Options for OB application after step 1 approval once in Canada

[pocketfullofcheese]

Hello again!

Situation:
- Sponsoring my wife (Mexican)
- applied OB from Mexico while still living there
- have since moved to Canada. She is here on a tourist visa she had from previously
- just received Step 1 approval
- processing times for Mexico office were recently revised from 8 months... now up to 17 months!!

Our original plan was just to apply for an extension of her visitor visa. I figured 8 months was doable to wait for the Step 2 approval and then she could work. But 17 months is a long time to be on a single salary in Vancouver....

SO. What are our options? I read elsewhere in this forum that Open Work permits are only available to those that apply inbound. But now that we are both in Canada, is it possible? I cannot find good documentation on the CIC Website.

Thanks.

 

[Ponga]

Hello again!

Situation:
- Sponsoring my wife (Mexican)
- applied OB from Mexico while still living there
- have since moved to Canada. She is here on a tourist visa she had from previously
- just received Step 1 approval
- processing times for Mexico office were recently revised from 8 months... now up to 17 months!!

Our original plan was just to apply for an extension of her visitor visa. I figured 8 months was doable to wait for the Step 2 approval and then she could work. But 17 months is a long time to be on a single salary in Vancouver....

SO. What are our options? I read elsewhere in this forum that Open Work permits are only available to those that apply inbound. But now that we are both in Canada, is it possible? I cannot find good documentation on the CIC Website.

Thanks.

Hi,

What is OB? Is that `outbound' (meaning Outland application)?

If it is, and you're saying that it could be 17 months before she has stage 2 approval...you could withdraw that application and submit an Inland application, with an OWP, but...it could be close to that for AIP with an Inland application.

Tough call, but you might be better waiting it out, unless you want the implied status that an Inland application (WITH THE OWP) would give her. Either way, she probably won't be working in 2015.

 

[scylla]

SO. What are our options? I read elsewhere in this forum that Open Work permits are only available to those that apply inbound. But now that we are both in Canada, is it possible? I cannot find good documentation on the CIC Website.

The fact you are both in Canada doesn't change the fact that you have filed an outland application.

Since you have filed an outland application so your wife doesn't qualify for an OWP. If you want her to have an OWP, you'll have to withdraw your application and file a new inland application from scratch - then wait for first stage processing to be completed. Given first stage processing is currently taking 13 months to complete for inland applications, you're looking at December 2015 or early 2016 before she would be able to work. Alternatively your wife can just wait for the outland application to be completed (i.e wait without working). If she really wants to work before the outland application is completed, she'll need to find an employer who is willing to offer her a full time job. That employer will then have to apply for an LMIA. If the LMIA is approved your wife will then be able to apply for a closed work permit.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

- processing times for Mexico office were recently revised from 8 months... now up to 17 months!!

Hi

Understand that the posted processing times are not averages. They are how long it took an office to process 80% of apps, which means that 79% were processed faster than that. For Mexico, 50% of apps are done within 11 months.

Given how long it will take to withdraw the current app and then complete and submit an inland app, along with the current 13 month wait for first stage (which has been only increasing for awhile now), there really is no point.

It's best to just sit tight with your current app.

 

[Kayaker]

agree with canuck_in_uk - your wife will probably start working sooner if you just wait it out.

If you withdraw and apply again, some of your documents have to be redone, and your police certificate might have expired, etc., plus the 13+ months wait time (which may increase even more) and you'd have to pay some fees again - doesn't make it worthwhile to submit a new Inland application.

Good luck and patience!

 

[pocketfullofcheese]

Sorry for the long delay in writing back. Just wanted to say thanks to everyone for the responses. Sounds like waiting it out is our best bet.