What paper needed for applying for workpermit at the port of entry??

[Flo85]

Hello everyone,

I have some problems with finding out what I actually need to get a workpermit.

I've been in Canada for one year with a work and travel visa since end of August 2012 and am currently back in Germany.
Now I want to write my masterthesis in Canada what is actually just work because I'm studying in a German university.
I already found a position to work and can get the contract, my boss already applied for the LMO and I will get a criminal record asap. I was talking to an Immigration officer who told me that I can just enter Canada with these papers and apply right at the port of entry for a workpermit. He said that should be no problem since I want to start working in November 2012 and I will get my LMO right before I could fly in.
My question is now, what paperwork do I need as well that I don't get problems at the port of entry?

I'm asking because I found somewhere the form IMM1295 what I might need when I want to apply for a workpermit from outside of Canada. But I was being told that I could just fly in with my contract, the LMO, enough funds and have to be a German citizen and apply at the port of entry.

Thank you very much in advance and your help is very much appreciated.

Florian

 

[computergeek]

You need the LMO (or at least the number from it), two pictures, the work permit outside canada (you will have to use the new one that generates a barcode, not the old one you referenced), your job offer letter, evidence you are qualified for the job, your passport and the $150 fee (can be paid by credit card). It generally takes about 20 minutes for them to process it (plus queue time).

Good luck!

 

[Flo85]

@coputergeek: thank you very much for your help. I still have some questions where you hopefully can help me with.

Regarding to the "work permit outside canada" I need to apply from outside first?
I found on this website that there are 3 options to apply for a workpermit. Outside of Canada, inside of Canada and 'as you enter Canada'.
www(dot)cic.gc.ca/english/work/apply-who-eligible(dot)asp
So do I need this beforehand when I actually want to apply when I enter Canada?
And because I want to start working in the begin of November and my boss just applied for the LMO, do I get a time problem since the application for the "work permit outside Canada" takes also some weeks?
I'm confused with that because the Immigration officer didn't say anything about this what would probably screw my plan over to fly to Canada in November.

Thanks again for all your help

Florian

 

[computergeek]

Regarding to the "work permit outside canada" I need to apply from outside first?

When you apply at a port of entry, you are applying from outside Canada. You CAN apply via a visa office, but if you wish to do so at a port of entry it is still treated as an "outside Canada" application.

I found on this website that there are 3 options to apply for a workpermit. Outside of Canada, inside of Canada and 'as you enter Canada'.

Right, you're doing it "as you enter Canada": http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/work.asp. The new form is the IMM 1295 (I thought that was the old number earlier, but it's not, it's the new number.)

So do I need this beforehand when I actually want to apply when I enter Canada?

Yes, have it all filled out and ready to hand to the CBSA officer at secondary inspection (the primary officer will send you to a different area to process your work permit paperwork.)

And because I want to start working in the begin of November and my boss just applied for the LMO, do I get a time problem since the application for the "work permit outside Canada" takes also some weeks?

As long as you have the LMO (and other paperwork) and are from a visa-exempt country, you can pick up your work permit at the port of entry. But you do need to have the LMO (or at least the LMO number, which allows CBSA to look up your LMO in the computer and confirm that you are allowed to work in Canada.)

Hopefully this helps clarify things. I have done this before, so I am familiar with it - it's really ALL about having the proper paperwork. CBSA does this sort of thing all the time.

Good luck!

 

[Flo85]

@computergeek: wow man, thank you very much for your quick help always. If I understood everything right you really made my day computergeek but let me summarize this and ask you (hopefully) a last question.

Everything what your wrote about the IMM1295 and to apply at the port of entry is, that I need to fill it out and hand it to at the airport to the CBSA officer right. And that means that I don't have to send this form IMM1295 beforehand to the Canadian embassy in Vienna right?
If I'm right up to this point I need to wait for the LMO, fill out this IMM1295 to give it to the officer when I enter Canada.

I just need to be sure because I want to book the flights then

I need...
- job offer letter
- evidence that I am qualified (my studysubject since I want to write my master thesis)
- my passport
- $150 fee
- two pictures
- LMO
- and (what always confused me) the form IMM1295 what I can print on my own, fill everything out on my own and don't have to submit to the Canadian embassy in Vienna.
Did I understand that right? If yes I'm more than happy.

Thank you so much for your help.

Kind regards

Florian

 

[computergeek]

Yes, that's how applying at the border works. CBSA does this all the time, so as long as you have the paperwork, you'll walk out with a work permit.

 

[Flo85]

Wow computergeek. Thank you very much. You really made my day and I'm really happy.
That is so good to know that I don't have to submit this form to the Canadian embassy because that would have meant that I have to wait another month.
In general, is that a problem if the contract says that is Co-op work contract?
How long does it take to get a (positive) answer for the LMO? I heared there might be an express way?

I don't know how to thank you computergeek.

Thanks you

Florian

 

[oliviarene]

I stumbled across this post and was actually having the same questions myself! If I may ask one, are there certain port of entries that you cannot have the visa processed at? I am from the U.S and the border I would typically go though is fairly small and I am uncertain if they have the capability to process the visas there. With that being said, would a person have to go through a port of entry that has an actual Immigration Office there?

I am glad that I found this..it definitely helped answer a few of my questions!

 

[computergeek]

Here is the CBSA list of POEs that offer immigration services: http://cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/contact/listing/indexpages/indextype38-e.html

Any of these can process your work permit application.

 

[oliviarene]

Awesome that is what I figured. So just so I am clear as well, if all of this paperwork has been filled out you do not have to send the papers to a visa office?
Do LMOs have a certain entry date on them? Would we have to change the date? since I think now I will just take all of my papers to the port of entry rather than sending them away...

 

[computergeek]

Awesome that is what I figured. So just so I am clear as well, if all of this paperwork has been filled out you do not have to send the papers to a visa office?
Do LMOs have a certain entry date on them? Would we have to change the date? since I think now I will just take all of my papers to the port of entry rather than sending them away...

I've never seen an LMO with an entry date, but they do come with expiration dates.

You can process it at a POE (US citizens have broader rights to show up at a POE and apply for things than any other foreign national, in fact.)

 

[oliviarene]

Ok! For some reason I thought that there were set days after everything had been approved that the applicant was able to enter Canada.

What do you mean when you say that "U.S citizens have a broader rights to show up at a POE and apply for things?"

 

[computergeek]

Ok! For some reason I thought that there were set days after everything had been approved that the applicant was able to enter Canada.

Not generally, but your personal experience may vary.

What do you mean when you say that "U.S citizens have a broader rights to show up at a POE and apply for things?"

When reading through the CIC website and the manuals US citizens are called out a number of times as being able to do things at the border that nobody else is permitted to do. It's just a bit more relaxed (even if it doesn't FEEL like it sometimes).

 

[oliviarene]

Awesome! Thank you so so much!

 

[job_seeker]

You may need medicals (you're coming in as a nanny, aren't you?) So on top of the LMO, you also need to have medicals from a qualified DMP.

Awesome! Thank you so so much!