Afraid of Starting Online Work

[epmarshall]

Hi all,

I am in Canada trying to work online while my boyfriend and I build up common law time so we can apply for PR next year.

I have a few sources I'm looking at and considering, but I'm afraid that I'll get into one and make some money and then next year I'll apply for PR and CIC will be like, "What's this? Looks like you worked illegally in Canada." And then something irreversible might happen like being banned from PR permanently.

I know that the rule is that it can't affect the Canadian labor market, but that doesn't tell me much with regards to online income. I wonder if anyone has examples of things CIC has been alright or not alright with regarding online work. Is there any way I can find out and know for sure whether the things I'm doing are okay or not? Are they strict regarding online things and will contacting them directly help or will they just tell me incorrect information?

And if I don't have certainty, then what happens when I actually apply for PR next year? How do they even find out this information about what a person has been doing? Is there a section for work info on the PR application form (I haven't filled them out yet so am unsure).

Basically any information on this would be helpful. What is the process going to look like with telling CIC about work and how do I avoid doing something that will cause issues for my PR app? Is this something anyone even knows or is it just one of those eternally gray areas in the PR process?

Sorry for the jumble of questions. Any help or advice would be much appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Rob_TO]

Generally there are 2 things to look for:
1. Would any of your payments be coming from a source inside Canada?
2. Would you be doing work for Canadian clients?

If answer to both is no, then your work is most likely fine.

 

[epmarshall]

Generally there are 2 things to look for:
1. Would any of your payments be coming from a source inside Canada?
2. Would you be doing work for Canadian clients?

If answer to both is no, then your work is most likely fine.

Thanks, Rob_TO. I will do my best to look out for those things. Do you happen to know how CIC is going to be inquiring about this stuff? Am I going to have to self-report this information on the application forms when the time comes or are they going to investigate these things when they are processing my app? Just wondering what I should be prepared for.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Thanks, Rob_TO. I will do my best to look out for those things. Do you happen to know how CIC is going to be inquiring about this stuff? Am I going to have to self-report this information on the application forms when the time comes or are they going to investigate these things when they are processing my app? Just wondering what I should be prepared for.

CIC won't inquire. You can list the employment in your app and include a letter of explanation and proof that you were being paid outside of Canada. It won't be an issue.

 

[epmarshall]

CIC won't inquire. You can list the employment in your app and include a letter of explanation and proof that you were being paid outside of Canada. It won't be an issue.

That makes me feel a lot better. I was worried there would be some awful process where CIC grilled me on it. Thanks canuck_in_uk!