Health coverage required for Open Work Permit application?

[Ponga]

There was also the episode of Border Security where someone working on assumed "implied" status of an expired IEC while they applied for some other kind of permit, was told they were working illegally by CBSA.

Not to mention the couple of posters who actually shared their stories here of being caught by IRCC doing this. Although that was many years ago.

It seems like lots of people work on expired IECs under the illusion of implied status, and vast majority don't get caught so don't see any consequence. Guess it's a risk each applicant will need to decide if they want to take.

Exactly! I've seen that episode a couple of times, although I believe he had applied to extend his current WP.

The guy walked into the CBSA office at one of the Vancouver area border crossings and was not only told that he did NOT have implied status as a worker, but that he would be given a couple of days to get things in order before he had to leave Canada!

I still go back to what i posted previously:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=188&top=17

Did you read this part:
Yes. You can stay in Canada, and may be able to keep working, under what's called implied status.


That says that it's not automatic, right? This seems to be one of those exceptions. Otherwise, they words `may be able to keep working' wouldn't be there.

 

[Rob_TO]

Plus in general, allowing people to continue working in this case would create a major loophole for the IEC visa. A day before IEC is set to expire, anyone could simply mail in an OWP application to IRCC even though they don't qualify for it. Under "implied status", they would then be able to continue working on IEC for a few months until they get official rejection of the OWP.

 

[jedmonds85]

As much as I really want the CIC agent I spoke to to be right, I see where you guys are coming from. It's a complicated process for anyone, whatever their route to PR, and it's ambiguity like this that can potentially change the outcome of a case. Look at this thread, I only found out I was about to break the law by chance, while asking about an unrelated health insurance issue!

 

[Ponga]

When it comes to something as serious (and complicated) as Spousal Sponsorship, there really shouldn't be such ambiguity with things like this, but...there is.

Since anyone can call the Call Centre, even those with random questions about `coming to Canada', there really should also be a dedicated number that a person, that has paid for and applied for sponsorship, to call, to talk with someone trained in that specific type of PR stream. The Call Centre `clerks' are apparently only capable of confirming that you have called them.

Case in point:

When we were getting ready to apply, I was told by the Call Centre, that because my partner was still legally married (although legally separated for years), that I would need to apply for Conjugal Partner sponsorship.

 

[clda123]

I know this thread is old but I am going through the same process currently. My partner's friend's father works for immigration and informed me that applying for an OWP for the inland spousal sponsor for PR is separate to IEC as it has its own requirements; IEC visa holders aren't automatically eligible to apply for an OWP. In this particular case, the OWP is for people that are inland and are applying under the family class sponsorship. And yes, you do get implied status, again confirmed by immigration officer.

 

[WeegieInOttawa]

I know this thread is old but I am going through the same process currently. My partner's friend's father works for immigration and informed me that applying for an OWP for the inland spousal sponsor for PR is separate to IEC as it has its own requirements; IEC visa holders aren't automatically eligible to apply for an OWP. In this particular case, the OWP is for people that are inland and are applying under the family class sponsorship. And yes, you do get implied status, again confirmed by immigration officer.

Do you have a question?

 

[boredinwinterpeg]

*Update*

I just got off the phone with a CIC agent, who told me that, as long as I apply for the open work permit before my IEC work permit runs out, then I WILL benefit from implied status, and I WILL be able to carry on working as normal until the OWP gets approved (or refused).

I made it very clear that I'd heard the IEC is not eligible for implied status, and she said that's not true, and that the only problem would be if I was applying for another IEC permit, as I've already been given a 2 year permit under that program and I can't be issued another one.

Hey there! Any tips for getting through to an agent when calling the CIC hotline? Thanks!

 

[canuck78]

Hey there! Any tips for getting through to an agent when calling the CIC hotline? Thanks!

Half the time they give the wrong advice.