a work holiday visa, See here http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/belgium-belgique/experience_canada_experience/index.aspx?view=d

you're lucky! you're 20, and probably qualify, and coming from Belgium, it seems that they have not reached their quota at all!

So - apply for an IEC visa ( or work holiday, it's the same), and you can come back to Canada and work.
At the same time, start preparing for the spousal application. Choose outland, because inland doesn't really make sense for your case.

Download the forms, start getting familiar with it, gather all the proofs etc.

Once you get the IEC visa, you can go to Canada and be with your wife. You can be in Canada even if you do an outland application, no problem. Once the PR comes through, you shift from the IEC visa to the PR status by going to the nearest US border, leaving the country and re-entering - you "land" as a PR, and that's it!

As Scylla said - there is no work permit for outland applications, and LMO are hard to get - your future employer would have to prove that you're the only person they can find for the job etc. Instead, get an IEC visa, and you can work anywhere in Canada, for one year. It should be enough time to get your PR if you start preparing your application now, and file it soon.

THe process is a bit long and stressful, but you're coming from a country where you can have an IEC visa, and you have a fast visa office ( Paris), so you'll be fine!

Good luck,
Sweden

 

[Brandon_L]

Applying outland does not give you access to a work permit.

If you want to work before you become a PR, you will first have to find an employer in Canada who is willing to offer you a job, that employer will then have to obtain an approved LMO (including proving that they advertised the job and were unable to find a Canadian for the role) and then you'll have to apply for a work permit.

Having said that, given you're only 20 you should look into the IEC program. That's certainly an option...

Ok. So how long does that process usually take? (From obtaining an approved LMO to receiving the work permit)
I'm currently collecting the 3000 dollars that is required for the IEC, but I don't want to fully rely on it, since the slots might be filled. (Apparently there are a limited amount of slots?)
The PR takes 11 months in total apparently. (55 days for phase one, and 9 months at the embassy in France)

Also, can my wife (Born Canadian citizen) safely travel to Europe while the application is running?

Indeed - your best bet is a work holiday visa, See here

you're lucky! you're 20, and probably qualify, and coming from Belgium, it seems that they have not reached their quota at all!

So - apply for an IEC visa ( or work holiday, it's the same), and you can come back to Canada and work.
At the same time, start preparing for the spousal application. Choose outland, because inland doesn't really make sense for your case.

Download the forms, start getting familiar with it, gather all the proofs etc.

Once you get the IEC visa, you can go to Canada and be with your wife. You can be in Canada even if you do an outland application, no problem. Once the PR comes through, you shift from the IEC visa to the PR status by going to the nearest US border, leaving the country and re-entering - you "land" as a PR, and that's it!

As Scylla said - there is no work permit for outland applications, and LMO are hard to get - your future employer would have to prove that you're the only person they can find for the job etc. Instead, get an IEC visa, and you can work anywhere in Canada, for one year. It should be enough time to get your PR if you start preparing your application now, and file it soon.

THe process is a bit long and stressful, but you're coming from a country where you can have an IEC visa, and you have a fast visa office ( Paris), so you'll be fine!

Good luck,
Sweden

Ahh, thank you so much. So my only 'doom' right now would be if I can't get the IEC for some odd reason? Because that would essentially lock me away from her for almost a year I suppose? (Since the whole LMO deal is not desirable.)

Also, just to make sure "have the equivalent of 700 euros / C$1,000 per month for the first three months to help cover your expenses at the beginning of your stay;"

This means I will need 3000 before I can even apply, right?

 

[Sweden]

Ok. So how long does that process usually take? (From obtaining an approved LMO to receiving the work permit)
I'm currently collecting the 3000 dollars that is required for the IEC, but I don't want to fully rely on it, since the slots might be filled. (Apparently there are a limited amount of slots?)
The PR takes 11 months in total apparently. (55 days for phase one, and 9 months at the embassy in France)

Also, can my wife (Born Canadian citizen) safely travel to Europe while the application is running?
Ahh, thank you so much. So my only 'doom' right now would be if I can't get the IEC for some odd reason? Because that would essentially lock me away from her for almost a year I suppose? (Since the whole LMO deal is not desirable.)

IEC: there are a limited amount of slots, but the count is available on the website, and there are 750 available apparently, so you should be able to get one!
LMO : not worth a try in my opinion, unless you have a very specific skill ( and not offense, but if you're 20, might not be the case yet! )
PR can take 11 months, but can also take way less! phase one is 55 days, but some people that applied beginning of January already got approved, so quite a few get done before the 55 days. Stage 2: 9 months is the time that it takes to complete 80% of the applications - so you can also be done much faster. I went through London ( which is also quoted at 9 months), but was done in London in 4 months ( + 3 months for stage 1, which was really long last year when I applied). If you have a straightforward case ( no previous kids, no previous marriage, "normal" wedding with pictures, and proofs of your relationship), then most likely you will be done before.

Your wife can travel in and out, as a Canadian ( and not a PR) she is not requested to be in Canada for the duration of the process. So no worries - she can come and visit you.

Good luck!
Sweden