Changing to vistor status.

[jaybakerca]

Hi Guys, my 2nd year IEC is coming to an end on the 5th of September, this is the last day I can work, my employer is currently in the process of applying for an LMO on behalf of myself.

Now, when my first year visa ended I had to drive to the border, cross over, be denied entry into the states and then back into Canada, do I have to do the same thing to change to visitor status or is there a much easier way this time around? thanks.

 

[fkl]

If you get an LMO and apply for work permit inside Canada, you don't need to go to the border.

That is called flag polling and is often done by people who want to avoid processing delay and instead wish to be issued work permit at the port of entry (normally only people from visa exempt countries can do this if they are working in non health care related professions).

For almost all scenarios - there exist ways to get things done inside Canada. They just take longer and people prefer the border way to speed things up

 

[jaybakerca]

I'm sorry, that only really half answers my question as I am still waiting for the LMO to go through so I have to stop working on the 5th of September.

So what im saying is, to change it to visitor, do I drive to the border or not?

 

[canuck_in_uk]

I'm sorry, that only really half answers my question as I am still waiting for the LMO to go through so I have to stop working on the 5th of September.

So what im saying is, to change it to visitor, do I drive to the border or not?

No, you do not need to drive to the border. You can apply online to change your status and extend your stay as a visitor without having to leave Canada.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/visitor.asp

 

[jaybakerca]

Perfect, thanks buddy, how soon to my visa expiry should I be doing this? a few days before?

 

[canuck_in_uk]

CIC recommends applying 30 days prior to expiry of your current status, though you can apply up until the day before expiry.

 

[jaybakerca]

I have a work permit, i dont quite understand why i cant just extend my work permit, through IEC or not.

 

[PMM]

Hi

I have a work permit, i dont quite understand why i cant just extend my work permit, through IEC or not.

Because the IEC is not extendable.

5. I am currently in Canada with a work permit issued under the IEC initiative. My employer would like me to continue working after the permit expires. Is this possible? What should I do?

You may not work in Canada without holding a valid work permit. A work permit issued under the IEC initiative cannot be renewed or extended. Sometimes it is possible to obtain a work permit under the Temporary Foreign Workers program.

 

[jaybakerca]

Gotcha!

I just went through the visitor application process, went to pay, couldn't find my credit card, by the time I found it, the webpage had timed out and now I cant get back into the application to pay as its already been submitted.

Awesome.

 

[jaybakerca]

I guess they will just contact me for payment once the application has been processed.

 

[PMM]

Hi

I guess they will just contact me for payment once the application has been processed.

No, they will refuse as no payment received.