ENTRY EXPRESS - FRANCOPHONE AND LETTER INTENTION LIVE OUTSIDE OF QUEBEC

[KamelBen514]

Hi everyone,


I recently received an ITA for permanent residence through Express Entry, Francophone CEC category, and I need advice regarding proof of my intention to live outside Quebec.


Here’s my situation:

• I studied in Quebec, currently work here, and have an apartment in my name.
• My Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) expires on February 26, 2026, and I have until February 16, 2026 to submit my PR application.
• I want to settle in Ontario (Mississauga / GTA) as soon as my PR is granted.

Actions I’ve already taken to show my intention to settle in Ontario:

1. Notarized Letter of Intent clearly stating I plan to live in Mississauga / GTA.
2. Active job search in Ontario: Job Bank, LinkedIn, recruiters since January 2024 (6 contacts saved).
3. Sent over 500 CVs for Ontario positions since receiving the ITA.
4. Visited Ontario multiple times to check neighborhoods, housing, and infrastructure.
5. In-person apartment visits in Ontario: Even though I currently live in Montreal, I spend periods in Ontario to look for apartments and explore the area.
6. 6-week plan on-site to search actively for jobs and get familiar with the area.
7. Canadian bank account opened in preparation for moving to Ontario.
8. Partial remote work possibility: my current employer could allow me to work from Ontario while attending the office 2x per week.
9. I plan not to renew my Montreal lease when it expires in July 2026.

My concerns / questions:

• I’m afraid to sign a lease immediately in Ontario, because I have no guarantee my PR will be approved — this is really the hardest part for me.
• Is all this sufficient to prove my genuine intention to live outside Quebec for the Francophone CEC category?
• Does staying temporarily employed by a Quebec-based company pose any problem for this category?
• My employer might help me get a Young Professional work permit (Experience category) — is it compatible with living in Ontario while continuing to attend the office 2x per week?
• Is it recommended to take a lease in Ontario now to strengthen my file, or are there other, less risky ways to prove my intention?
• Are there other concrete pieces of evidence I can quickly add to show that I truly intend to settle in Ontario?
• I’ve already completed everything in my PR application, but I’m thinking carefully about how best to submit — what do you think?

Thank you in advance for your advice, experiences, and support

 

[CanGoldDigger]

Being employed by a Quebec-based company is no issue in any case.

 

[canuck78]

Being employed by a Quebec-based company is no issue in any case.

I disagree it could be. This is not even a fully remote job or an employer that has offices outside Quebec that a person could transfer to. The GTA is very far from Quebec you can’t just commute there twice a week.

 

[canuck78]

Hi everyone,


I recently received an ITA for permanent residence through Express Entry, Francophone CEC category, and I need advice regarding proof of my intention to live outside Quebec.


Here’s my situation:

• I studied in Quebec, currently work here, and have an apartment in my name.
• My Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) expires on February 26, 2026, and I have until February 16, 2026 to submit my PR application.
• I want to settle in Ontario (Mississauga / GTA) as soon as my PR is granted.

Actions I’ve already taken to show my intention to settle in Ontario:

1. Notarized Letter of Intent clearly stating I plan to live in Mississauga / GTA.
2. Active job search in Ontario: Job Bank, LinkedIn, recruiters since January 2024 (6 contacts saved).
3. Sent over 500 CVs for Ontario positions since receiving the ITA.
4. Visited Ontario multiple times to check neighborhoods, housing, and infrastructure.
5. In-person apartment visits in Ontario: Even though I currently live in Montreal, I spend periods in Ontario to look for apartments and explore the area.
6. 6-week plan on-site to search actively for jobs and get familiar with the area.
7. Canadian bank account opened in preparation for moving to Ontario.
8. Partial remote work possibility: my current employer could allow me to work from Ontario while attending the office 2x per week.
9. I plan not to renew my Montreal lease when it expires in July 2026.

My concerns / questions:

• I’m afraid to sign a lease immediately in Ontario, because I have no guarantee my PR will be approved — this is really the hardest part for me.
• Is all this sufficient to prove my genuine intention to live outside Quebec for the Francophone CEC category?
• Does staying temporarily employed by a Quebec-based company pose any problem for this category?
• My employer might help me get a Young Professional work permit (Experience category) — is it compatible with living in Ontario while continuing to attend the office 2x per week?
• Is it recommended to take a lease in Ontario now to strengthen my file, or are there other, less risky ways to prove my intention?
• Are there other concrete pieces of evidence I can quickly add to show that I truly intend to settle in Ontario?
• I’ve already completed everything in my PR application, but I’m thinking carefully about how best to submit — what do you think?

