An applicant abroad was weighing whether to move to Canada now, betting that their spouse's CRS (~450, rising to ~490–500 with better IELTS and 2 years of experience) would win a STEM-category draw. The thread contributed practical mechanics and a market caution:
- Understand what gets issued where. If you apply for a work permit from outside Canada, you receive a visa stamp (TRV) abroad — the actual work permit is printed at the port of entry when you land. If approved for 2 years, the officer issues a 2-year permit at immigration that day. You don't need to travel immediately after stamping; one member flew 3 months later without issue.
- A closed (LMIA-based) permit binds you to one employer. If you want to switch companies, the new employer generally needs another LMIA before you can move. Factor that inflexibility into any plan where one spouse works a closed job while waiting on PR.
- Time the move against the job market, not just the draw calendar. Historical flag: at the time of this thread there were large-scale layoffs and hiring freezes, and STEM category-based draws were new and unpredictable. Members advised against relocating purely on the expectation of a category draw at a projected future CRS — improve the score first (IELTS retake, completing the 2-year experience milestone), then decide.