Advice Regarding Which Method For Partner To Get Open Work Permit As Quickly As Possible

[brendan8808]

Hi All,

I am a Canadian citizen. My common-law partner is from Germany (referred to as her below). Thanks in advance to anyone who can help us!

Our goal is for her to move to Canada at the beginning of September 2019 and to start working as soon as possible through an open work permit. That gives us 6 months to figure out what the best path for us to follow is.

Facts for Applicant (To Make Answering Our Question Easier):

• German Citizen
• Needs an open work permit as soon as possible, but she does not want to work as a live in caregiver (we would like to move to Canada in 6 months)
• High school teacher with Master's degree from German University
• Common Law Relationship

As I see it right now, we have several options:

1. Apply for permanent residency using the inbound option
Pros: She will get an open work permit two months after entering the country
Cons: This method takes a very long time to complete and she will not be able to leave the country (potentially for 1-2 years!)

2. Apply for permanent residency using the outbound option:
Is 6 months enough time to complete the outbound option from Germany?
When would she be eligible to work?

3. Express skilled worker
I am not sure if she would qualify for this program. She is a high school teacher with a master's degree.

4. Temporary Work Permit, and then Figure out Permanent Residency Later
Pros: Temporary work permit might be faster, but I am not sure if she would qualify.

Please let me know which option you think would be best for us.

Thank you very much in advance to anyone who can help!

 

[scylla]

Hi All,

I am a Canadian citizen. My common-law partner is from Germany (referred to as her below). Thanks in advance to anyone who can help us!

Our goal is for her to move to Canada at the beginning of September 2019 and to start working as soon as possible through an open work permit. That gives us 6 months to figure out what the best path for us to follow is.

Facts for Applicant (To Make Answering Our Question Easier):

• German Citizen
• Needs an open work permit as soon as possible, but she does not want to work as a live in caregiver (we would like to move to Canada in 6 months)
• High school teacher with Master's degree from German University
• Common Law Relationship

As I see it right now, we have several options:

1. Apply for permanent residency using the inbound option
Pros: She will get an open work permit two months after entering the country
Cons: This method takes a very long time to complete and she will not be able to leave the country (potentially for 1-2 years!)

2. Apply for permanent residency using the outbound option:
Is 6 months enough time to complete the outbound option from Germany?
When would she be eligible to work?

3. Express skilled worker
I am not sure if she would qualify for this program. She is a high school teacher with a master's degree.

4. Temporary Work Permit, and then Figure out Permanent Residency Later
Pros: Temporary work permit might be faster, but I am not sure if she would qualify.

Please let me know which option you think would be best for us.

Thank you very much in advance to anyone who can help!

1. Wait time for the OWP is four months (not 2 months). Processing time is 1 year for most inland application. She can technically leave Canada but should keep her absences few and short since the inland process requires her to be cohabitating with you. Always some risk she may have issues re-entering Canada. Although given she is visa exempt, this will be close to nil for her.

2. This will take somewhere in the range of 6 months to a year. She won't qualify to work until the process is completed and she is officially a PR.

3. Express Entry depends on how many points she has (she needs 440 or more to be selected) and there's quite a bit of prep to do before she can apply (education assessment, language test, experience letters, etc.). The prep alone will likely take three months, then she would need to wait to be selected (assuming she has enough points), then wait for processing. You're likely in the ball park of 9+ months for this.

4. She needs a job offer and approved LMIA to qualify for a closed work permit. Chances of obtaining an LMIA for a teaching position are effectively zero (at this point she doesn't even meet the certification requirements to teach at a high school level in Canada). You haven't said how old she is. If she's the right age and there are still spaces available, recommend you research the IEC / Working Holiday Visa program.