TomScott50

Hi everyone, was doing some reading and I read somewhere in the last few days that if you apply online for a work permit, then you aren't then able to apply at the border? Is this correct, as if so then I'm wondering if it would be best if I wait for a couple of weeks and see if they lift the restrictions at the start of July rather than applying online. As if I apply online then I could get stuck waiting for anywhere from 8 - 18 weeks, depending on who you ask! Or could there be an exception due to covid?

Any thoughts would be most appreciated!

Former Lancastrian

I am not aware of any legal or policy that stops a UK citizen from doing both provided that meet the conditions to be able to apply for a work permit at a POE. As for asking about time frames who knows until they are announced. Also there are restrictions on who can enter Canada.

rivingtonpike

Do you already have your work permit in place?

TomScott50

ah, so this may be good news... see below, but I've been approved for PNP, so trying to work out the best way and don't want to get trapped waiting for online approval 18 weeks was a figure that the NL office of multiculturalism thought was the waiting time for online applications at the moment!

Not yet, I've been approved for PNP and they've said that my next step is to apply for a work permit, I spent the weekend getting all my bits together and now just waiting for my new employer to send me his offer of employment number/letter for LMIA exemption.

Former Lancastrian

Just based on this then at the moment you could not apply at a POE.

TomScott50

Ah OK, so am I misunderstanding the 'normal' (pre covid) way then? I thought that ordinarily, after PNP nomination and collecting information for the work permit, you would fly into Canada and get your work permit at the PoE?

Former Lancastrian

Correct but at the moment do you have the Nomination Letter and offer of employment number for LMIA exemption.

TomScott50

Ah good, I thought that I had it correct. Of course Covid has had an effect on the whole process, so things clearly aren't normal at the moment. I accepted the job just before Christmas, and got my application in during January, so its taken a while to get to this point. I do have the nomination letter now though, and am just waiting for my new employer to go through his process to get the offer of employment letter. I only had the nomination letter at the end of last week to be fair, so the offer letter shouldn't be too far away either now with any luck

Siouxie

You can't get your biometrics done on arrival if you apply online - you would have to get them done in the UK.. perhaps that's what was meant?

TomScott50

Ah, perhaps that was what was meant. So I will be need to be a bit aware of that then, especially if the VAC in London stays closed. I could end up with an online application that I can't biometrics for and wouldn't be able to get them at the border? I would hope that allowances could be made given the current situation, but things are so uncertain at the moment...

Siouxie

Remembered this... (I posted it in your other thread) - it's about the current situation......
https://www.cic.gc.ca/english/inform...biometrics.asp

Former Lancastrian

OP unfortunately for you and this also applies to others in the same situation. IRCC (CIC) and CBSA at a POE are giving you 2 x choices. If you start the application via the VAC office you have to remain with that choice. If you choose to go the route of applying at the POE and eligible once you have all the required documentation needed then you can do that. You cannot mix and match the 2 x choices. Even without COVID 19 you still would have these 2 x choices. You now have a choice to make.

TomScott50

Apologies for the late reply, the notification of reply emails were going into my spam folder so I missed these two replys.

Reading through that link I also spotted this "You don’t have to give your biometrics until the biometrics collection site closest to you reopens. Once your local biometrics collection site reopens, make an appointment to give your biometrics as soon as possible." So if I'm reading that correctly if I can get a work permit, it doesn't matter about the biometrics at the moment, and I can do them once they reopen. Although the nearest centre might be quite a trek from where I'm going to be working... I'm going to be in Forteau in Labrador and the nearest place will be St Johns NL by the looks of things... a ferry ride and about a 12 hour drive!

OK, thanks for this information, I figured that this might be the case. As it happens I've been delayed somewhat anyway, my new employer has been having trouble logging onto the immigration website to get the offer of employment letter. He's also been struggling as it's now their busy season and he's waiting for two of us to get our work permits and stuff sorted, it's a pickup truck dealership and I'm one of the mechanics. This may work out in my favour anyway, as from what I've been reading they will be looking at the immigration and whether they start relaxing some restrictions in the coming weeks so I might be able to just fly there and get my work permit at the border... fingers crossed anyway! I feel that may well be the better option than getting stuck applying at the VAC or the High Commission and having to wait for them to approve the WP.

Siouxie

Applying via the VAC (which has to be sent away by them for final approval / printing anyway I believe) or online/by paper application to Immigration and Citizenship Canada can take weeks or even months before you will get the work permit - potentially even longer with the backlog they will have. If you qualify to apply at the Port of Entry I would strongly suggest you do so.

If you apply at the Port of Entry you will need to give your biometrics on arrival, as I read it... as far as I am aware you aren't able to enter Canada without having done so. if you are required to submit biometric information or have it done as you arrive in Canada (as opposed to a week or more later) - as they need to check your fingerprints etc., on arrival to ensure you are the same person who received approval to be here.. see this page..

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration...in-canada.html

TomScott50

Ah OK, that makes sense, it's certainly not easy this - lots of information all over the place and it's easy to miss or misunderstand something... especially with all the new covid rules muddying the water too

Definitely want to apply at the PoE if possible then - has anyone heard any news on reopening the border services? Last I read the restrictions were going to be looked at around the end of June, but I can't see anything now, but I'm probably googling the wrong things...