Flagpole to change from IEC to visitor

[Jkeenos21]

Hi everyone,

My partner and I are about to finish up our IEC work permits, but we have booked flights back to Australia for about 10 days after they expire.

We were meant to submit an application to change our status to a visitor at least 30 days before our work permit expiring.

Are we able to flagpole at the US / Canada border a few days before our work permits expire, and re-enter Canada as a visitor for those 10 days? We obviously won't be working after this happens, and we have proof of flights back to Australia.

Are there any risks associated with doing this? And do we just need our passports to make this work?

TIA

Josh

 

[bellaluna]

"We were meant to submit"

Did you or did you not submit it? 30 days is a guideline, not a rule.

 

[Jkeenos21]

We didn't submit. Our Work Permits expire on October 17.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

We didn't submit. Our Work Permits expire on October 17.

There is no 30 day requirement. You can apply now.

 

[Jkeenos21]

There is no 30 day requirement. You can apply now.

Thanks for the reply! Im still a bit confused since the CIC website says:

'You may be able to apply to change your status from “worker” to “visitor.” We consider tourists to be visitors...You need to apply at least 30 days before your work permit expires.'

Interested to hear your thoughts on this, as well as the option to flagpole

 

[bellaluna]

Thanks for the reply! Im still a bit confused since the CIC website says:

'You may be able to apply to change your status from “worker” to “visitor.” We consider tourists to be visitors...You need to apply at least 30 days before your work permit expires.'

Interested to hear your thoughts on this, as well as the option to flagpole

It's up to you what you'd rather believe. You'd already been advised what to do above, that you can apply now because 30 days is not a hard requirement, but just a guideline stated on the website.

Flagpoling is risky because you can't predict what will happen. There's a chance you won't have a problem with flagpoling because you're bound to leave Canada in any case, but, no guarantees there.

Applying for the change of status online gives you implied (legal) status while waiting for a decision. You're not taking any chances or risks.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Thanks for the reply! Im still a bit confused since the CIC website says:

'You may be able to apply to change your status from “worker” to “visitor.” We consider tourists to be visitors...You need to apply at least 30 days before your work permit expires.'

Interested to hear your thoughts on this, as well as the option to flagpole

Still a recommendation.

 

[Jkeenos21]

It's up to you what you'd rather believe. You'd already been advised what to do above, that you can apply now because 30 days is not a hard requirement, but just a guideline stated on the website.

Flagpoling is risky because you can't predict what will happen. There's a chance you won't have a problem with flagpoling because you're bound to leave Canada in any case, but, no guarantees there.

Applying for the change of status online gives you implied (legal) status while waiting for a decision. You're not taking any chances or risks.

Thanks again for the info! Will do some thinking, and in the meantime if anyone else has any advice / experience, I'd love to hear it!