Apply from a different country for faster processing?

[nztocapls]

Hi,

I am from New Zealand and I'm currently on an open work permit via IEC. I went in planning to submit a paper application for my partner (partnership via IEC allowed since 2023) because of the fast processing time. However, paper applications are very recently no longer allowed unless she's disabled or something like that.

* Processing if applying from NZ: 35 weeks (~8 months)
* Processing if applying within Canada: 131 days (~4 months)

We really want to minimize the the time. One idea I had was for my partner to fly to the US and stay at a friend's place. ESTA allows her 90 day stay, and the IRCC processing time from there is only 5 weeks. Is this a valid/legal option? What other options do we have?

Cheers

 

[scylla]

Hi,

I am from New Zealand and I'm currently on an open work permit via IEC. I went in planning to submit a paper application for my partner (partnership via IEC allowed since 2023) because of the fast processing time. However, paper applications are very recently no longer allowed unless she's disabled or something like that.

* Processing if applying from NZ: 35 weeks (~8 months)
* Processing if applying within Canada: 131 days (~4 months)

We really want to minimize the the time. One idea I had was for my partner to fly to the US and stay at a friend's place. ESTA allows her 90 day stay, and the IRCC processing time from there is only 5 weeks. Is this a valid/legal option? What other options do we have?

Cheers

I'm not sure what you mean by "partnership via IEC". Are you saying that you are either married or common law with your partner (i.e. have lived together continuously for at least one full year) and your partner plans on applying for an open work permit based on you holding a job in a skilled profession?

 

[nztocapls]

I'm not sure what you mean by "partnership via IEC". Are you saying that you are either married or common law with your partner (i.e. have lived together continuously for at least one full year) and your partner plans on applying for an open work permit based on you holding a job in a skilled profession?

Yeah, it's this one:
https://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=841&top=25

Starting January 30, 2023, family members of most foreign workers can apply for an open work permit. Find out more about these changes.

Since I hold an open work permit (via IEC), my partner can also apply for one on the basis of our partnership. She can't apply for IEC herself since she's a smidge above the age limit.

Thanks for bringing up the "must hold a skilled job" part since that slipped my mind. Still, assuming I already have one, I'm still concerned about processing times and our options for shortening that.

 

[canuck78]

Yeah, it's this one:
https://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=841&top=25


Since I hold an open work permit (via IEC), my partner can also apply for one on the basis of our partnership. She can't apply for IEC herself since she's a smidge above the age limit.

Thanks for bringing up the "must hold a skilled job" part since that slipped my mind. Still, assuming I already have one, I'm still concerned about processing times and our options for shortening that.

You don’t qualify to have your partner join you if you are on IEC. If you are employed in Canada and your partner qualifies for an OWP based on your employment then they can apply. A lot of the posted processing times are just estimated averages and are often not very accurate so I would not count on the posted processing times.