Common law PR - Looking for the Open Work Permit Application

[badrobot]

Hi All,

We are in the middle of a common-law PR application and want to submit an open work permit application. We however cannot find the forms and checklist for this application anywhere on CIC's website If anyone could pass along the forms they used it would be much appreciated.

 

[Rob_TO]

If you applied INLAND, then you should have submitted OWP app along with your initial PR application. If you didn't, then you can submit OWP app now using this form: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/tools/updates/2014/2014-12-22.asp

If you haven't yet applied and applicant is visa-exempt, then an OUTLAND application is usually recommended for quickest possible time to get PR approved, although there is no OWP associated with outland.

 

[badrobot]

We are applying inland because of the PR; we have not submitted anything yet so we are still putting it all together.

Second Question: are the processing fees $155 or $255? I have seen that as of Feb 21, 2015 there is a fee of $100 but I cannot tell if this is in addition to the original $155 or instead of the original cost?

Thanks for your help so far!

 

[Rob_TO]

We are applying inland because of the PR; we have not submitted anything yet so we are still putting it all together.

Do you mean because of the OWP? If so, just know it may take longer than 4 months to get OWP, and total inland process to get PR status will be over 2 years.

Outland apps can get full PR status in less than 1 year.

 

[Ponga]

We are applying inland because of the PR; we have not submitted anything yet so we are still putting it all together.

Second Question: are the processing fees $155 or $255? I have seen that as of Feb 21, 2015 there is a fee of $100 but I cannot tell if this is in addition to the original $155 or instead of the original cost?

Thanks for your help so far!

I believe that the `extra' $100 is some sort of convenience fee that CIC is now tacking onto the OWP fee, so...$255 is the new combined fee.

 

[badrobot]

Yes we are doing the inland for the OWP. The applicant currently has a work permit and thus can continue to work under implied status until the OWP shows up. The applicant is from the Netherlands so we are looking at outland application times in the range of 25 months and we don't want to be apart for that long.

 

[Rob_TO]

Yes we are doing the inland for the OWP. The applicant currently has a work permit and thus can continue to work under implied status until the OWP shows up. The applicant is from the Netherlands so we are looking at outland application times in the range of 25 months and we don't want to be apart for that long.

Note that if applicant is currently on IEC/Working Holiday permit, those are non-extendable so do not benefit from implied status, and need to stop working when it expires no matter if PR/OWP app is in process or not.

And I have no clue where you are getting 25 months from. Netherland citizens are processed in Vienna which is showing 17 months, but that is not average time it's a worst case time, and in reality PR would most likely be approved in 1 year or less. And if app is processed at CPC-Ottawa which may also happen, those times could be even quicker.

 

[Ponga]

Note that if applicant is currently on IEC/Working Holiday permit, those are non-extendable so do not benefit from implied status, and need to stop working when it expires no matter if PR/OWP app is in process or not.

But we both know of at least one person recently that managed to get away with this, since he was issued an OWP under the pilot program while continuing to work after his IEC permit expired.

Remember him?

 

[Rob_TO]

But we both know of at least one person recently that managed to get away with this, since he was issued an OWP under the pilot program while continuing to work after his IEC permit expired.

Remember him?

That's because in most cases CIC doesn't actually check or enforce the rule around working on expired IEC. Many people are not caught working on expired IEC/working holiday visas under assumed implied status, while just a few are caught.

The fact that most people get away with it, doesn't mean it's allowed. If you are one of the unlucky ones caught doing it, the you will face some pretty rough consequences in terms of huge delays to the PR app.

 

[beans on toast]

I hadn't noticed the additional $100 fee for the OWP with the Common-Law Sponsorship package before i submitted my full application last week. Damn you CIC!
Does anyone have any suggestion as to how i can pay this and submit it to them, as i dont want them to return my package in 4 months and find my time wasted (classic CIC)?