Bridging Visa for out of Canada spousal

[stoker]

Hey guys,

I am a Brit currently putting together my out of Canada spousal sponsorship application (still living in BC though) and wondering about bridging Visa's. I am currently about a month away from the end of my final IEC open working holiday VISA and would like to be able to stay for the rest of the summer (at least) working.

When I started looking into this I was told (by a lawyer) that there was no bridging VISA available if I was going down the out of canada route, he then emailed me back, about a 2 months ago, informing me this has changed-but wouldn't give any more details without me crossing his palm with more silver.

I have been having a google and trawl on here, but to no avail. Anyone got any info on this one?

Thanks, Rob

 

[zardoz]

Outland applications have no eligibility for any form of pre-PR work permit. When your IEC ends, that's it, unless you can obtain a normal temporary foreign worker work permit to replace it.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Stay far away from this lawyer.

 

[zardoz]

Stay far away from this lawyer.

100% agreed. I smell a scam.

 

[stoker]

Well bugger,

I just looked up the email that he send informing of this change, this is what he sent mid March this year,

"I hope you’re well. There has been a significant policy change in the regulations that could benefit you if you have decided to do the Spousal Sponsorship route.

What application have you decided to proceed with? What have you completed so far?

Please call me when you’re free. (get ready for my up-sell pitch!)''

I called and this is when he told me about the Bridging VISA being potentially available for out of Canada applications, as long as I submitted my application before my current IEC Visa is up.

I am wondering if I got it mixed up with the In Canada application, but I doubt it as the bridging VISA has been available on the in Canada for quite some time.

 

[zardoz]

Really don't have anything else to add. I have no idea what he's talking about. As far as I am aware there is no such animal...
Even if you had applied "inland", it is generally understood that you can't claim "implied status" on an expiring IEC anyway. An open work permit would not be available until the first stage of an inland application was completed.

 

[Ponga]

Here's a prime example of someone that has applied Inland and has been told by his lawyer that he CAN bridge IEC with an OWP:
http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/-t153162.0.html

The majority of members there think that he's been given some bad advice as well.

 

[Rob_TO]

I called and this is when he told me about the Bridging VISA being potentially available for out of Canada applications, as long as I submitted my application before my current IEC Visa is up.

There is no implied status with an outland app, whatsoever. If this lawyer is indicating to you bridging an IEC with an OUTLAND app is possible, then to put it simply he's a complete idiot and you should not be dealing with him.

Since IEC visas are not extendable, even an inland application does not help to bridge it after it expires.

Funny enough I was watching the Border Security tv show the other day, and there was a traveler returning to Canada from a trip to the USA. CBSA questioned him about his expired IEC, and he said he had a request for visa extension in process so was working under "implied" status in the meantime. CBSA though said no, since IEC is not extendable then implied status doesn't apply, he was working illegally, and his employer or whoever he got the info from on implied status was wrong. So he was told to leave the country asap.

 

[zardoz]

There is no implied status with an outland app, whatsoever. If this lawyer is indicating to you bridging an IEC with an OUTLAND app is possible, then to put it simply he's a complete idiot and you should not be dealing with him.

Since IEC visas are not extendable, even an inland application does not help to bridge it after it expires.

Funny enough I was watching the Border Security tv show the other day, and there was a traveler returning to Canada from a trip to the USA. CBSA questioned him about his expired IEC, and he said he had a request for visa extension in process so was working under "implied" status in the meantime. CBSA though said no, since IEC is not extendable then implied status doesn't apply, he was working illegally, and his employer or whoever he got the info from on implied status was wrong. So he was told to leave the country asap.

I've been trying to find that specific episode. Can you tell me which season/episode it was?

 

[scylla]

I called and this is when he told me about the Bridging VISA being potentially available for out of Canada applications, as long as I submitted my application before my current IEC Visa is up.

He has no idea what he's doing. You should run in the opposite directions. The Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) is a very specific open work permit that is not available to those being sponsored through family class - either inland or outland. It is only available to those who have applied through the Federal Skilled Worker program, Canadian Experience Class or one of the Provincial programs AND have received confirmation their application has been received AND have a valid work permit that is expiring in four months or less.

The fact he thinks the BOWP can be applied to a family class application means he has no clue what he is doing and doesn't understand the basics of Canadian immigration.

 

[stoker]

Thanks for the info, even though I am not very happy to hear it.

 

[Rob_TO]

I've been trying to find that specific episode. Can you tell me which season/episode it was?

They were just airing random episodes, so unfortunately I don't know what the season or episode # was. I'm not sure where to watch this show online, so if you had a link I can do a quick search to pinpoint that particular episode.