This is my first post here. I am planning to apply for a temporary work permit visa via online application specifically for LMIA exempt. I am offered a postdoc position in McGill and currently reside in Japan. It would be very helpful for me if other postdocs can share their timeline or processing time via online application?
I was told by the staff in VFS Japan that in person application will take average 11 months as it will be processed in Manila. My prospective supervisor expect me to start from middle of September. I dont know whether online application will be faster or not.
I am not sure where you are going to submit your application to, but speaking from my experience, online submission is certainly faster than sending paper-based application. You can check the processing time here. (.....cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/temp.asp)
But I am not sure if you can submit online application if your applying from outside Canada.
For your reference, I am also a postdoc who is currently working in ON, Canada, currently holding an employer-specific work permit. I can share my past experience with you. My first application was done in 2012 where I applied from my home country. At that time, there was no online submission and I had to complete the forms and printed them out. I then submitted the paper in person at the CIC office. The whole process took about 2-3 months to get everything done, including medical checkup , TRV and passport collection etc.
Later when I need to extend my work permit, I can easily submit my application online since I am already inside Canada. I applied for extension last year and surprisingly it took only 2 weeks!! My new work permit was mailed directly to me without the need to submit my passport or whatsoever. I didn't get a new TRV to replace my expired one as I could still travel between US and Canada by using my new work permit as a supporting document. Bear in mind, this only apply if you are re-entering Canada from US. But if you need to travel outside these countries, you need to possess a valid TRV to gain entry.
This year I reapply to extend my work permit. Take note that there is a new process that employers must follow when hiring Labour Market Impact Assessment-exempt foreign workers, eg postdoc. You need to get your employer to submit a declare form and to pay the compliance fee $230 online before you can submit your application. I am not sure if it is due to the new process, the processing time has become very long. I submitted my application in March 2015, till now, I still haven't heard anything about it yet. :'(
as it will be processed in Manila. My prospective supervisor expect me to start from middle of September. I dont know whether online application will be faster or not.