Work Permit and PR - Please Help!

[arlesoma]

Hi Everyone
I have four questions that hopefully you are able to help me with your knowledge.

I am currently a Controller in a transNational company, my company have been nice enough to offer me a job in Canada, which mean I will be quitting the current affiliate in my country and be rehire in Canada's affilate (my affiliate in Nicaragua is closing on Dec. 1).
Just last week they send me the offer letter, and I like it very much, I am so happy.

The original plan with my supervisor and lawyer was that I would apply for the work permit first so that I can start working on Dec. 1 2011 and that I would go other the GATS or Nafta treaty (whichever since I have both nationalities of Mexican and Nicaraguan) since that way their is no need for LMO from the company.
At the same time I would start the PR process so that while I am in Canada working with the WP the PR processing was moving along.
Question 1: Is this something that normally people do? Process WP and PR almost at the same time? Do you see any problem (conflict) doing it this way?

However, I got an e-mail yesterday from HR Canada affiliate's telling me that they would wait for me till I get my resideny (around 6-8month) since it seems they hire employee with residency.
Question 2: Can the company actually not hire me yet just with a WP, can they really choose that they can only hire me until I have the residency?

Question 3: Just to have an idea in case answer to Q2 is yes, can you tell how long is the PR process taking nowadays from start to finish? 6-8month or more time?

So far I have on hand what I believe are the hardest document to get:
1- Offer letter in letterhead from the company
2- I will be getting by mid Sept the FBI clearence (since I live in the USA)

Question 4: Do I need to do a test for english language? What test? and Where can I take it?
I have a BS in Industrial Engineering from an Amercan University.

Well, thank you so much to all of your for your help , I am planning in calling HR tomorrow but would rather call them when I have some feedback from you guys.
Thanks, take care and have a great night.
Arlesoma

 

[arlesoma]

Please ???, I need your help on these questions, since I have to send the sign offer letter where I accept the offer by tomorrow afternoon...... but I need your insight so that I talk to HR regarding them telling me I can not start work with a WP but only with a residency (in the offer letter I have to put a reasonable start date taking into account immigration processing and it differs btw. the WP and the PR)....thank you.

 

[arlesoma]

Please anyone your feedback is more than greatly appreciated :'(

 

[Leon]

Yes, you can process a work permit and PR at the same time. In order to get a work permit, the employer usually has to apply for a labour market opinion (LMO) to prove that they have advertised the job and found no Canadian or PR willing and able to do it. This is however not needed if your occupation falls under the NAFTA agreement. Then you just need a job offer to apply for your work permit. There is also something called intra-company transfer you can ask about. You must discuss it with your HR if they want you to come on a work permit or not. If they say yes, you should talk to the Canadian embassy responsible for the area where you live.

As you are also applying for PR, the question is which immigration class are you going under? Are you applying under the skilled worker program with an arranged employment offer (AEO)? If yes, then the employer must apply for the AEO from Service Canada for you. If you are being sponsored by the employer by a provincial nominee program (PNP), then you must look up the processing times for that program. You can find the processing times by country at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/perm-ec.asp For PNP, there is an added time at the beginning as the PNP must first approve your application before you can apply for PR. You would have to talk to the PNP in question to find out how long that takes. You can also see actual people's timelines at trackitt.com