problems with visa

[EnglishAbroad]

so ive been here almost 2 years now, a paid a rep in feb to help me sail through my visa application but hes been nothing short of useless! i found out recently im under the points total for residency 384 (fully qualified plumber in the uk) so we tried to get a provincial nomination but i have a score of 96 and the last 2 draws have been 97! the guy then tells me to apply for an extension on my work permit but i only have 26 days left on the permit and i have to apply online no less than 30 days before it runs out! has anyone got any helpful tips on what i can do so i dont end up leaving the country and being massively out of pocket? any help would be hugely appreciated!

Thanks

 

[scylla]

so ive been here almost 2 years now, a paid a rep in feb to help me sail through my visa application but hes been nothing short of useless! i found out recently im under the points total for residency 384 (fully qualified plumber in the uk) so we tried to get a provincial nomination but i have a score of 96 and the last 2 draws have been 97! the guy then tells me to apply for an extension on my work permit but i only have 26 days left on the permit and i have to apply online no less than 30 days before it runs out! has anyone got any helpful tips on what i can do so i dont end up leaving the country and being massively out of pocket? any help would be hugely appreciated!

Thanks

There is no rule saying that you have to apply no less than 30 days before. You can apply for the extension earlier.

Are you eligible to apply for an extension to your work permit? What kind of work permit do you hold now? Do you have an approved LMIA from your employer?

 

[EnglishAbroad]

There is no rule saying that you have to apply no less than 30 days before. You can apply for the extension earlier.

Are you eligible to apply for an extension to your work permit? What kind of work permit do you hold now? Do you have an approved LMIA from your employer?

my boss isnt lmia registered! thats been one of the main issues with it all as i havent wanted to leave the company where i work! what i meant by the 30 day thing was i needed to apply 30 days before my visa runs out, im now at 26 days until it expires

 

[scylla]

my boss isnt lmia registered! thats been one of the main issues with it all as i havent wanted to leave the company where i work! what i meant by the 30 day thing was i needed to apply 30 days before my visa runs out, im now at 26 days until it expires

There is no such thing as being "LMIA registered". Any employer can apply for an LMIA provided they are willing to go through the process.

If you don't have an LMIA, then you don't qualify for an extension based on the information you've provided. If you apply for one without qualifying, it will eventually be rejected and you'll end up in Canada without status. If you don't qualify for an extension, then you should apply to change your status to visitor if you want to remain in Canada longer. Of course you won't be able to work once your work permit expires - but you will be able to legally stay in Canada.

 

[scylla]

my boss isnt lmia registered! thats been one of the main issues with it all as i havent wanted to leave the company where i work! what i meant by the 30 day thing was i needed to apply 30 days before my visa runs out, im now at 26 days until it expires

You can apply for an extension at any time. There is no 30 day rule. The 30 days is a guideline only.

But again, you don't qualify for an extension based on all of the information you have provided so far.

 

[EnglishAbroad]

so without the points from the provincial nomination programme, im pretty screwed? once my permit is done does that mean my application for residency is cancelled?

 

[scylla]

so without the points from the provincial nomination programme, im pretty screwed? once my permit is done does that mean my application for residency is cancelled?

I can't comment on the provincial program. It depends which one you're applying under and what the rules are.

For Express Entry / FSW - your profile will remain active and you can still be selected for PR. However you are very short on points to be selected. You need in the range of 450-460 to be selected.

If you haven't done so already, you should look into the Federal Skilled Trades program - but only if you hold a certification in your trade that has been awarded by a Canadian province or at the federal level.

 

[canuck78]

Are you single? What kind of permit do you currently have? To provide help these answers would help

 

[EnglishAbroad]

Are you single? What kind of permit do you currently have? To provide help these answers would help

im single male aged 31 with a 2 year work permit

 

[jomz]

Could CEC be an option? I’m not fully versed in economic programs but I know someone who obtained their PR through the CEC program and it was actually fairly easy.

Maybe give this a try. But as Scylla mentioned you want to remain in legal status so changing from worker to visitor status is a must.

Good luck.

 

[scylla]

Could CEC be an option? I’m not fully versed in economic programs but I know someone who obtained their PR through the CEC program and it was actually fairly easy.

Maybe give this a try. But as Scylla mentioned you want to remain in legal status so changing from worker to visitor status is a must.

Good luck.

CEC is not an option. CEC operates under the same basic rules as FSW. You have to apply through Express Entry and currently need in the range of 450-460 CRS to be selected. OP has fewer than 400 points - so no chance of being selected.

 

[scylla]

im single male aged 31 with a 2 year work permit

I'm guessing you hold an IEC / working holiday visa. And since you are from the UK - you can only apply once.

 

[Bs65]

Think you maybe already know that you need to get an application to change your status to visitor before your assume IEC permit expires simply to remain legal in the country. Once you have submitted the application you can stay on pending a decision which might take a few months but of course once your work permit expires you have to stop working.

 

[EnglishAbroad]

ive been told to apply for an open work permit until i can get the extra point i need for my pnp

 

[scylla]

ive been told to apply for an open work permit until i can get the extra point i need for my pnp

On what basis are you applying for an open work permit? So far nothing indicates you qualify for one. You need to qualify for one to apply for one. If you apply for one and don't qualify, the application will eventually be refused / rejected. Once that happens, the work experience you gained after your original work permit expired will be classified as working without authorization and you won't be able to count it towards any Canadian immigration program (including PNP). At that point you will also be out of status in Canada.

So again, on what basis do you qualify for an open work permit?