Holiday Visa to Permanent Residence?

[HarryF]

Hello all,

I sent off my Permanent Residence application 2 months, 3 weeks, 3 days and 5 hours ago and I'm heading to Vancouver with my partner on May 17th 2016.

1. Since the latest I hear back about my PR application is July 10th (the 6 month mark), is it acceptable for me to go to Vancouver on a Holiday visa and then switch to progressing with Permanent Residence?

My partner wants to do the same thing with his Provincial Nominee route; in that no one wants to offer him a job (in hospitality) unless it is face to face.

We're staying with family over there as I suppose we can't even get an apartment over there if we only have a holiday visa. Worst case scenario I get my PR rejected and we head back to England, although I did the most air-tight PR application I possibly could (including a google maps image showing two previous addresses either side of the swiss-french border and uploading my ECA report even though they didn't ask for it, which turns out is apparently a reason for rejection).

2. My second question is, is there any other program I can apply for? I was surprised to find out I'm not actually eligible for Working Holiday visa.

3. There's a real chance University of British Columbia will offer me a job in the next week or so, starting as soon as I arrive; except I never explicitly stated that I had my PR sorted. Would it be too much work for them to help me get a work permit?

I am 30, UK passport and work at university.

Cheers guys

 

[ozlis]

Couple of things here:

1. The 6 months is when they aim to have most applications processed. It is not a guarantee. Yes, you can be on a tourist visa while you wait for PR to be processed but I would have a plan to convince the border agents that you won't work in this time.

People would probably be reluctant to rent without you having an income. Might get lucky?

2. From what I can tell, you are good for the IEC working holiday - why did you think you weren't eligible? This gives you a 2 year open permit.

3. I would doubt they can help you with a work permit as they would need to redo all of the advertising to meet the requirements. It can take upwards of three months. I would be upfront sooner than later about your visa status or risk burning some bridges there.

 

[scylla]

3. There's a real chance University of British Columbia will offer me a job in the next week or so, starting as soon as I arrive; except I never explicitly stated that I had my PR sorted. Would it be too much work for them to help me get a work permit?

I would correct this as soon as humanly possible and clarify your status with them. Misrepresenting your status is a great way to burn bridges with potential future employers.

 

[HarryF]

I've informed them and it's a conditional offer (if I get PR) which is good.

Okay so which is the less risky answer?

"I am here on holiday".

"I am here on holiday unless I finally get my PR approved."

On the one hand I don't want to give them reason to be skeptical of me and on the other I don't want to risk being accused of not disclosing important information.

 

[scylla]

I've informed them and it's a conditional offer (if I get PR) which is good.

Okay so which is the less risky answer?

"I am here on holiday".

"I am here on holiday unless I finally get my PR approved."

On the one hand I don't want to give them reason to be skeptical of me and on the other I don't want to risk being accused of not disclosing important information.

As somone who has been in your employer's seat and on the receiving end of candidates lying to me about their status in Canada - my only recommendation is to be 100% honest and transparent. Large companies/organizations keep databases of candidates who have applied to open positions. Pulling stunts like not being fully transparent about your status in Canada up front (i.e. at the start of the very first interview) can get you blacklisted in these databases impacting future opportunities. Honest = "I am not authorized to work in Canada at this time. I have applied for permanent residency. Should the processing of my permanent residency go as expected, I believe I should have PR status by [insert month and year]. Alternatively, if you would like me to start with you sooner, I would have to obtain a work permit as a foreign worker. To obtain a work permit, I would need the following support from you as my employer..."

 

[HarryF]

I've informed my potential employer of this so we're on the exact same page regarding my situation. Cheers