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Tips for a successful BOWP application

Natalka86

Star Member
Jul 1, 2013
59
9
LPS said:
For the online submission to configure itself for a BOWP, it seems you have to answer "yes" to the "approved in principle" question. That isn't really what an AOR is (it's merely a statement that you submitted a complete application). My guess is that the question encompasses any "positive eligibility assessment" under OB485A.
"Approved in principle" status exists only in sponsorship programs. In case of BOWP instructions they should find the better wording.... However, AOR letter seems to be enough.
 

iam_toby

VIP Member
Feb 4, 2013
7,506
353
Natalka86 said:
"Approved in principle" status exists only in sponsorship programs. In case of BOWP instructions they should find the better wording.... However, AOR letter seems to be enough.
However, it shouldn't really matter as long as you got the AOR, and maybe refer to the OB485-A in your letter
of explanation. That's what a lot of users did and successfully received the BOWP.
 

PP323

Star Member
Oct 26, 2013
90
2
Category........
Visa Office......
Ottawa
NOC Code......
2283
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
11-Oct-2013
Doc's Request.
11-Oct-2013
AOR Received.
22-Nov-2013
LANDED..........
13-09-2014
I called the agent and he said if she has existing Visitor Record then I can directly apply for her Open Work Permit along with mine BOWP. But my wife doesn't even have Visitor record as my work permit was less than six months when she entered to canada.

I believe once I get her Visitor Record, I can file her Open Work Permit, Isn't it?
 

LPS

Champion Member
Aug 7, 2013
1,250
37
Category........
Visa Office......
CPC-O
NOC Code......
2174
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
06-08-2013
AOR Received.
07-10-2013
Med's Request
07-03-2014
Med's Done....
26-03-2014
LANDED..........
09-04-2014
byrwus said:
Can I leave Canada while waiting for my BOWP. Let's say I am approved, can I come back from my home country while my BOWP is in my mailbox?
The operational bulletin 485A does say that they will check that you are currently in Canada. I'm not sure how they do this as I never got a phone call or anything from them, but it is probably better to wait for the BOWP to arrive.
 

PP323

Star Member
Oct 26, 2013
90
2
Category........
Visa Office......
Ottawa
NOC Code......
2283
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
11-Oct-2013
Doc's Request.
11-Oct-2013
AOR Received.
22-Nov-2013
LANDED..........
13-09-2014
kijo said:
Option 2. She being your spouse, gets Open work permit.
Please read this
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/manuals/bulletins/2013/ob485A.asp
I called the agent and he said if she has existing Visitor Record then I can directly apply for her Open Work Permit along with mine BOWP. But my wife doesn't even have Visitor record as my work permit was less than six months when she entered to canada.

I believe once I get her Visitor Record, I can file her Open Work Permit, Isn't it?

can any expert explain me how can i apply for spouse work permit once I get my own BOWP?
 

kijo

Hero Member
Nov 4, 2013
217
3
B.C
Category........
Visa Office......
CPP-O
NOC Code......
5241
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
25-4-2013
AOR Received.
21-6-2013
File Transfer...
4-09-2013 (In process )
Med's Request
28-6-2013
Med's Done....
11-7-2013
Passport Req..
18-12-2013
VISA ISSUED...
30-12-2013
LANDED..........
09-01-2014
PP323 said:
I called the agent and he said if she has existing Visitor Record then I can directly apply for her Open Work Permit along with mine BOWP. But my wife doesn't even have Visitor record as my work permit was less than six months when she entered to canada.

I believe once I get her Visitor Record, I can file her Open Work Permit, Isn't it?

can any expert explain me how can i apply for spouse work permit once I get my own BOWP?
Is your wife currently with you in Canada ?
If shes not then she can apply for her open work permit & worker visa from wherever she is, once you get your BOWP.
 

PP323

Star Member
Oct 26, 2013
90
2
Category........
Visa Office......
Ottawa
NOC Code......
2283
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
11-Oct-2013
Doc's Request.
11-Oct-2013
AOR Received.
22-Nov-2013
LANDED..........
13-09-2014
kijo said:
Is your wife currently with you in Canada ?
If shes not then she can apply for her open work permit & worker visa from wherever she is, once you get your BOWP.
Yes she is in Canada with me.
 

JLCanada

Member
Nov 20, 2013
18
0
Category........
Visa Office......
Ottawa
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
02-May-2013
AOR Received.
19-June-2013
Hello everyone,

Among those tips, I did not include an explanation letter.
Is there any problem without it?

Thank you.
 

kijo

Hero Member
Nov 4, 2013
217
3
B.C
Category........
Visa Office......
CPP-O
NOC Code......
5241
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
25-4-2013
AOR Received.
21-6-2013
File Transfer...
4-09-2013 (In process )
Med's Request
28-6-2013
Med's Done....
11-7-2013
Passport Req..
18-12-2013
VISA ISSUED...
30-12-2013
LANDED..........
09-01-2014
PP323 said:
Yes she is in Canada with me.
Its a good thing. What is she here with ? Visitor or worker ?
What country you are from ? Coz for some countries you can't change your status from visitor to worker within Canada. In that case you need to apply from outside of Canada.
If she's here with you on worker status then you can apply together for BOWP. If you are principle applicant then she becomes spouse applicant and she qualifies for open work permit.
Getting it ??
 