Thank you in advance for your advice, experiences, and support

The proof you are listing isn’t any concrete proof of you relocating and commuting to Quebec from the GTA is not a realistic scenario. That also doesn’t sever your ties to Quebec and there would be nothing preventing you from returning to Quebec as soon as you secured PR if your job is there. Given that IRCC is vetting applications very carefully these days your best option is to actually settle and find work outside of Quebec during processing and then update your application with proof of establishment outside of Quebec (job, housing, IDs like drivers license and health card, etc).

 

[KamelBen514]

The proof you are listing isn’t any concrete proof of you relocating and commuting to Quebec from the GTA is not a realistic scenario. That also doesn’t sever your ties to Quebec and there would be nothing preventing you from returning to Quebec as soon as you secured PR if your job is there. Given that IRCC is vetting applications very carefully these days your best option is to actually settle and find work outside of Quebec during processing and then update your application with proof of establishment outside of Quebec (job, housing, IDs like drivers license and health card, etc).

Hi. Well maybe but my counsellor told me i have a very strong profile as i show application and interviews from a year ago.. also i visit appartment IN PERSON in the area, provide a letter from my landlord saying that i will cut my lease in quebec once i land as PR, i mean nobody can find a job and settle in another city or province within 2 weeks.. and more in christmas days so i am very lost here.. But the work can also provide me to work full remote if i ask so i will see or maybe i will also make a letter and resign from my job here in quebec as soon as i land in PR. But this is tricky because i think IRCC prefer to see a guy who work 2 days or 1 day a week in montreal by doing the commute or even sleep 1 day at airbnb than a guy who settle whitout a job.. thats crazy really! but anyway we will see what happened! Also i have dozen of interviews coming this month so... hopefully i will get a job.. if not i will submit my PR like this..

Thanks for your help guys

 

[canuck78]

Hi. Well maybe but my counsellor told me i have a very strong profile as i show application and interviews from a year ago.. also i visit appartment IN PERSON in the area, provide a letter from my landlord saying that i will cut my lease in quebec once i land as PR, i mean nobody can find a job and settle in another city or province within 2 weeks.. and more in christmas days so i am very lost here.. But the work can also provide me to work full remote if i ask so i will see or maybe i will also make a letter and resign from my job here in quebec as soon as i land in PR. But this is tricky because i think IRCC prefer to see a guy who work 2 days or 1 day a week in montreal by doing the commute or even sleep 1 day at airbnb than a guy who settle whitout a job.. thats crazy really! but anyway we will see what happened! Also i have dozen of interviews coming this month so... hopefully i will get a job.. if not i will submit my PR like this..

Thanks for your help guys

The big issue with your plan is that you are only committing to leave Quebec once you have PR. In that case you could just remain in Quebec. IRCC are much more strict when it comes to applications then they were just a year ago although it is still up to the discretion of the VO processing your application. Not sure what you mean by only having 2 weeks to relocate to Ontario. You haven’t even submitted your application. You have time to relocate to Ontario during processing period and update IRCC when you moved. You are choosing to go through an immigration program for the rest of Canada versus Quebec where you are currently settled so IRCC and Quebec want to ensure you will leave Quebec and settle elsewhere.

 

[KamelBen514]

The big issue with your plan is that you are only committing to leave Quebec once you have PR. In that case you could just remain in Quebec. IRCC are much more strict when it comes to applications then they were just a year ago although it is still up to the discretion of the VO processing your application. Not sure what you mean by only having 2 weeks to relocate to Ontario. You haven’t even submitted your application. You have time to relocate to Ontario during processing period and update IRCC when you moved.

Yes of course ive been in quebec since im in canada.. studied here and all.. so yes i got it! sorry i meant 60 days.. i mean theorically it seems easy but i got invited 1 week ago.. i was not expecting at all.. so 60 days to leave your appartment here, work, find new appartment and new job in a new province seems not easy to do.. but yes its more strict now.. i will see.. Already prepared the documents saying i can and i will finish my lease when i find something or i land as PR, work remote till i found new job in ontario, i will commute 1 day or even 0 depending on my manager. I have like 200 applications sent and interviews that i done and i am doing more so.. adding to that my visits in the area of GTA IN PERSON. So it shows my real intention.. i even delete my profile on ARRIMA that i had before for the PTSQ in quebec.. so i mean it will depend on the agent.. i hope he will be good lol!

So your advice are literally move to ontario ASAP ? like rent a air bnb or a real lease ? like 6 months or 12 months lease right now?
I mean its an option, usually the thing that stop you to move asap is the job but i already have it and i am able to work remotely so..i might land in ontario whitin 2 weeks ..

Give me advice if you have that would be helpful.. i mean if you already submit a PR and you had to show your intention to live out of quebec.. did you?