Hi

I am in Canada on a temporary work visa. I have a five year contract and I should renew my work visa every year.

However I would like to stay in Canada and apply for permanant residency.

I have a PhD and am fluent in English and I have a very high level of French.

When I fill in the self assement forms for PR eligibility I usually get 85 to 90. I loose points because my current job is a contract and cannot be made permanent however I would like to be able to apply for alternative permanant positions as they arise.

Can I apply for permanent residency now? Or should I wait until I have been here for 1 year (I have been here for 6 months now).

Do I need a lawyer to do this? is it recommended?

Thanks

If your qualifications are presently sufficient, there may not be any advantage to waiting to apply for Canadian permanent resident status.

The decision to use expert representation is a personal one. There are potential advantages, but these of course come with a cost.