Can you get a work visa while an outland app in process

[tulamoon]

I'm lazy, and don't feel like searching around...

My husband lives with me, was issued a student visa good until December 2012. We thought we were golden. Unfortunately he HATES the program he's taking and doesn't want to go back in September which means technically he has to leave Canada. I'm optimistic that we might have his permanent residency sometime late summer and this will all be a non-issue, but there's no guarantee on that of course... My question is, since he applied outland can he also apply for a temporary work visa so he can stay? He has no where to go if he can't stay with me.... It's never simple being with someone from another country.

[Leon]

He can not get an open work permit based on having an outland application.  If he wants a work permit, he needs to find employment, the employer needs to apply for an LMO and if he gets one, then he can apply for a work permit.

[tulamoon]

Ok cool. thanks.

[canadayogini]

Depending what country he's from and his age he may also be eligible to apply for a working holiday visa.

[kelKel]

He could also change his status to visitor until he gets approved. 

[tulamoon]

Ok so I've been looking into this more...

How does an American change their status from student to Visitor? He's Visa Exempt being American and all ... Can Americans even apply for a temporary visitor visa? I've been looking for info on this and can't find anything.

[Leon]

He can apply to change his status to visitor, see http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/visitor.asp  He should mention that he has applied outland and give a file number if you have one and that he wants to stay with you while waiting for that.

How long has he been studying?  Is he keeping his grades up?  If he has been studying for 6 months or more and is still in the program (the one he hates) and doing ok academically, he can apply for a student work permit, see http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/work-offcampus.asp which would allow him to work at any job (open permit) up to 20 hours a week during the semester and once the semester is out, which should happen soon, he can work full time during the summer and if he gets his PR before September, he would not have to return to his course because he doesn't need this work permit any more.

[tulamoon]

Yeah he has been in school since september, and he's currently in good academic standing so he could technically apply for one of those student work visas now. But its looking like he'll likely end up failing a course or two at the end of the term in May, soooo things would then get complicated.

I'm so incredibly stressed out over this.

[tulamoon]

So I called the CIC.. novel idea I know. haha. And they said he doesn't have to leave canada cuz he is technically here legally. He just can't do anything like work or whatever.... So that's kind of a relief... seems weird to me, but I guess it makes sense.

[Baloo]

So I called the CIC.. novel idea I know. haha. And they said he doesn't have to leave canada cuz he is technically here legally. He just can't do anything like work or whatever.... So that's kind of a relief... seems weird to me, but I guess it makes sense.

So, in the end you were not lazy, and did have to search around

[tulamoon]

I'm lazy usually until something really starts to weigh on my mind then i'll do it. Haha.

[Baloo]

I'm lazy usually until something really starts to weigh on my mind then i'll do it. Haha.

Now you are accustomed to the feeling (as far as immigration is concerned), we will let you search a bit more in future