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willfromtheuk

Newbie
Mar 5, 2013
5
0
Hello All,

I've been in Canada for the last 12 months on the IEC program and my employer has recently applied for my LMO. Since my IEC visa has now expired and my application for a work permit has been received in Alberta I now have Implied Status...which means I can carry on working until the work permit arrives.

HOWEVER, there's a chance I may need to leave Canada for a week before my application is processed. HAS ANYONE RECEIVED THEIR WORK PERMIT AT A PORT OF ENTRY WITH ONLY AN LMO AND WORK CONTRACT? My profession does not require medicals etc. Want to know of any success stories or if its too risky!

Thanks!
 
Are you from a visa-exempt country(US, UK, etc)? If so, you can obtain a work permit at the border. Note that you will loose "implied status" once you leave Canada. If your work permit application is rejected at the border but somehow you are still allowed into Canada(say, on visitor status), you can not resume work until you receive a new work permit.
 
Thank you.

Yes I'm from the UK. Absolutely, if I'm rejected for some reason I'd have to enter as a visitor and wouldn't be able to return to work. I'm just curious how likely they are to approve work permits at POE versus Alberta (where the lead time is 80 days).
 
No guarantees with immigration matters and it's possible to be denied entry. The only part an applicant has control over is completing their application thoroughly, providing documents requested(LMO, proof of meeting job requirements, etc) and the rest is up to the border officer.

willfromtheuk said:
Thank you.

Yes I'm from the UK. Absolutely, if I'm rejected for some reason I'd have to enter as a visitor and wouldn't be able to return to work. I'm just curious how likely they are to approve work permits at POE versus Alberta (where the lead time is 80 days).
 
willfromtheuk said:
Thank you.

Yes I'm from the UK. Absolutely, if I'm rejected for some reason I'd have to enter as a visitor and wouldn't be able to return to work. I'm just curious how likely they are to approve work permits at POE versus Alberta (where the lead time is 80 days).

It is always better to do the application within the country
 
But technically I could return to Canada as a visitor and await the permit approval from Alberta? Obviously I couldn't work in that period.
 
To obtain a work permit at the port of entry (the border), you need to have a copy of a positive LMO, original job offer/contract, a proof that you meet job requirements (your resume and (if applicable) your diploma), filled out IMM1295 form and $150 for the processing fee. My friend did it and she is from Europe as well, a visa exempt country.
 
johnny123 said:
To obtain a work permit at the port of entry (the border), you need to have a copy of a positive LMO, original job offer/contract, a proof that you meet job requirements (your resume and (if applicable) your diploma), filled out IMM1295 form and $150 for the processing fee. My friend did it and she is from Europe as well, a visa exempt country.

Thank you - great to know.