Urgent question regard to visa issue while wait for PR

[Amazingsho]

I am from visa exempt country currently residing in Canada with IEC visa (1 year) and send my inland spouse sponsorship application in early Feb WITHOUT sending OWP with the package. My IEC visa expires in April and my employer is applying LMO for me (Issuance is not guaranteed).
Here is my question:

1.Should I apply for any kind of visa to stay in Canada while waiting for PR ?

2.Do I need to re-enter the country just to update my status after my IEC expires ?

I am planning to send my OWP once I get AOR(Suggested by CIC call center) and I understand by doing so I will gain implied status to say but,

3. Does implied status means I can just sit back and wait for my PR in Canada without doing anything like re-enter country or informing any federal service like CIC or service Canada ?

 

[marlasinger]

1. Not if you're filing for an OWP soon and gaining implied status.

2. If you leave Canada during the time that you have implied status - that is before your new work permit is granted but your other has expired - your implied status is then cancelled and you'd have to re-enter as a visitor and not be able to work. Best not to go anywhere until you have a valid new permit.

3. If you apply for the OWP before your current work permit expires that gives you implied status and essentially means you can carry on as usual - working, filing taxes, getting paid etc. And since you applied inland, I believe you are strongly expected to stay in Canada during the processing of your application.

 

[Amazingsho]

Hi Marla
One thing need to be mentioned is that IEC visa is locked with 1 year and not extendable. Nor it grants me a implied working status. That means, I need to switch to visitor status as soon as it expires.
I am planning to apply OWP once I get AOR. However it seems all the inland apps filed after January is “In transit” to CPC-M and who knows when CIC would issue AOR for us. Therefore I think I need to be prepared in case my visa expires before I get AOR and be able to apply OWP.
My question was that as person from visa exempt country, if I need to do anything to stay in Canada legally without gaining implied status after my IEC visa expires..

 

[marlasinger]

In that case, you can request to change your status and remain in Canada as a visitor before your current permit expires. You can do it all online. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/extend-stay.asp

Since your inland application is already in off and running and it's strongly encourage you don't leave Canada while your application is being processed, this is probably your best bet.