Can I work with a Visitor Status in Canada?
No. In order to be able to work in Canada you must hold a work permit. A visitor status is different to a worker status. Canada is a relatively young nation where the government has implemented measurements to decrease the chances of people working without authorization. If you have heard of people doing it, trust us, the risks of doing it that way are high. You not only jeopardize your future immigration goals but may also expose yourself to bad labour situations such as unfair salary wages and unsafe working conditions. Unlike other countries, working without a work permit is hard as the access to many other services such as health, banking, school and certain government assistance are linked to your immigration status.
Can I work and Study at the same time in Canada?
Many students enrolled in Canadian schools qualify to work part time while they are enrolled in a post-secondary school, that is Designated Learning Institution (DLI). Students taking a short English or French course are not allowed to work. A person holding a valid Canadian Study permit, who is studying in post-secondary education, can work up to 20 hours per week during scheduled school periods and full time during scheduled school breaks. Your Spouse or common-law partner may also qualify for a work permit.
How can I get a Work Permit in Canada?
The Canadian government is open to immigrants and is attracting people to fulfill labour shortages by welcoming hundreds of thousands every year. However, it has implemented laws, processes and regulations to protect their local labour market, in order to provide the best opportunities of employment to their citizenships and permanent residents. Visit our section Work in Canada to get more details about the programs that are currently available.
In most of the cases, you must first find a potential employer seeking to hire you through the entire process. If you already have an employer wanting to hire you, contact us. We can assist you to find the right program for you. Factors such as nationality, profession and location of employment may mean we can find you a program with faster processing times.
Do not fall for employment offers from organizations or people that ask for a fee in order to find you employment. Canada and its Provinces have laws that govern the employment agencies which provide services to the employers for a fee, not the other way around. Furthermore, try to be wise with the information you find online. Only access to services from government programs, companies, professionals or agencies that are clearly backed by the laws in Canada. Unfortunately, there are illegal schemes that profit from people's desire to come to Canada.
Who can apply for the Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP)?
This work permit is similar to an Open Work Permit, but the difference is that is granted after the successful completion of a qualified program of study. Only graduated students from a qualified DLI who have maintained good status during their studies is a candidate for this permit.
What is a Designated Learning Institution (DLI)?
It is a school approved by provincial or territorial government to host international students. All primary and secondary schools in Canada are DLI even though they do not appear in the list of DLIs that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada keep up to date. You must be careful as not all Designated Learning Institutions make you eligible for a Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP). You need to meet certain requirements to be able to apply for a PGWP after graduating. Find the list of DLI here.
Who can apply for an Open Work Permit (OWP)?
There are few a options within the International Mobility Program (IMP) where Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada issue open work permits. The most common ones are the work permits issued to spouses and common-law partners of skilled workers and students and the work permit issued to spouse or common-law partner in Canada.
Can I do my own immigration process?
Yes, hiring a paid representative is your choice. All the information and forms are published in the official website www.cic.gc.ca. However, if you are a busy person and do not have the time to explore and learn the details relevant to your case, or you do not feel confident to do it on your own you could benefit from our professional services. You may also need expertise advice if your case is out of the ordinary or if you have a special set of circumstances that are not plainly addressed in the official website www.cic.gc.ca. The Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada website clearly states that the information is merely informative and that the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act shall preside over any other source. Finally, the interpretation of the law also includes case law or jurisprudence. All these are the main reasons you should seek authorized representation when your situation requires it. We are here to assist you.
How can I guarantee an immigration approval?
Nobody can guarantee a certain outcome in any immigration application. Not an immigration consultant not a lawyer and definitely not someone who claims to have "connections" to government officials or to any decision makers. If someone guarantees you an approval, look the other way.
What an immigration consultant or an immigration lawyer can do for you is to make a complete case, free of errors and omissions depending on your personal circumstance. We can help you think of factors you may not have thought about and we can save you time, as opposed to doing the research and the applications alone, with doubts or concerns of whether you are doing it right.
What should I hire, a RCIC or a lawyer?
According to Canadian Immigration Law, the only people authorized to charge fees for their Canadian immigration and citizenship services are representatives in good standing of the following body regulators (except in Quebec):
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The Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC),
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A Canadian provincial or territorial law society (lawyers and paralegals under the supervision of a lawyer).
In Quebec the representative must be member of certain authorized provincial regulatory bodies.
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As the immigration profession is regulated in Canada, both representatives need to keep their good standing with their respective body regulator. So, in that sense, you can choose to hire either.
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When deciding who you will be trusting with your future, try to choose an Authorized Representative with the knowledge and experience to handle your file. Someone that fits your requirements and you feel comfortable to work with.
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Furthermore, keep in mind that using an authorized representative does not diminish your responsibility regarding the information and documentation sent on your behalf, the ultimate responsible before Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is the applicant, so be careful whom you trust.
What is dual intent?
Dual intent is when a foreign national who has applied or may apply for permanent residence in Canada also applies to enter Canada temporarily as visitor, student or worker.
According to Immigration Canadian law, the intention of a foreign national to become a permanent resident does not preclude them from becoming temporary resident as long as the officer is satisfied that they will leave Canada by the end of the period authorized if the application for permanent residence is refused.
The immigration officers will assess several factors which include, among others: the length of the stay, financial means of support, ties to home country and past compliances.
It is extremely important that you comply with the conditions of any temporary status during your journey to become a permanent resident in Canada.
What is misrepresentation?
In simple terms, misrepresentation is when you lie or send false information or documentation to Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada. It includes sending information that is inconsistent, inaccurate or incomplete, and that as a result, has or could result in an error in the administration of the immigration law.
It is a crime in Canada and its repercussions may be severe, not only including the denial of your application but also bans, removal orders or the removal of current permits and/or status.
Someone may still commit misrepresentation without a direct lie or misleading. Consistency and credibility are some of the most important factors that are considered when reviewing your application.
It is definitely a topic that you should not overlook. If you are not sure about something it is better to ask before committing misrepresentation. Canada is very strict in this matter, do not jeopardize your future and always try to seek authorized and professional consulting services when you need them.
What are the processing times when applying to Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada?
The processing times vary depending on which immigration program you apply for, your location, the type of submission of the application (online vs. paper) as well as any backlog of the processing centers of IRCC. No one can guarantee a certain processing time in any immigration application. Authorized representatives will provide you an estimate with your processing time that will be aligned to the official Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada website. Click the following to read about or understand the different current processing times: here