PP323

Star Member
Oct 26, 2013
90
2
Category........
Visa Office......
Ottawa
NOC Code......
2283
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
11-Oct-2013
Doc's Request.
11-Oct-2013
AOR Received.
22-Nov-2013
LANDED..........
13-09-2014
kijo said:
Its a good thing. What is she here with ? Visitor or worker ?
What country you are from ? Coz for some countries you can't change your status from visitor to worker within Canada. In that case you need to apply from outside of Canada.
If she's here with you on worker status then you can apply together for BOWP. If you are principle applicant then she becomes spouse applicant and she qualifies for open work permit.
Getting it ??
She is here on Visitor VISA and I am from India.
currently I have applied for her Visitor record along with my BOWP but I am trying to find how can she get BOWP or an Open Work Permit? Does she has to create her CIC account or I have to apply on behalf of her as I am the principle applicant?
Could someone please share whatever information you have about dependent BOWP or Open work permit
 

kijo

Hero Member
Nov 4, 2013
217
3
B.C
Category........
Visa Office......
CPP-O
NOC Code......
5241
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
25-4-2013
AOR Received.
21-6-2013
File Transfer...
4-09-2013 (In process )
Med's Request
28-6-2013
Med's Done....
11-7-2013
Passport Req..
18-12-2013
VISA ISSUED...
30-12-2013
LANDED..........
09-01-2014
PP323 said:
She is here on Visitor VISA and I am from India.
currently I have applied for her Visitor record along with my BOWP but I am trying to find how can she get BOWP or an Open Work Permit? Does she has to create her CIC account or I have to apply on behalf of her as I am the principle applicant?
Could someone please share whatever information you have about dependent BOWP or Open work permit
If shes is here on Visitor visa and not on work visa then she has to apply for her spouse open work permit from outside Canada (based on your work permit). As long as I know Indians cant change their status from Visitor to Worker within Canada.
If she was with you on work visa/permit, she would be dependent applicant in your BOWP application..and from your CIC account.

I were you I would take a chance/risk and apply for her Open work permit separately once you get your BOWP,within Canada. If the officer is generous he would give her the work permit. Then you can change her visitor visa to worker visa.
If it gets denied then I would send her back to India and apply from there for Spouse open work permit. It takes 2 months or so to get visa and permit from India but that would be your only option.
 

Jalex23

VIP Member
Apr 12, 2013
4,462
368
Calgary
Category........
Visa Office......
CPP-Ottawa
NOC Code......
2171
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
05-09-2013
Doc's Request.
09-04-2014
AOR Received.
06-11-2013
Med's Request
05-04-2014
Med's Done....
20-05-2014
Passport Req..
07-07-2014
VISA ISSUED...
14-07-2014
LANDED..........
06-09-2014
JLCanada said:
Hello everyone,

Among those tips, I did not include an explanation letter.
Is there any problem without it?

Thank you.

Hopefully you put your UCI on the IMM710 and all other numbers. This should be enough.
 

smurf_smurf

Newbie
Dec 6, 2013
4
0
Hi folks,

I have 2 closed work permits, one from previous employer (valid till end of this year) and one from current (valid until mid 2015) but on that one my contract ends soon.
Would it work if I submit my BOWP with the copy of my previous WP, technically still valid but soon to expire? But I assume CIC will check my file and see that I have additional WP and LMO (as mentioned in the CIC Operational Bulletin 485-A).
Have you ever heard about the similar situation?

In case I apply with my current employer WP does it make sense to attach the letter with the employment termination agreement, in addition to other explanations?

Thanks for this great topic!
 

iam_toby

VIP Member
Feb 4, 2013
7,506
353
smurf_smurf said:
Hi folks,

I have 2 closed work permits, one from previous employer (valid till end of this year) and one from current (valid until mid 2015) but on that one my contract ends soon.
Would it work if I submit my BOWP with the copy of my previous WP, technically still valid but soon to expire? But I assume CIC will check my file and see that I have additional WP and LMO (as mentioned in the CIC Operational Bulletin 485-A).
Have you ever heard about the similar situation?

In case I apply with my current employer WP does it make sense to attach the letter with the employment termination agreement, in addition to other explanations?

Thanks for this great topic!
First of all, you can only have one valid work permit. That means, whenever CIC issues a new work permit, the old one
becomes invalid!
So, if your current (VALID) work permit is valid until mid 2015, then you're not eligible for the BOWP until mid 2014.
And yes, if by that time you have a approved LMO issued to your name, you don't qualify for the BOWP.
 

smurf_smurf

Newbie
Dec 6, 2013
4
0
iam_toby said:
First of all, you can only have one valid work permit. That means, whenever CIC issues a new work permit, the old one
becomes invalid!
So, if your current (VALID) work permit is valid until mid 2015, then you're not eligible for the BOWP until mid 2014.
And yes, if by that time you have a approved LMO issued to your name, you don't qualify for the BOWP.
Yes, I know about CIC requirement of less than 4 months WP expiry. Why are you saying mid 2014 then? Shouldn't be early 2015?