Holding Two Valid Work Permit Simultaneously

[Syed_A]

Hi,

Is it possible to hold two valid temporary work permit simultaneously? Actually, I am currently working for a company and in the mean time have an offer from another employer. It would be difficult to join new employer and leaving current job immediately due to some pending imp work. Both employers are flexible to let me work simultaneously for couple of months.
Would appreciate if someone can share any information on this matter.

Thanks.

[Leon]

It is not possible.  You can only have one valid permit at a time.  You can not work for the new employer until you get your new work permit and as you get your new work permit, you may no longer work for the old employer.

[Syed_A]

I checked with CIC, as per Canadian law, any one can hold two valid work permit and can also work for two employers at the same time. I would recommend to please share only authentic information, as otherwise it can mislead others. Thanks..

[PMM]

Hi

I checked with CIC, as per Canadian law, any one can hold two valid work permit and can also work for two employers at the same time. I would recommend to please share only authentic information, as otherwise it can mislead others. Thanks..

I think that you are the one misleading people.  If you look at a work permit it states "only valid for the above employer at the above location" You can have one at a time.  The only way you can work for 2 employers is to have an open work permit.

[lovely20]

I have to disagree with you Leon and PMM, my apologies.  I have 2 friends here in Canmore who have 2 valid working permits. They are both working at the Radisson and Tim Hortons.  We thought first too that this is not possible but it is, they are living proof.  They came to Canada under TWP for the Radisson, after a year Tim Hortons was able to get a positive LMO and eventually another working permit for those two.

[PMM]

Hi

I have to disagree with you Leon and PMM, my apologies.  I have 2 friends here in Canmore who have 2 valid working permits. They are both working at the Radisson and Tim Hortons.  We thought first too that this is not possible but it is, they are living proof.  They came to Canada under TWP for the Radisson, after a year Tim Hortons was able to get a positive LMO and eventually another working permit for those two.

Well your friends if they are working at two jobs, I suggest you have them read their work permits.  When they got the second one, the first was no longer valid.

[PMM]

Hi

Well your friends if they are working at two jobs, I suggest you have them read their work permits.  When they got the second one, the first was no longer valid.  I will think that they will find that the latest work permits states, "only valid for the above employer and location"

[angelbrat]

I have to agree with PMM, I always thought that if you got a second work visa, the first one became invalid. I suggest that your friends double check with CIC that they are not working the two jobs illegally.

[Leon]

I have always been told that as well, that is that a 2nd work permit renders the first one invalid.  I was told that by someone I know personally who had changed employers and gotten a new work permit at the border.  He was told that he would no longer be allowed to work for the old employer.  I have however never seen anything about that on the CIC website, just that if you want to start a new job, you need a new permit.  Each permit will say that it is only valid for a particular employer

[rjessome]

Leon and PMM are right.  The only way for a TFW to hold more than one job is if they are on an open work permit.

[scylla]

Leon and PMM are right.  The only way for a TFW to hold more than one job is if they are on an open work permit.

Agreed. The second work permit invalidated the first.

Lovely20 - Your friends are now working at their first jobs illegally.

[lovely20]

Well if that is the case how come CIC hasn't flagged them?  I will let them know your inputs and have them call CIC.

[Leon]

CIC is not all knowing and all seeing so it is quite possible that they just haven't been caught yet.  Have them call the CIC call centre without giving their names, not from their own phones either and ask a hypothetical question, that is, if you get a new LMO and work permit for a new employer, does it invalidate your previous one or can you have two valid closed work permits at the same time and continue to work for both employers.  After calling CIC once, they should call again a few hours later or the next day and see if they get another person and if they get the same answer.  If they don't get the same answer, call again the 3rd time and ask the 3rd person to double check.  If they do get told, as I suspect, that a new work permit invalidates the previous one, they should stop working for their first employer and focus on the 2nd one as those are the valid work permits and hope that they don't get caught having worked for the first one after getting the 2nd permit.