Changing jobs while on implied status

[kieran123]

Hi there,

I applied for inland spousal sponsorship PR in August last year and am now on implied status, and have a letter from CIC that states I am allowed to continue working until the PR has been approved. I have been working since and wanted a new SIN, but was told to keep using my old one which is fine until I get my PR

The question I have is, can I change jobs at the moment while on implied status?

[RobsLuv]

Your implied status allows you to continue working under the terms of your original status.  If your original status was a restricted work permit then, no, you can't change jobs.  A restricted permit, even extended by implied status, only permits you to work for at the same job, for the same employer, as your original permit.  You have to comply with that permit to stay legal.

If your original status was an Open Work Permit, then you can change jobs.  Problem is - if you situation is like mine was - your SIN card has an expiration date that coincides with the expiration date of your OWP.  It might be difficult to get a new job with an expired SIN card - and, as you found out, they won't give you a new one until you get permanent status or a new temporary status document.  

I opted to stay where I was while on implied status on an OWP.  I felt uncomfortable even convincing my current employer that I was actually legal to continue working after my permit expired.  It seemed it would be really complicated to try to change jobs at that juncture with no written documentation of my right to work.