Options after IEC Expiry for Remote worker for a non-canadian Company

[Brendanc]

Hey there!

I was hoping to get some help with regards the options available for extending my stay in Canada (Vancouver) once my current IEC visa expires. I believe I meet the requirements of the CEC, but, I'm just not sure if that only applies to work experience gathered through a Canadian based company. I'm currently working remotely for a company based out of the UK and servicing our customers based in north America, and have been for the last 1+ year. We don't have a physical presence here but I have been paying all taxes here. Would anyone have any advice on the options available to me? I'm not sure and I can't figure out who to even contact and would love to extend my stay.

I look forward to hearing anyones thoughts.

Thanks,

Brendan

 

[scylla]

The work experience you've described will not be classified as Canadian work experience since you were working remotely and for a company based in the UK without physical presence in Canada. So applying for PR through CEC isn't an option for you. You will have to look at the regular Express Entry stream or one of the Provincial Nomination streams.

In terms of extending your stay - applying for PR is one option. Another option (if allowed for your country of origin) is to apply for another IEC (typically this has to be in a different IEC category). Yet another option would be to secure a full time job offer from an employer in Canada (your current employment situation would not work for this), have that employer obtain an approved LMIA and then apply for a closed work permit tied to that specific employer.

 

[Brendanc]

The work experience you've described will not be classified as Canadian work experience since you were working remotely and for a company based in the UK without physical presence in Canada. So applying for PR through CEC isn't an option for you. You will have to look at the regular Express Entry stream or one of the Provincial Nomination streams.

In terms of extending your stay - applying for PR is one option. Another option (if allowed for your country of origin) is to apply for another IEC (typically this has to be in a different IEC category). Yet another option would be to secure a full time job offer from an employer in Canada (your current employment situation would not work for this), have that employer obtain an approved LMIA and then apply for a closed work permit tied to that specific employer.

Thanks so much for all this detail Scylla, really useful stuff. I can see you mention PR as an option, doesn't that require a year of Canadian based work too? I'm struggling to find a definitive list of what I need/where to apply for that type of visa. Would I be right in saying that PR is obtained via the Express Entry stream or Provincial Nomination streams you mention? From looking at the BC Express Entry stream, it doesn't seem that I meet any of the criteria for the 3 immigrations options they mention (all require canadian work):

• Federal Skilled Worker Program
• Federal Skilled Trades Program
• Canadian Experience Class

Thanks a million for your help!

 

[scylla]

Express Entry / Federal Skilled Worker does not require you to have one year of Canadian work experience. Neither Federal Skilled Trades program. You do need at least one year of full time paid work experience - but it can be from outside of Canada. Same goes for several of the Provincial Nominee programs.

There's really no short cut to research (apart from hiring an expensive immigration lawyer to do the work on your behalf). You'll need to dedicate hours/days to reading through the program details through the CIC web site.

 

[Brendanc]

Express Entry / Federal Skilled Worker does not require you to have one year of Canadian work experience. Neither Federal Skilled Trades program. You do need at least one year of full time paid work experience - but it can be from outside of Canada. Same goes for several of the Provincial Nominee programs.

There's really no short cut to research (apart from hiring an expensive immigration lawyer to do the work on your behalf). You'll need to dedicate hours/days to reading through the program details through the CIC web site.

Thanks so much Scylla!