Applying work permit at the border

[soliti]

This is a bit tricky because in order to get a work permit, you need to have a job offer from a Canadian employer.  You can extend your visitor visa but it will not allow you to work in Canada and you can not live in Canada as a visitor long term.  You could try for a student visa but you would have to study then.  You can look at the CIC website for a way to get PR but most of them require a job offer.

Thanks for the advice... So in a nutshell I cannot get a temporary work visa unless I have a sponsor in Canada?
As that I am self employed / freelance and I provide services for multiple companies, a sponsor is not a possibility.
 
I have applied for a work permit for a year and was refused as I applied in Canada.

The advice I got from the CIC was go to the border apply for a temporary work visa as it has to be done from outside the country and come back through the border , this does not sounds right. The CIC did not mention that the only way to get the temporary work visa is through a sponsor only. If I apply for a temporary work permit outside the country without a sponsor  will I get refused even though I have the funds and work to survive.

Your help and advice is very much appreciate

[Leon]

Did they say you were refused because you applied in Canada?

If you look at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/apply-who-eligible.asp you will see no mention of self-employed and a lot about employer, job offer and labour market opinion.  A regular type work permit is tied to an employer and you can only work for that employer.  There are also open work permits where you can work for anybody but those are only issued in special cases such as:

1) spouses of temporary foreign workers on a regular permit or spouses of international students
2) spouses being sponsored inland after first stage approval
3) live in caregivers who have done their 2 years and applied for PR
4) refugees after first stage approval
5) students after 6 months of studying at participating colleges
6) students after graduating
7) working holiday programs if your country has such an agreement with Canada

[soliti]

Did they say you were refused because you applied in Canada?

If you look at  you will see no mention of self-employed and a lot about employer, job offer and labour market opinion.  A regular type work permit is tied to an employer and you can only work for that employer.  There are also open work permits where you can work for anybody but those are only issued in special cases such as:

1) spouses of temporary foreign workers on a regular permit or spouses of international students
2) spouses being sponsored inland after first stage approval
3) live in caregivers who have done their 2 years and applied for PR
4) refugees after first stage approval
5) students after 6 months of studying at participating colleges
6) students after graduating
7) working holiday programs if your country has such an agreement with Canada

That is correct I was refused because I applied in Canada but the CIC would not give any other info but that.

Being that I am a US citizen and my job as a sound engineer for the music business allows me to tour without a work permit for a limited time. I decided to stay with the notion I could extend my visa and obtain a work permit. I did not think it would be this difficult as I am applying only for a 12 month work permit. 

The working holiday programme if I am reading it right only applies to students/young people and people that have a sponsor..

Any more info would be great

Thanks for the help!

[Leon]

The working holiday program completely depends on your citizenship.  The best of them allow you an open work permit in Canada for up to 2 years and you only need to be between 18 and 35 to qualify.  Your country might not have a working holiday agreement with Canada or perhaps just an agreement for student exchange.

I believe that artists are allowed to tour in Canada without a work permit but as far as I know, that doesn't really enable you to set up shop.  You could say you are touring with one band for one month and another for the next but in between you are supposed to go home.  Of course you are allowed to stay as a visitor for up to 6 months after you have entered.  You could briefly go visit home after 6 months and return with another band.  Still, you would only have visitor status, you have to make sure you have insurance because you would not qualify for health care.

[rjessome]

Thanks for the advice... So in a nutshell I cannot get a temporary work visa unless I have a sponsor in Canada?
As that I am self employed / freelance and I provide services for multiple companies, a sponsor is not a possibility.
 
I have applied for a work permit for a year and was refused as I applied in Canada.

The advice I got from the CIC was go to the border apply for a temporary work visa as it has to be done from outside the country and come back through the border , this does not sounds right. The CIC did not mention that the only way to get the temporary work visa is through a sponsor only. If I apply for a temporary work permit outside the country without a sponsor  will I get refused even though I have the funds and work to survive.

Your help and advice is very much appreciate

Was the advice they gave you more like, "If you wish to re-apply, you must do so at an embassy or consulate outside of Canada."?  That doesn't mean that you CAN without the proper authorization like an LMO.  But you just can't do it to be a freelancer.  Leon is right about entering to work while touring with a show.  It's short term only.  If you enter as just a visitor, you can't work in Canada. 

[soliti]

Was the advice they gave you more like, "If you wish to re-apply, you must do so at an embassy or consulate outside of Canada."?  That doesn't mean that you CAN without the proper authorization like an LMO.  But you just can't do it to be a freelancer.  Leon is right about entering to work while touring with a show.  It's short term only.  If you enter as just a visitor, you can't work in Canada. 

Thanks all for the advice....... So things have changed, I have been offerd a job and they are willing to sponser. How does this change things in obtaining a work permit?

[job_seeker]

Once you have the LMO you can apply at the border and get your WP but you can only work for the employer specified on your WP.

Thanks all for the advice....... So things have changed, I have been offerd a job and they are willing to sponser. How does this change things in obtaining a work permit?