Change of Status possible from inside Canada?

[judisjudis]

Dear Forum

At first, I have been looking all over the internet reg my current situation and I am so confused right now, so please excuse if this topic has been answered a million times ;-) I really need some facts.

My situation: German citizen (26 yrs) currently in CA to visit BF (he is Canadian, we met in Australia). I came directly from Australia to CA. I am on the Tourist Visa for 6 month, sinc mid July. No money, not enough.

Problemo: I want to change my Visa to a temp Work permit, Working Holiday. But I do not have a Job offer and I dont think I ll get one as my stay here is restricted until Jan 09.

Is it possible to get a temp work permit, to work as, let s say, kitchen helper, cook, fast food place, call center? Does anyone has had experience with this kind of issue?
Main thing is, I want to work.

Thank u for ur assistance, it is really appreciated as I am too confused right now.

Judith

[PMM]

Hi

Dear Forum

At first, I have been looking all over the internet reg my current situation and I am so confused right now, so please excuse if this topic has been answered a million times ;-) I really need some facts.

My situation: German citizen (26 yrs) currently in CA to visit BF (he is Canadian, we met in Australia). I came directly from Australia to CA. I am on the Tourist Visa for 6 month, sinc mid July. No money, not enough.

Problemo: I want to change my Visa to a temp Work permit, Working Holiday. But I do not have a Job offer and I dont think I ll get one as my stay here is restricted until Jan 09.

Is it possible to get a temp work permit, to work as, let s say, kitchen helper, cook, fast food place, call center? Does anyone has had experience with this kind of issue?
Main thing is, I want to work.

Thank u for ur assistance, it is really appreciated as I am too confused right now.

Judith

1.  For you to get a work permit, you have to find an employer who is will to get an approved Labour Market Opinion from Services Canada.  Basically the employer has to prove that there are no Canadian/PRs available for the job and they advertised for 2 weeks on the national job bank.  It can take up to 6 months for an approval.  For lower skill level jobs it is highly unlikely that it would be approved. 
2.  The quota for SWAP for Germans is full for 2009, see: http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/germany-allemagne/youth-jeunesse/work_travel-travailler_voyager.aspx?lang=eng

PMM

[ImmOfficer]

You can not change status from visitor to worker within Canada, you will be required to leave and get the WP on re-entry.

Take PMM's advice and look into the SWAP program. You will still have to leave, but if approved for that it can be as simple as making a road trip to the US and get the WP on re-entry.

[judisjudis]

Thanks for ur help guys!
HOnestly, I didnt know I could get a permit when I entered CA. So, is it right that I could have got a work permit at the border? Like without entering forms and providing documents?

[ImmOfficer]

No. You must be approved first (either for a work permit or an LMO).