Hello,
i am an Irish citizen and my English partner and I have been working here in Canada for the last year on SWAP/BUNAC visas. I am working here as a photographer and my boss is in the process of sponsoring me to remain in Canada (LMO currently being processed). As my partner and i are legally common-law, he is applying for an open work permit on the back of my Skilled Worker, sponsored permit. Our current status on BUNAC/SWAP permits runs out in about 2 weeks time and, due to back logs processing LMO's, we will need to apply for Visitor Visas and not work for a while as we wait for the LMO.

Up until today my understanding was that i would have to apply for my work permit once the LMO comes through at Vegreville and that the process was then going to take about 60 days (this wait is thankfully getting shorter). However I spoke to someone at the CIC call centre today and they said that both me and my partner can go straight to the border with the LMO and supporting documents and apply for both our work permits there. She said this process would take about 1 day. I'm not sure if the person i spoke to fully understood our case but i just wanted to confirm this was true and we will both be able to apply at the border?

thank you for your time,
ann

If the LMO application is not complete, then it would not typically be possible to obtain your work permit at the port of entry. As a citizen of Ireland, you are eligible to process an application at the POE, but the immigration official will need the LMO to approve the case. An inland change-of-terms is an appropriate application in such a case.

Thank you for the reply,
your help is much appreciated

in ur understanding, once i have the LMO will BOTH my spouse and I be able to get our work permits at the border? i understand that i am eligible to apply for my work permit at the border but will my partner be able to get his open work permit too??
a