Asking for a Work Permit while applying for a Family Class PR

[weerth]

Hey everyone,

I´m in Canada and I´m going to apply for PR under the Family Class next week (I am married to a canadian citizen).

I know the whole proccess may take up to 12 months and I would like to know if I can apply for a Work Permit at the same time. Some people told me I have to do it 2-3 months after applying, others that I have to do it WITH the PR application. Can anyone help me with the right information? Is it really possible?

In any case, do I have to fill all the paperwork I would have to send in case of a Skilled Work Immigration? Is the process easier or faster?

Thank in advance!

[Leon]

If you are applying outland (which is in most cases faster), you would not qualify for an open work permit.  You would either have to get an LMO and a regular work permit like any temporary worker, completely unrelated to your PR application or you wait until you have PR.

If you are appying inland (processing time 9-10 months to first stage approval and another 9 months for PR), you would be eligible to get an open work permit at your first stage approval.  If you send the work permit application with your PR application, you would get it as soon as you get first stage approval.  If you don't, you can not send it until you get your first stage approval and then you would have to wait for the work permit for something like 6-7 weeks.

[weerth]

Thanks Leon!

I am applying inland, so I´m going to send everything together with the Family Application.

One more doubt: do I have to send all the forms as if I were applying only for the work permit? Or the information and certificates sent for my Family Class application will be enough?

Thanks again for your help!

[kelKel]

What country are you from? 

[Leon]

Send all the PR forms and additionally send a form for a request to change status.  Write on it that you want an open work permit as soon as you get your first stage approval.  You can find a change of status form here: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/extend-worker.asp

[weerth]

What country are you from? 

I´m from Brazil but I´m already in Canada. I´m going to apply inland.

[kelKel]

Any particular reason you've chosen to apply inland?

[weerth]

Any particular reason you've chosen to apply inland?

Well, my spouse lives here. We couldn´t stay far away from each other for more 9 months and the people from the canadian consulate in Brazil told me if I applied from Brazil I would have to stay there until the end of the proccess. 

[weerth]

Send all the PR forms and additionally send a form for a request to change status.  Write on it that you want an open work permit as soon as you get your first stage approval.  You can find a change of status form here

Thanks again Leon. I really appreciate it. I´m gonna send the change status forms with my PR application.
Cheers.

[Leon]

Well, my spouse lives here. We couldn´t stay far away from each other for more 9 months and the people from the canadian consulate in Brazil told me if I applied from Brazil I would have to stay there until the end of the proccess. 

That is not true.  You can apply outland even if you are visiting Canada and you can still apply to extend your visitor status when you have applied outland.  There is no work permit with outland but it is generally much faster.  You can often have PR with outland at the same time or before you would have the first stage approval and open work permit with inland.  With inland, you are also advised to stay in Canada during your processing time because if you leave and aren't allowed back in, you lose your application.

[kelKel]

Considering Sao Paolo has a max processing time of 10 months it's well worth it for you to consider applying though there.  The only downfall is if there is an interveiw you would have to return for it.  Another thing is there is no appeal when an inland application for any reason is refused.  Something to think about!

[weerth]

Well, thanks for the correct information the people from the consulate didn´t give me but now I already have everything ready to apply inland.

I´m here in Toronto now and I really don´t trust sending all my stuff to Brazil through mail (I had very bad experiences with that in the past) and returning to Brazil now is completely out of the plans.

Thanksmy friends, fingers crossed now!

[weerth]

Another point is: 2 of my friends applied outland, in Brazil... their application took more than 18 months (first stage was pretty fast, only 40 days, but the second...) to an end. Things are always different and more complicated in Brazil (well, they gave me the wrong info).