Short-term Work Permit Exemption as a Postgraduate Student

[mtau97]

Hi all,

I am a PhD student in Australia and have received a letter of invitation to attend the University of Alberta from 12 September to 12 October (30 days) to continue my PhD study in one of their engineering research groups. The letter states that I am invited "for a period of no more than 30 days under the Global Skills Strategy's short-term work permit exemption: up to 30 consecutive calendar days". Apparently, the activities I will be undertaking are classified as skill level 0 or A of the National Occupation Classification. After checking the Global Skills Strategy's website (https://www.canada.ca/en/immigratio...-worker/temporary/global-skills-strategy.html), it seems that I have been classified as a "Highly-skilled worker" and I must therefore be out of the country within a strict 30 day timeframe.

However, I wish to attend two events outside of the 30 day timeframe:

1. I wish to be in Toronto from 5 to 11 September to attend a friend's wedding.
2. I wish to be in Vancouver from 13 to 17 October to attend a study-related conference.

My questions are as follows:

• Have I been correctly classified as a Highly-skilled worker even though I will not be receiving any income while I am in Canada?
• Would the "Researcher" classification be more suitable for my circumstances (120 day work permit exemption according to the Global Skills Strategy's website)?
• Can I enter under a tourist visa instead?

Thanks in advance for your help - it is greatly appreciated.