UK Citizen Wanting to Do Volunteer Work for more than 6 months

[BeaglePlops]

Hi there,

I'm from the UK and very interested in visiting Canada for a year as a visitor and hopefully do some volunteer work. I'm too old (31 now) to apply for working holiday visa (I don't wish to do paid work) but I understand that I would be able to enter as a visitor for 6 months initially and before that time is up I would be able to apply to extend. Is this correct? And do they usually allow a further 6 month extension.

Also, I've been finding it difficult to find much information on volunteering, is it possible to do volunteer work as a visitor?

If any of you could help that would be great.

Many Thanks

E.

 

[Baloo]

What location are you looking at in Canada?

 

[BeaglePlops]

Ideally I'm looking to volunteer in the Vancouver area.

 

[scylla]

I believe there are very strict limitations around the kind of volunteering you can do as a visitor. This was discussed some time ago but I can find the thread. If I remember correctly, if the work is something they might pay someone to do, then it's not allowed as a visitor.

 

[scylla]

Here's the thread:

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/-t33882.0.html

 

[BeaglePlops]

Many thanks, this volunteer business looks tricky and slightly ambiguous but there appears to be a chance I could do something. Would you have any clues about how feasible it would be to stay in Vancouver as a visitor for 6 months then extending for a further 6 months?

 

[job_seeker]

You may be allowed entry and visit for 6 months. Being granted another 6 months extension would be contingent upon the reason you'll be giving when you applied for the extension which may or may not get approved but you'll never know lest you tried.

Many thanks, this volunteer business looks tricky and slightly ambiguous but there appears to be a chance I could do something. Would you have any clues about how feasible it would be to stay in Vancouver as a visitor for 6 months then extending for a further 6 months?