How long does it takes to be Approved in Principle?

[DanMol]

Hi there!

I applied for PR under common law sponsorship. With that application I also sent a OWP application. As I applied after my IEC OWP expired I also had to send a restoration of status as a visitor (Yeah, 3 applications in progress right now). So I'm currently not working, just waiting for my OWP to go through, which was confirmed as received on Aug. 15.

I heard you need to be approved in principle through the PR application in order so they can move on with the OWP application and the 3 to 4 months processing starts.

My question is... How long does it takes to be Approved in Principle? Any estimated time? Anyone there who can share their experience.

Thanks in advance guys!!!

 

[Qwertypod]

AIP happens around the 10 month mark, your OWP should be approved then too, no need to wait another 4 months for OWP after that as you should get PR by the 12 month mark +a few weeks for interview. Once your PR is confirmed, the OWP is essentially useless.

 

[DanMol]

AIP happens around the 10 month mark, your OWP should be approved then too, no need to wait another 4 months for OWP after that as you should get PR by the 12 month mark +a few weeks for interview. Once your PR is confirmed, the OWP is essentially useless.

Oh wow, really? I was expecting to be able to work around December 2019... have my OWP approved by then. That's not gonna happen then?
There is no way they will try to process the OWP before the AIP? Do I have any options when it comes to work instead of waiting 10 months for the AIP?

Thanks for your reply!

 

[k.h.p.]

They will only process the OWP before AIP if you had status when you applied. Since you had to submit a restoration at the same time, I suppose it's up to the visa officer to determine in what order they're processed. Some people have been lucky.

 

[DanMol]

They will only process the OWP before AIP if you had status when you applied. Since you had to submit a restoration at the same time, I suppose it's up to the visa officer to determine in what order they're processed. Some people have been lucky.

Yeah! I actually applied before when I still had status, but the application was returned due to some missing docs. By the time I resent it, (The PR and OWP) it was after I had status (90 days grace period). A few days later I found out I needed the restoration, so Sep. 16th I applied for the restoration of status as a visitor (Because I couldn't restore as a worker as IEC working holiday are not extendable). Currently all 3 applications, PR, OWP and restoration have been confirmed received and I'm waiting for a response.

I just don't want / can't stay without work for 10 months... it's such a long time.

Considering my situation and considering the OWP was received in Aug. 15th. What are my chances of being approved this year still?

 

[BrasilCan]

Everyone timeline is different. We are June 2018 applicants and only received our AIP on the 1st of October...that's like 15 months. Some people received it after 8 months. It honestly varies, not to be the burden of bad news but prepare to wait.
On the other hand, it seems applicants of 2019 seem to have a quicker speed than we did.

 

[k.h.p.]

Yeah! I actually applied before when I still had status, but the application was returned due to some missing docs. By the time I resent it, (The PR and OWP) it was after I had status (90 days grace period). A few days later I found out I needed the restoration, so Sep. 16th I applied for the restoration of status as a visitor (Because I couldn't restore as a worker as IEC working holiday are not extendable). Currently all 3 applications, PR, OWP and restoration have been confirmed received and I'm waiting for a response.

I just don't want / can't stay without work for 10 months... it's such a long time.

Considering my situation and considering the OWP was received in Aug. 15th. What are my chances of being approved this year still?

Unfortunately, since your application was returned while you were out of status, you had no status and as such, it may only be processed when you have AIP.

Most people would apply for OWP and PR, and if they hadn't received AOR by a few days before their status expired, would apply online for a visitor extension just to stay in status until the OWP is decided. Since you didn't do that, it's really hard to say whether or not the visa officer will take pity and issue you an OWP. They may or may not.

 

[DanMol]

Okay!
Thank you very much for all your help.
I guess there is nothing to do but wait... and wait... and hope too.

It's going to be some hard long times...

Good luck everyone!

 

[NHLNFL]

I was I a similar situation in 2018. I fell out of status in november. I applied for restoration that same week.

