Switching a Visitor's visa to Work Visa within Canada?
/On August 24, 2020, IRCC had announced a new temporary public policy which will allow visitors to apply for a work permit without having to leave Canada. Visitors who are currently in Canada and have a valid job offer will be able to apply for an employer-specific work permit and, if approved, receive the permit without having to leave the country.
After the news release, I have received many phone calls, emails and chat messages if people can just simply switch from a Visitor to Worker status. It is nothing like that easy and it is never that simple when it comes to Immigration matters. Most of the people who contacted me read the news release in different ethnic news articles targeting at ethnic community, and it is misleading without further explaining the details of how to apply for a Work permit.
If you read the details of the news release on IRCC’s website, it is the same as people who apply for a Work Permit outside of Canada, the only advantage for Visitors in Canada is that they don’t need to leave Canada to apply for the Work Permit if they meet all other requirements.
To be eligible, an applicant looking to benefit from this temporary public policy must
have valid status in Canada as a visitor on the day they apply
have been in Canada on August 24, 2020 and remained in Canada
have a job offer
submit an application for an employer-specific work permit that is supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or an LMIA-exempt offer of employment, no later than March 31, 2021
meet all other standard admissibility criteria
You may find the full details of the official news release below:
As you can see from eligibility, having a job offer isn’t sufficient to apply without being supported by an approved LMIA from Service Canada for the employer.
Please always consult with a professional Immigration Consultant if you need to verify or confirm immigration updates to protect yourself from immigration fraud.
Great news: Government of Canada announces new policy to help former international students live in, work in and continue contributing to Canada
News release
January 8, 2021—Ottawa—International students bring so much to Canada, contributing over $21 billion annually to our economy and supporting the vitality of our communities. Yet the pandemic has presented myriad challenges for international students. Most notably, for many holders of a post-graduation work permit (PGWP), the pandemic’s disruption and uncertainty have jeopardized their chances of obtaining the work experience they need to apply for permanent residence.
As part of the Government of Canada’s efforts to support international students through this challenging time, the Honourable Marco E. L. Mendicino, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, today announced that former international students who hold or held a PGWP will have the opportunity to apply for an open work permit.
Foreign nationals in Canada affected by the pandemic with an expired or expiring PGWP will have a unique chance to apply for another open work permit. These will be valid for 18 months and allow former international students to remain in Canada, continue to seek employment and build their future in this country.
The government has made significant efforts to encourage international students to settle permanently in Canada, as they help create jobs and fill labour shortages so our businesses can thrive. They bring strong employment and language skills, bolstered by their Canadian education and work experience, so they are typically well positioned to apply for permanent resident status. More than 58,000 graduates successfully applied to immigrate permanently in 2019, and their decisions to stay in Canada will help to address our stark demographic challenges.
As we confront the pandemic’s second wave and chart a course for our recovery, attracting skilled immigrants is a central part of our plan. This new policy will help more graduates fill pressing needs in areas like health care, technology and more. As we look forward, it will help even more former international students build their futures in Canada, contributing in ways large and small to our short-term recovery and long-term prosperity.
To apply for an open work permit under the public policy, an applicant must
have a PGWP that expired on or after January 30, 2020, or a PGWP that expires in 4 months or less from the date they apply
still be in Canada
have a valid temporary status, or be applying to restore their status
Applications will be open from January 27 to July 27, 2021.
Details on how to apply will be added to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s website on January 27, 2021.
