Posidrive

I have the opportunity to start working in Calgary on a temporary work permit with a view to immediately applying for PR once I get there. Some issues with my employer mean that it does not make sense to sell up and bring the family across untill we have PR for us all. Can I make the application for the entire family from within Canada, or would they all have to come with me from day 1?

Andrew Miller

There is no PR process from within Canada, except for sponsored inland spouses and common-law partners. PR application will have to be submitted to proper visa post abroad.

What you mean by "with a view to immediately applying for PR" anyway?

iaink

He obviously means he intends to apply for PR as soon as possible after arriving in Canada on the Work Permit, and is wondering if he can apply for his whole family through Buffalo, even if they dont come with him initially on the work permit.

Posidrive

That's exactly what I mean Problem is the the company that I work for is unwilling to give me either guaranteed employment or to pay for repatriation if I loose my job between arriving and getting PR status and would thus be deported.

Posidrive

Anyone?????

stephenbottcher

@Posidrive

You still have to go through the same process whether your family is there or not or whether you are employed in Canada already or not. The arranged employment (temporary worker permit) gets you additional points though. You would want to apply in London, cause that is your nearest mission abroad when you look at where you familiy lives. I don't think there would be any complications if you submit both your Canadian and UK address. Have a look at the forms and see.

So in conclusion: you can apply for PR anytime. The fact that you "live/work" in Canada and your family is still in the UK should not create any problem. You have to apply for PR from outside Canada even if you live in Canada, which is the case for me: we are all here and I applied in London.

Hope that helps.

Cheers, Stephen in Ontario

An interesting read if you ask me (gives you the whole picture if you apply for PR whilst being temporary worker in Canada): www.stephenbottcher.net/imm.htm

Posidrive

Thanks Stephen,

Other guys from the company have managed to use the Buffalo and it has only taken 6 months or so. The only difference was that they moved the family across straight away. They were however lucky in that the company was fully Canadian owned at the time and were given guaranteed employment until they got PR (lucky sods).

Since then the company has been bought by an American company, who in true American fashion treat their employees like dirt. Hence the reason I get no guarantees. 6 months with a sword hanging over my head is acceptbale but the 18 months or so for application through the UK is not. I'm certainly not worried about loosing my job after I've got PR since I've already been approached "once I'm resident" by a number of other comapanies

stephenbottcher

@Posidrive

I have heard that Buffalo is absolutely swamped at the moment and that one should stay away. But I am sure there are cases and there are cases ... For the PR application, whoever owns that company does not matter as long as you have a contract and a current reference letter from your employer which proves your employment (but you know that already). Other than that (after your company applied at HDRC for you to get your confirmation of job offer) there is nothing more they can (or probably will be able to) do. Stay employed for the duration of your application is obviously all you personally need to worry about, as your work permit does not allow you to switch jobs, does it?

Best of luck.

Stephen