Traveling abroad while waiting for PR while skilled work visa is still active

[Voevoe]

Hi dear Community.

I tried to call CIC but due to Covid19 could reach anybody on the phone.

Our situation:
My husband and I are in Canada on a skilled work visa (LMIA) that is valid until January next year.

We just got invited to apply for express entry PR.

What if we start the process now, I have heard you should not leave Canada until you get the PR card, is that true?

But as we have our LMIA visa still active until January, does that allow us to go traveling outside of Canada, to visit let's say our families outside of Canada for Christmas and come back to Canada on our LMIA visa before the visa expires in January?

Thanks a lot in advance for clearing that up for us, I couldn't seem to find any reliable information yet on this scenario.

 

[thevisawhisperer]

What if we start the process now, I have heard you should not leave Canada until you get the PR card, is that true?
Generally speaking, no. You are not a prisoner in Canada. You need to be careful not to invalidate your work permit. Although work permits cannot be cancelled, CBSA could decide, when you re-enter Canada, that you are no longer fulfilling the terms of the LMIA and cancel (even though they can't, they do whatever they want) your work permit.
If you come back to Canada just before your work permit expires, you will be asked what you plan to do after it expires. You will need to have status in Canada. Having a PR application in process is NOT status.
Once you apply for Express Entry you should use your AoR to apply for BOWP for both of you (if the PA is in a NOC B or higher job).