Switching Visas from work permit to open work permit

[maxwellwinston]

Hi There,

My wife and I are currently living and working in Vancouver. She got a job offer and through her visa, I have an open work permit. The 30th or May our visas will expire.

Our working situation has changed. My job is promoting me and my wife would like to change employers and would, therefore, need an open work permit. Is it possible to get an LMIA from my current employer to change my visa from an open work permit to a work permit and in the process apply for an open work permit for my wife?

How much time in advance are we allowed to apply for the visa change?

Thank you in advance,

Maxwell

 

[scylla]

Hi There,

My wife and I are currently living and working in Vancouver. She got a job offer and through her visa, I have an open work permit. The 30th or May our visas will expire.

Our working situation has changed. My job is promoting me and my wife would like to change employers and would, therefore, need an open work permit. Is it possible to get an LMIA from my current employer to change my visa from an open work permit to a work permit and in the process apply for an open work permit for my wife?

How much time in advance are we allowed to apply for the visa change?

Thank you in advance,

Maxwell

Yes - if your employer can obtain an approved LMIA, the you can switch to a closed work permit and your wife can then apply for an open work permit. I'm not sure what you mean by how much time in advance are you allowed to apply. You can apply for the closed work permit as soon as your employer has an approved LMIA.

 

[maxwellwinston]

Thank you so much for this quick and very helpful reply!

Do you know how long her application would take as the website says it cannot be done online, and instead needs to be a paper application?

Cheers