Hello,

I have had a interview and awaiting further talks with a company in Canada. In the mean time whilst I am in the UK should I be applying for a PR in preparation for the hopeful move? Will this speed up the process once "landed" in Canada?

Also I have been living with my longterm girlfriend for over a year. Am I correct that I would be able to sponser her if we were to go and I was initially working as TWP?

Thanks

I don't think you can apply for PR at the moment as applications are on hold while they 'improve' the system, so you would have to wait. To be honest, I would wait until you actually get here and start working anyway, see if you like it. There is information on the wiki about what you can/can't do, spousal stuff etc.

Can you apply now? Most people aren't eligible without an approved job offer (i.e. you'd need a LMO or AEO) anyway.

But if you can, then yes, you could do, although it won't speed anything up.

And no need to sponsor your gf, as you've been living together for a year or more she would be deemed your common-law spouse in CIC's eyes, so would just go on your visa application (i.e. if you apply for PR, she'd get PR too, if you apply for a TWP, she would be able to accompany you).

HTH.

Must be a PR or citizen of Canada to sponsor. What route are you looking at to get PR? In your case Id be looking at several years before you get your PR finalized. If you did get an IEC work permit or managed to secure an LMO/TWP then your gf could accompany you and possibly get an open work permit.
Have you looked at the AINP route?
http://www.albertacanada.com/immigra...-criteria.aspx

There are over 50 routes to get PR status most of which we can already discount as you have indicated Alberta as a destination. The main FSW is on hold at the moment and the new regime is expected to kick in on 4 May.
There is also a FSW Trade stream now open
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/departm...2013-01-02.asp