Leon, thank you for a quick response. Just to clarify things - as I understand I cannot lodge "separate" application for work permit as, let's say foreign, worker, so it can be processed quicker while application for PR is on waiting list. It all has to go together? On the other note - how long it takes to process application for open work permit? is it the same long procedure as for PR?
Thanks again!
Maria
You could file a separate application for a restricted work permit, but that involves finding an employer willing to hire you who can get authorization to hire a foreign national - which involves the employer proving that there are no qualified Canadian applicants. If that all went well, then you'd have to use the job offer to apply to Immigration Canada (through your home embassy) for a restricted work permit. All in all, that would take longer to do than just waiting for first stage approval of your inland PR application. Problem is, though: you didn't include an extension application, with the work permit option, WITH your inland PR ap - and you needed to do that not only to be eligible for a work permit as soon as your case is assessed for first stage approval, but to protect your temporary status and keep it current (like you're required to do). Hopefully you have documented, still valid temporary status in Canada AND your application has not been opened yet to assess for first stage approval (
they're currently assessing applications received through Jan 27, 2009) or you're going to experience delays in the processing of your inland PR application because they'll ship your application to your local CIC office for special processing and it will sit in a queue until the aps ahead of it are processed. Some local offices are backlogged for up to two years!!!
If you
do have documented status, you should immediately (before the temporary status expires) send
an extension application to CPC-Vegreville, checking the box for "initial work permit" and paying the $150 fee. Send with the application proof of your current temporary status . . . and give CPC-Vegreville as much information as you can to identify your inland PR application so they can match up the extension application with the inland PR ap. Your best form of identification is your client ID# off your temporary status document because that ID# follows you throughout the application process. Write across the top of the extension application, "INLAND APPLICATION FILED ON DD/MM/YYYY - OPEN WORK PERMIT APPLICATION - TO BE PROCESSED ONLY AFTER APPROVAL IN PRINCIPLE".
If you currently have documented proof of your temporary status, CPC-Vegreville should be able to match your inland PR ap and your extension application - and once they finish finalizing the first stage of assessment and they grant you Approval in Principle (AIP), they then will automatically issue you an open work permit. You can't work until you have that permit.
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