Post-graduate visa expiring before permanent resident status

[Verfallsdatum]

Hi,
I've been scanning www.cic.gc.ca for hours and still cannot find the answer to my question, so I'm humbly asking for help here.

I currently have a one year post-graduate work permit expiring at the end of October and I have send my PR application at the beginning of May, so probably too late to have my PR before the end of my current work permit.

I currently work in the province of Quebec and I don't want to have to leave my job just because there is a few months gap between my two permits.
Is there an easy way to extend my current work permit at least untill I get an answer for my PR?

Thank you for your help

[Leon]

The length of your studies decide how long of a post-grad work permit you can get.  If you for some reason applied for a shorter work permit than you were entitled to get, it might be possible to extend it.  You can see here: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/work-postgrad-who.asp how the period of work permit is related to period of studies.

You can also have your employer apply for an LMO on your behalf to attempt to change you over to a regular work permit, see http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/workplaceskills/foreign_workers/supperimm.shtml

[Verfallsdatum]

Thanks Leon,

It was just a one year program, so I probably won't be able to prolonge my post-graduate work permit.

Are you sure about the LMO, isn't there any other way since I am just waiting for an answer concerning my PR?

Do you know how long it could take to get a regular work permit using a LMO?

Thanks a lot

[Leon]

I have heard 6 weeks but there's even no guarantee that you will get a positive LMO.  You can only hope for the best.  What class did you apply for PR under?  Are you under the QSW class?  You could talk to Quebec immigration and ask them if there is a chance of some kind of interrim work permit without an LMO.  I have heard that AINP helps people who have been nominated to get a work permit without LMO.  It never hurts to ask.

[setokaiba]

is there any other way to extent the post graduate visa because i also have plans to get a post graduate visa from a 1 yr. program?

[Verfallsdatum]

I have heard 6 weeks but there's even no guarantee that you will get a positive LMO.  You can only hope for the best.  What class did you apply for PR under?  Are you under the QSW class?  You could talk to Quebec immigration and ask them if there is a chance of some kind of interrim work permit without an LMO.  I have heard that AINP helps people who have been nominated to get a work permit without LMO.  It never hurts to ask.

I applied through Quebec, the process requires a certificate of selection from the province, is that what you call QSW? (I'm not sure it's the same because I filled all the forms in French). I am French and I intend to stay in Quebec, that's why I applied for the Quebec program.
So you think there is a chance that Quebec immigration helps me get an interrim work permit?
It would be logical, especially if I ask once I already have my certificate of selection.

[Leon]

Yeah, ask Quebec immigration if they can help.

[Leon]

is there any other way to extent the post graduate visa because i also have plans to get a post graduate visa from a 1 yr. program?

This is the info on length of work permit vs. length of studies: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/work-postgrad-who.asp

You can not extend a post-grad work permit any further than that.  You would have to get an LMO and change it to a regular work permit.