Last chance to convert your Visit Visa to Work Permit from within Canada.
The temporary public policy allowing visitors to apply for a work permit inside Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic is finally coming to an end this February.
At the height of the pandemic, the Canadian government introduced a pubic policy that allowed those in Canada temporarily to change their visit visas into employer specific work permits; that is; if one received a job offer that was backed by a positive LMIA / LMIA Exemption.
The public policy was launched to help employers find employees amongst the large pool of people already in Canada during the pandemic due to the closed borders. This is because the government did not want to risk having all those people stuck in Canada due to travel restrictions overburden the social services and hence the move to allow them to work while they were in Canada.
The temporary public policy was launched on August 2020 and was set to end on August 31, 2021. However, due to the delay in borders reopening, the government extended the public policy, which was now set to end on February 28, 2023.
Once the application was made, the applicants would receive their work permits at the address indicated. One needed to be inside Canada with a valid status, have a valid job offer and meet all the other standard admissibility criteria to acquire a work permit. The temporary public policy made it easier for people to change their status inside Canada, which was not the case before the policy. More than 15,000 people have benefited from this program since its launch in August 2020
What next?
Unfortunately, the temporary public policy has ended and will no longer be in use as of February 28, 2023. Does this mean that visitors will be unable to change their status? No, however, they will have revert to the previous procedure that was in force before the pandemic.
Going back to the previous procedure means that visitors wanting to change their status to a work permit will have to apply outside Canada. The address indicated in the application should be that of your home country, and one will have to leave and re-enter the country for the work permit to be activated. The process can be tedious, time-consuming and expensive as it involves either travelling to your home country or another country to re-enter Canada.
Flagpoling.
Since most people do not want to take up this expense, they opt for the flagpoling option. Flagpoling is a completely legal process to activate a new Canadian immigration status. The process involves leaving Canada to the USA border and then having to re-enter Canada. At the border, the CBS officers will process and activate your work permit changing your visitation status. Unlike travelling back to your home country, the process takes up to only a day.
While one can do this on their own, it is recommended that you have legal representation during the process. It is important to have a licensed immigration consultant or lawyer escort you through your flag pole as they will provide legal advice on what and what not to do. Additionally, they will work to ensure that the documents required are in place and there is no risk of having a shortened work permit or refusal of entry altogether.
How can we help?
Milele Immigration Services is a professional Canadian immigration consultant dedicated to helping you immigrate to Canada, Professionally, Authentically and Honestly.
We are based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, but are committed to serving clients worldwide virtually. Our Regulated Immigration Consultant (RCIC), Loise Githiga, is a committed and experienced immigration consultant who understands that every individual’s immigration pathway is unique and handles the immigration process as that. As not a one-size shoe fits all when it comes to immigration due to variations in qualifications and needs to be met, having a unique and personalized immigration experience will help address and meet one’s needs. This will help you choose the program you are best suited for to increase your chances of success.
We cover everything to do with Canadian immigration, from PR applications, Express Entry, Visitor’s Visa, Study Permits, Family Class Sponsorships, flagpoling escorts to Canadian Citizenship.
Why struggle with your immigration process while we are here to help you? Let us help you by booking a consultation with us.