CRS487 w/ PGWP expires in Sep 2023

[Zeanqixi]

I am a junior architectural designer working for an American design firm’s Toronto office, currently on a work permit that will expire this September. I am seeking a method to continue living and working in Canada legally, ideally by obtaining permanent residency before my work permit expires. However, if that is not possible, I am open to exploring other options to extend my work permit.

As of now, I am in the process of applying for permanent residency and I am in the pool with a CRS score of 487. Given the high cut-off and recent pause in CEC draws, I am uncertain about receiving an invitation before my work permit expires. I have approached my employer for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) to boost my CRS score, but they have declined, citing the rigorous nature of the process. Instead, my employer has suggested they can assist me in extending my work permit outside of the LMIA route.

However, I am not sure if this possibility exists. Does anyone have the experience to extend their work permit without a lmia? I graduated from Montreal and moved to Toronto work for a year so far, not sure if I am eligible for PNP.

 

[Chasechs]

I feel for your situation. But there is a clear failure to plan move to Canada. First mistake was studying in Quebec when you probably knew you would not live there. Second error was moving to Toronto; based on OINP you literally get zero points for working and studying in Toronto. Now here you are with a decent score but faint hope of meeting the cut off level. Given your employer's reluctance in the immigration process, and very limited time left on your work permit; I would encourage you the seek another employment specifically for PR and/or LMIA work permit extension.

Planning is key to coming to Canada, lets say you didn't move to Toronto but went to Atlantic Canada (NS,NL, NB & PEI). Applying for PNP even with outside education would be much easier. Now you need a new game plan and I would start with getting a new employer. All the best.

 

[primestudio]

Worst case would be going back home while waiting for CEC, or asking your employer to sponsor you elsewhere. I think the scores would slowly be going down over the next few months.

Also add some money in the proof of funds sections so you are eligible for fswp. Last FSWP (before current all program draw) had 473.

Make it very clear that you would be forced to stop working by the time your PGWP ends.

I'm also in the same situation however my expires in Feb 2025. I will get 3 yoe by Oct 2024 so I think all good over there. They're also willing to do lmia

 

[primestudio]

I feel for your situation. But there is a clear failure to plan move to Canada. First mistake was studying in Quebec when you probably knew you would not live there. Second error was moving to Toronto; based on OINP you literally get zero points for working and studying in Toronto. Now here you are with a decent score but faint hope of meeting the cut off level. Given your employer's reluctance in the immigration process, and very limited time left on your work permit; I would encourage you the seek another employment specifically for PR and/or LMIA work permit extension.

Planning is key to coming to Canada, lets say you didn't move to Toronto but went to Atlantic Canada (NS,NL, NB & PEI). Applying for PNP even with outside education would be much easier. Now you need a new game plan and I would start with getting a new employer. All the best.

A lot of people got burned when NS pnp suddenly (1 week notice) changed their system to not allow international student from out of province applying through that particular stream. A friend of mine now has the exact same issue as OP as he accepted a job in Nova scotia on the basis of that route.

These things change easily, a lot of factors out of your control. No amount of research and planning would change that. New Brunswick also pulled the same stuff too

 

[scylla]

I am a junior architectural designer working for an American design firm’s Toronto office, currently on a work permit that will expire this September. I am seeking a method to continue living and working in Canada legally, ideally by obtaining permanent residency before my work permit expires. However, if that is not possible, I am open to exploring other options to extend my work permit.

As of now, I am in the process of applying for permanent residency and I am in the pool with a CRS score of 487. Given the high cut-off and recent pause in CEC draws, I am uncertain about receiving an invitation before my work permit expires. I have approached my employer for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) to boost my CRS score, but they have declined, citing the rigorous nature of the process. Instead, my employer has suggested they can assist me in extending my work permit outside of the LMIA route.

However, I am not sure if this possibility exists. Does anyone have the experience to extend their work permit without a lmia? I graduated from Montreal and moved to Toronto work for a year so far, not sure if I am eligible for PNP.

What do you mean by "extending your work permit outside of the LMIA route"? Without ITA and AOR or a nomination, your employer would need to get an approved LMIA. You would then switch to a closed work permit.

Depending what country you are originally from (what passport you hold), it's possible you may qualify for a working holiday visa.

Have you maxed out your language scores? If not, retake the language test.

Do you know any French?

 

[Zeanqixi]

Worst case would be going back home while waiting for CEC, or asking your employer to sponsor you elsewhere. I think the scores would slowly be going down over the next few months.

Also add some money in the proof of funds sections so you are eligible for fswp. Last FSWP (before current all program draw) had 473.

Make it very clear that you would be forced to stop working by the time your PGWP ends.

I'm also in the same situation however my expires in Feb 2025. I will get 3 yoe by Oct 2024 so I think all good over there. They're also willing to do lmia

Thank you v much for your advice.

If I don't receive the Invitation to Apply by September unfortunately, I plan to apply for a work permit anyway. Even though I know it will be rejected but I will earn a couple of months with the implied status to keep working. This time will be crucial for me as I will have two years of experience by then. After that, if I still hear nothing from IRCC, I will return to my hometown and wait for the ITA.

IYou have 3 yrs of experience in 2024, I think it is highly possible that you can smoothly obtain PR. The impact of COVID on immigration policy will likely fade out this or next year. I wish you the best of luck!

 

[Zeanqixi]

I feel for your situation. But there is a clear failure to plan move to Canada. First mistake was studying in Quebec when you probably knew you would not live there. Second error was moving to Toronto; based on OINP you literally get zero points for working and studying in Toronto. Now here you are with a decent score but faint hope of meeting the cut off level. Given your employer's reluctance in the immigration process, and very limited time left on your work permit; I would encourage you the seek another employment specifically for PR and/or LMIA work permit extension.

Planning is key to coming to Canada, lets say you didn't move to Toronto but went to Atlantic Canada (NS,NL, NB & PEI). Applying for PNP even with outside education would be much easier. Now you need a new game plan and I would start with getting a new employer. All the best.

As primestudio said, policies can change unexpectedly. When I moved to Canada in 2019 to study, I couldn't have foreseen that Quebec would change its provincial immigration policy in 2020, and none of us could have predicted the impact of COVID-19 either.

Moving to a metropolitan area for better job opportunities was important due to the nature of my major. We all have to make choices whether we should alignour personal and professional growth or just get the immigration work done. I put my professional growth as my priority last year, and now my goal is to obtain PR so in the future I won't regret that I haven't had tried enough. These two things are not in contradiction.

But thank you very much for your input man.

 

[Zeanqixi]

What do you mean by "extending your work permit outside of the LMIA route"? Without ITA and AOR or a nomination, your employer would need to get an approved LMIA. You would then switch to a closed work permit.

Depending what country you are originally from (what passport you hold), it's possible you may qualify for a working holiday visa.

Have you maxed out your language scores? If not, retake the language test.

Do you know any French?

Thank you very much for your reply! I was quite confused when my employer informed me about the closed work permit requirement without LMIA. I was hoping to hear if anyone in this forum has had similar experiences and could provide me with some advice.

Unfortunately, I am not eligible for the International Experience Canada program.

I have taken the IELTS test and obtained CLB 10 scores for listening, speaking, and reading, but only CLB 8 for writing. I am planning to retake the test in two weeks.

Learning French to earn more points is a great suggestion. I did learn French briefly during my time in Montreal,I guess I had a A2 level on listening and speaking??(I have never been trained on writing in French tho). Also I'm not sure if it's realistic to achieve a B2 level within five months while working full time.