BCGuy, Leon & PMM ... Please assist

[Tasha24]

Dear BCGuy, Leon & PMM,

My mother has received a job offer from Newfoundland and applied for a work permit. My father obviously applied for an open work permit. They have just gone for their medical last month and should receive an okay within the next few weeks.

My brother and I will stay behind in Namibia but plan to visit them. As Namibians, we are visa exempt, will we be allowed to visit my parents for 6 months? I need to know so that I can book the plane tickets with the correct dates.

Will we need to show proof of travel insurance at the airport? If so, does it only have to be for hospital cover?

Should an opportunity present itself in the form of a job offer while in Canada, can we apply for work permits from within Canada? And if so, how long does it take? If we decide to stay can we then later apply for PR?

[Leon]

You may visit for up to 6 months but you may have to prove that you can support yourself while you visit.  Maybe having a letter from your parents inviting you would help, just in case you get asked.  I have never heard that travel insurance is mandatory but it's a very good idea to have one.  If you have an accident, you could end up with a very big bill if you don't have insurance.

If you find a job while you are there, the employer would have to apply for your labour market opinion, see http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/workplaceskills/foreign_workers/supperimm.shtml and I have heard this usually takes around 6 weeks, could be longer.  If it's a skilled job, you can apply for your work permit to be processed at the same time, see http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/processing.asp  You could also just get the LMO and when you get it, take a trip to the border and apply for your work permit there.

If you decide to stay, if you have a skilled job, there will be ways for you to apply for permanent residency later through Canadian experience class or through a PNP with employer support.  If you are not doing a skilled job, the only way would be if you qualify to apply for the skilled worker program, you could do that after a year in Canada.  You can look at your options at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/index.asp

[Tasha24]

Dear Leon,

Thank you for the prompt response.

Please clarify, where you say "take a trip to the border and apply for your work permit there" do you refer to a point of entry (e.g. St John) or do you mean anywhere outside Canada (e.g. the US)?

This leads me to the next question, will we have to go for the medicals outside Canada or can we do that inside Canada?

[Leon]

Take a trip to the border is a better option for people who are close to the border but when you are in Newfoundland, it's probably better to apply from inside.  I don't see why you couldn't have your medicals there.  It will cost you though, maybe $100 or 200.  Not sure.

[Tasha24]

Dear Leon,

Thank you very much, I truly appreciate it. If I ever find myself in Edmonton, I will buy you a HUGE chocolate!!!

Enjoy the week ahead.