Extending current work permit

[LisaH]

Hello. Trying to decide on best course to take to stay in Canada.

I am a US citizen with a second extension expiring 4/21/19 on International Experience Class( working holiday young professional).

I am looking into best to stay permanently, but most importantly, keep my work permit valid as I have permanent employment since arrival 5/17- same employer.

I graduated from a 4 year university in US and hold a Bachelor Science degree in communications and a minor with honors.

I have a long term Canadian partner and we have lived together for past 12 months (as of Feb 1 2019).

Immigration attorneys quoting me $4,000.00 and up to assist in paperwork.

**which course has best probability of success?
**do any offer ability to extend my current work permit so I can keep my job while waiting to hear??
**do I need an attorney?

Thank you!

 

[canuck78]

You don't need a lawyer you can file for spousal sponsorship as a common law if you have proof that you have been living together and your partner wants to take on the responsibility of sponsoring you. You may end up with a gap between work permits. It would take around 4 months to get an OWP if you file for inland spousal sponsorship plus OWP. Your IEC is no longer extendable. You have to stop working when it ends and start when your new permit begins. You can also look into CEC.

 

[LisaH]

You don't need a lawyer you can file for spousal sponsorship as a common law if you have proof that you have been living together and your partner wants to take on the responsibility of sponsoring you. You may end up with a gap between work permits. It would take around 4 months to get an OWP if you file for inland spousal sponsorship plus OWP. Your IEC is no longer extendable. You have to stop working when it ends and start when your new permit begins. You can also look into CEC.

Thank you for the reply.
Do you think I would be better off chancing Express Entry so I can get a bridge work permit while applying?
I will lose my job if I cannot work unfortunately.

 

[canuck78]

You still can't bridge. There is no bridging with IEC.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Hello. Trying to decide on best course to take to stay in Canada.

I am a US citizen with a second extension expiring 4/21/19 on International Experience Class( working holiday young professional).

I am looking into best to stay permanently, but most importantly, keep my work permit valid as I have permanent employment since arrival 5/17- same employer.

I graduated from a 4 year university in US and hold a Bachelor Science degree in communications and a minor with honors.

I have a long term Canadian partner and we have lived together for past 12 months (as of Feb 1 2019).

Immigration attorneys quoting me $4,000.00 and up to assist in paperwork.

**which course has best probability of success?
**do any offer ability to extend my current work permit so I can keep my job while waiting to hear??
**do I need an attorney?

Thank you!

Hi

Is your job skilled? Have you actually checked your scores to see if you qualify for EE?

If you qualify for EE and get an ITA, you can submit your app and get AOR. Once you have AOR, you can apply for a BOWP. It takes about 3 months right now if you apply online. If you live near the Canada-US border, you could try flagpoling for it.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

You still can't bridge. There is no bridging with IEC.

OP can certainly apply for a BOWP as soon as they have AOR from an economic PR app.

There is no Implied Status when the current permit is IEC, so OP would have to stop working if the BOWP hasn't been approved prior to the IEC permit expiring.

 

[LisaH]

OP can certainly apply for a BOWP as soon as they have AOR from an economic PR app.

There is no Implied Status when the current permit is IEC, so OP would have to stop working if the BOWP hasn't been approved prior to the IEC permit expiring.

Thank you all for the replies.
The input is very appreciated.

 

[LisaH]

Hi

Is your job skilled? Have you actually checked your scores to see if you qualify for EE?

If you qualify for EE and get an ITA, you can submit your app and get AOR. Once you have AOR, you can apply for a BOWP. It takes about 3 months right now if you apply online. If you live near the Canada-US border, you could try flagpoling for it.

***Another question:
It looks like I am going to go CEC- I have 444 points.
Awaiting my ECA and taking my IELTS.

My IEC work permit expires April 19 2019.
If I extend my visitor visa in March, am I still eligible to apply for the BOWP (after getting ITA&AOR) if my work permit expires before receiving AOR?
My ECA is not going to arrive until late March from WES realistically, so I probably can't even submit for the pool until April 1 2019.

 

[scylla]

***Another question:
It looks like I am going to go CEC- I have 444 points.
Awaiting my ECA and taking my IELTS.

My IEC work permit expires April 19 2019.
If I extend my visitor visa in March, am I still eligible to apply for the BOWP (after getting ITA&AOR) if my work permit expires before receiving AOR?
My ECA is not going to arrive until late March from WES realistically, so I probably can't even submit for the pool until April 1 2019.

Your work permit needs to be valid at the time you apply for the BOWP. If your work permit is no longer valid and you are in Canada under visitor status, then applying for a BOWP won't be possible.

 

[LisaH]

Your work permit needs to be valid at the time you apply for the BOWP. If your work permit is no longer valid and you are in Canada under visitor status, then applying for a BOWP won't be possible.

Thank you for that information.
Can you give me a ballpark estimate of how long it takes to get a work permit through CEC after you apply with all information after ITA?

 

[PMM]

Hi

Thank you for that information.
Can you give me a ballpark estimate of how long it takes to get a work permit through CEC after you apply with all information after ITA?

1. You won't be eligible for a work permit.

 

[LisaH]

Hi



1. You won't be eligible for a work permit.

Sorry to sound dense! You mean you don't get a work permit through CEC until you get PR???

 

[scylla]

Sorry to sound dense! You mean you don't get a work permit through CEC until you get PR???

If you don't qualify for a BOWP, then you can't work until you have PR.

 

[LisaH]

If you don't qualify for a BOWP, then you can't work until you have PR.

Thanks again. Appreciate all the information!