Canada seems to be the hive of immigrants as up to 200,000 foreigners immigrate to the country every year. Canada is still accepting work permit applications from immigrants who wish to work in different work sectors in the country. The following categories of foreign workers are now allowed to cross the border into Canada by land or air:
- Temporary workers who hold a valid work permit or who are approved for a work permit but have not yet been issued the work permit
- IEC participants who have a valid job offer but have not yet activated their work permits
- IEC participants who have already activated their work permits and were outside the country temporarily (this group do not require a valid job offer in order to re-enter).
What is a Canadian Work Permit?
A Canadian work permit is a work permission given to foreigners to take jobs within Canada by the Government of Canada. Upon entering into Canada, it is required that you obtain work permit from the Government to enable you work in the country.
However, in some cases, you can work without a permit or job offer in Canada, but it is considered illegal as the law goes against such.
Eligibility requirements for Canadian Work Permit and Visa
No matter your category or where you are applying from, you must meet the following requirements for your application to be considered, that is to say, you must:
- prove that you have enough money to take care of yourself and your family members during your stay in Canada and to return home,
- not plan to work for an employer who, on a regular basis, offers striptease, erotic dance, escort services or erotic massages,
- convince an officer that you will leave Canada when your work permit expires,
- be in good health and have a medical exam, if needed,
- prove that you are law abiding and must obey the law of the land,
- not be a danger to Canada’s security,
- have no record of criminal activity (police clearance certificate may be required to this effect),
- not plan to work for an employer listed with the status “ineligible” on the list of employers who failed to comply with the conditions, and
- give the officer any other documents they ask for to prove you can enter the country.
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Do You Know That You Can Turn Your Work Visa into Permanent Residency?
This is possible for those who are currently working in Canada and have applied for permanent residence. If you are in this category, you may be eligible for a bridging open work permit if your work permit will expire in four months or less. It means that you can keep working while a decision is being taken on your permanent resident application. To be eligible, you must have applied under the
- Federal Skilled Worker Program,
- Federal Skilled Trades Program,
- Canadian Experience Class,
- Provincial Nominee Program,
- Caring for People with High Medical Needs Class, or
- Caring for Children Class.
In addition to the above, you must
- currently be in Canada,
- have valid status on a work permit that is due to expire within four months,
- pay the work permit processing fee and the Open Work Permit Holder fee, and
- select “Open Work Permit” as the type of work permit when you complete your work permit application.
How Long Does It Take To Receive a Work Permit After Completing The Application?
The processing time depends on the time you complete your application and the office you applied at. It takes between 1-27 weeks to process a Canadian Work Permit.
The Work Permit processing time completely depends on the completion of your application and the office you applied at. We have found that it can take between 1-27 weeks to process a Canadian Work Permit.
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Basic Steps Getting a Canadian Work Permit and Visa
Four basic steps are involved:
Step 1: Employer applies for labour market opinion (if necessary)
Step 2: Employer extends temporary job offer to foreign workers
Step 3: Foreign skilled worker applies for work permit
Step 4: Work permit is issued