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novascotia_addict

Star Member
Jul 5, 2013
75
21
Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Category........
FAM
Visa Office......
Mississauga
App. Filed.......
23-12-2016
AOR Received.
14-04-2017
File Transfer...
14-04-2017
Med's Done....
Upfront
Passport Req..
31-10-2017
VISA ISSUED...
01-12-2017
Hello all, quick question if anyone can support.

My current IEC working permit expires soon and my permanent residency application is currently processing so won't come through before my IEC expires.

I'm leaving the country but not until after my IEC expires, do I have to leave and then come back to activate my visitor visa. Or can I let my IEC expire and then technically I will be a visitor on a visitor visa automatically.

Thanks so much for help :)
 
No - you won't be on a visitor visa automatically (unless your PR application is inland spousal sponsorship and you've included an OWP with the application). You need to apply to change your status to visitor. If you leave and want to re-enter - you'll need an ETA.
 
No - you won't be on a visitor visa automatically (unless your PR application is inland spousal sponsorship and you've included an OWP with the application). You need to apply to change your status to visitor. If you leave and want to re-enter - you'll need an ETA.

Thank you so much for your email.
I already have my ETA so I'm assuming it's just a matter of leaving and then returning with the ETA in hand at the Canadian border to activate it?
 
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Thank you so much for your email.
I already have my ETA so I'm assuming it's just a matter of leaving and then returning with the ETA in hand at the Canadian border to activate it?

Are you leaving Canada as soon as your WP expires, or are you still staying for a few weeks/days after? You left it ambiguous in your first post. If so, then you still have to change to visitor status. It may be simpler to leave as soon as your WP expires, then you will reenter on the ETA.
 
Are you leaving Canada as soon as your WP expires, or are you still staying for a few weeks/days after? You left it ambiguous in your first post. If so, then you still have to change to visitor status. It may be simpler to leave as soon as your WP expires, then you will reenter on the ETA.

I'm sorry for being a little ambiguous. My WP expires next Friday, I have already applied and received my ETA, the date in which my WP expires, should I be leaving Canada and then return the same day with the ETA status?
 
Are you leaving Canada as soon as your WP expires, or are you still staying for a few weeks/days after? You left it ambiguous in your first post. If so, then you still have to change to visitor status. It may be simpler to leave as soon as your WP expires, then you will reenter on the ETA.

I'm planning on staying 3 weeks once my WP expires
 
Are you leaving Canada as soon as your WP expires, or are you still staying for a few weeks/days after? You left it ambiguous in your first post. If so, then you still have to change to visitor status. It may be simpler to leave as soon as your WP expires, then you will reenter on the ETA.
OK, so I believe you should do what scylla says to apply to change your status as visitor for these three weeks.

Thanks again for your help and I have a few more questions if you can help.

- Once I leave the day of my WP expires and then return, is the ETA sufficient if it's at a land border?
- Do I need to apply to change my status through IRCC costing $100.00, if so do I go on applied status until it is approved meaning I don't have to leave and then return?
- Does the apply to change status apply for me coming from a visa-exempt country?

Thanks for your answers, I'm getting a little nervous haha
 
Just to clarify that an ETA is irrelevant for a land border crossing as is only required to board a plane.
 
- Once I leave the day of my WP expires and then return, is the ETA sufficient if it's at a land border?
- Do I need to apply to change my status through IRCC costing $100.00, if so do I go on applied status until it is approved meaning I don't have to leave and then return?
- Does the apply to change status apply for me coming from a visa-exempt country?

Apply online to change your status to visitor before your work permit expires. You don't need to leave Canada, your eTA has nothing to do with it and there is no need to be nervous. It's all very straightforward.
 
- Once I leave the day of my WP expires and then return, is the ETA sufficient if it's at a land border?

As mentioned, eTA is only required to board an airplane to Canada. It's not something you hold a copy of, eTA is linked automatically to your passport so airline.

If already at a Canada land border, eTA is irrelevant as CBSA will not care if you got one or not.

- Do I need to apply to change my status through IRCC costing $100.00, if so do I go on applied status until it is approved meaning I don't have to leave and then return?

Yes, if you apply to extend status from inside Canada, there is no need to exit/re-enter and you will be on implied status as a visitor until you get result.


Does the apply to change status apply for me coming from a visa-exempt country?

Yes.