Don't know why, but I've been struggling to get answers and help here lately! Please prove me wrong!

A friend of ours came to Vancouver in January on a open work permit issued to recent graduates. This WP expires in March 2011. He worked on contract since March 2010,and has now been offered a permanent position as a Software Engineer. He now wants to apply for PR.

Some questions:
1. Does he need an AOE? This is his first formal job since graduating with an Honours Degree, so I don't know if he would qualify under the exempt professions. How long dies it take to get an AOE? His company is applying for one anyway.
2. I assume FSW is the only category he qualifies in (he can add some part time work to make up the 1-year requirement, right?)
3. Assumng the CIO in Sydney approved his application, which Visa office must he apply to? Pretoria? Since he hasn't been here in Canada for more than a year.
4. This is not a WP that he can extend, so based on the time crunch, is it better for him to submit his PR application before the AOE comes, and then just send it when he gets it? Or should he maybe apply for a new WP at the same time? Can he even do that?

I would really appreciate some help. I've scoured the different websites, but these are the questions that remain. Please help me help this fellow Saffer!

I really doubt that members of this forum are deliberately refusing to help you. When you don't get answers it is most probably because no one on this forum has the answers for you. We are not professionals!

It would probably be best for your friend to get professional advice. For example I recently went to this immigration law firm regarding questions for a family member who would like to come to Canada. It was a flat fee of $300 for a single consultation.

What I would suggest is that the employer applies for an AOE and then he applies for PR once he receives the AOE. I'm not sure how long AOE's are taking but factor in 3-6 months to be safe.

ALTERNATIVELY:

The employer applies for an LMO (which could also take 3-6months) and once they receive the LMO he applies for a new work permit which would be valid anywhere from 1-3 years. Once he has the new work permit he can then apply for PR (once he has been here and working for a year).

Yes, FSW is the only catergory for him at this stage. CIO Sydney will advise him which visa office to apply to.

He cannot submit his PR app before getting the AOE if he is basing his application on the AOE. See above comment regarding LMO and work permit.

You might also want to try Theuna de Waal she is a Certified Immigration Consultant, might be cheaper than going to a lawyer http://www.athabascaimmigration.ca/?id=910

Gee Rochelle, I echo the responses from others on your statement. Ever heard of the words "Read and Research" ALL answers are in the CIC documents and guidelines - all it takes is time and effort to read through everything.
Immigrating is like studying and there are no short cuts in managing the process

Can also vouch for the work and services offered by Theuna de Waal. I have not used her for my applications but dealt with her on a few other things. She strikes me as knowledgeable and well informed.

Hi Rochelle,

I am currently in the process of applying for my honors or Master of Arts as it is known in Canada. As far as I have read this open work permit for graduates is called the Post-Graduation Work Permit which cannot be valid for longer than the student’s study program. For example, if you graduate from a four-year degree program, you could be eligible for a three-year work permit if you meet the criteria. If you graduate from an eight-month certificate program, you would be eligible for a work permit that is valid for no more than eight months.

My study program will also be a year so after that year I will apply for the Post-Graduation Work Permit and start searching for a permanent job IMMEDIATELY. After receiving a job offer you could be eligible to immigrate either as:
1. Federal skilled workers (I think this will be my option as I also still don't have working experience, first applying for a work permit and then starting where most people are starting already)
2. Under Canadian Experience class or (but be aware of the education requirements: TWO years FULL-TIME study or the completing of a Masters)
3. By the Provincial Nominee Program

The people in this forum are correct - you have to read and read and read.

I have no idea how to do a hyperlink here but here are a few sites on CIC that might help you:

PROVINCIAL NOMINEE
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/pro...l/apply-who.asp


CANADIAN EXPERIENCE CLASS

Requirements for graduates:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/cec/graduates.asp

SKILLED WORKER

I think this is probably the safest option. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/apply-wh...ible.asp#inside will give you information on who is eligible to apply for a work permit. Once you have done this you will be able to apply for PR and FSW immigration.

O, I hope I have not mislead you. Please read up - every time I do I see something new.

Good luck!

With all due respect ... "Read and Research" is part of what I do for a living. Based on the fact that I clearly noted in my post that I have "scoured the different websites, but these are the questions that REMAIN", I would think it presumptious and quite condescending to assume that I simply came to this forum to take some "short cuts in managing the process". I really read all the CIC and HRSDC websites, and I looked through this website thoroughly, but in every situation there was a variable where his case was somewhat different in some respect, HENCE THE QUESTIONS.

C'mon, if "ALL answers are in the CIC documents and guidelines" as EvB points out, then why on earth does SACanada have a subforum called "Application"???

The person in question is a young guy trying to do his best here in Canada who is trying to settle in a foreign country by himself without any family or friends, and he unfortunately cannot afford $300 for consultations with specialists. Since he is the son of a dear friend of ours, I'm doing my best to try and help him as much as I can. And pay it forward for all the help and support we received when we were immigrating.

My comment that seemed to have touched so many nerves ("Don't know why, but I've been struggling to get answers and help here lately! Please prove me wrong!) was written in frustration after I posted a message on April 19 that didn't even elicit 1 response. When my friend posted a message on my recommendation of this site while he was still in SA, and received narely a notice, he didn't pay much more attention to it, and I don't blame him. Since I know how open, inviting and supportive the people on this site was, I was disappointed with the lack of involvement this time around.

Thanks to those that took the time to reply with constructive info and advice.

But please moderators, be so kind as to post a list of topics that we are supposed to research in full ourselves and are not allowed to ask follow-up questions about. I promise I will comply next time.

And maybe I can help you guys clear up the forum ... for every new post about PR / WP / PNP / AOE or even time lines, I'm happy to reply and say "Go read the website, it's all there"