December I sent in my PR application with an OWP app because I was told by an agent if I had already submitted restoration application, it would be seen in the system and all be smoothed out.

January 25, restoration approved before any decision on OWP #1.

I then submitted ANOTHER OWP (#2) application because I had status restored.

My SECOND OWP application was approved in 3 months BEFORE my OWP with my PR was even touched.

So if work is #1 priority then you could resubmit an OWP separate from the PR when you've regained status. You will then be in the 3-4 month processing time for OWPs with PR. But you have to pay another application.

So restoration --> OWP #2 submission = 5 months for me

 

[DanMol]

I was I a similar situation in 2018. I fell out of status in november. I applied for restoration that same week.

December I sent in my PR application with an OWP app because I was told by an agent if I had already submitted restoration application, it would be seen in the system and all be smoothed out.

January 25, restoration approved before any decision on OWP #1.

I then submitted ANOTHER OWP (#2) application because I had status restored.

My SECOND OWP application was approved in 3 months BEFORE my OWP with my PR was even touched.

So if work is #1 priority then you could resubmit an OWP separate from the PR when you've regained status. You will then be in the 3-4 month processing time for OWPs with PR. But you have to pay another application.

So restoration --> OWP #2 submission = 5 months for me

Sounds about right. But I can only apply for OWP under the PR app, because my previous work permit is not extendable (IEC Working Holiday Visa).

I just wish there is something I could do so I wouldn't wait over 6 months to start working again. I wish the government would offer a plan B or something. This is so frustrating! Everyone that I ask about the AIP say that they wait around 6 to 9 months... it's a incredible amount of time just so they can start working on the OWP... Basically like @Qwertypod said, by the time is being processed the PR will be pretty much done.

It such a frustrating situation!

 

[k.h.p.]

As a spouse of someone in Canada, who is being sponsored for PR by that spouse, you can apply for an OWP while you are in the process of applying for PR. You just have to be in status in order for it to be processed before AIP.

What @NHLNFL is saying is that they submitted a second OWP app after restoration that was dealt with before the first one was processed at AIP.

They just had to pay for a second application ($255.)

 

[DanMol]

As a spouse of someone in Canada, who is being sponsored for PR by that spouse, you can apply for an OWP while you are in the process of applying for PR. You just have to be in status in order for it to be processed before AIP.

What @NHLNFL is saying is that they submitted a second OWP app after restoration that was dealt with before the first one was processed at AIP.

They just had to pay for a second application ($255.)

I see. All I'm saying is that by what I know, I just could apply for the OWP with the PR, so they would see that what makes me eligible for the OWP is the PR. If I sent an OWP app apart it would just be seen as an empty app and it would be denied, correct?

But still, saying I can... that is another 2 or 1 and half months for the Restoration to be approved and then another 4 to 5 months for the OWP. It is still an incredible amount of time without being able to work.

 

[k.h.p.]

And that's why you need to triple check everything you submit with your PR.

Your mistake in not submitting required documents and not checking that you had included them is not an excuse to get permission to work when you don't have it, unfortunately. Sorry.

 

[DanMol]

And that's why you need to triple check everything you submit with your PR.

Your mistake in not submitting required documents and not checking that you had included them is not an excuse to get permission to work when you don't have it, unfortunately. Sorry.

What actually happened was that my fiancee, did not have some tax paper work by the time we sent the PR app. And that was before my visa was expired. In the website they said ''If you don't have this paper work send us a letter explaining why you don't have it.'' Which we did, very clear. Apparently that letter was completely ignored and the app was returned. And by then it was passed my visa expiration date.
So... so far we were doing everything by the book, very correct! They could easily have just email us requesting the letter which she had by a few months later.

I am not looking for an excuse here. I am looking for a solution to my current problem which I am living now because someone simply when reviewing the app didn't care or didn't see the letter.

And btw... I quadruple checked my PR and OWP applications.

Thanks for your help in the comments above!