Visitors have been stranded in Canada during Covid-19. The option we find is to extend our stay through a Visitor Record and we did. The question remains, is there a way of becoming a permanent resident, able to work, pay our taxes etc? We are already here, some of us have high education levels or even can do work in the necessary areas the country needs. Is there a way for us to accomplished that? We do have our language skills assesed. Maybe somebody can help if there is a way to enable us to work and earn our keep instead of being relying on our friends as we have done for all these months. We want to contribute to society,
Temporary residents in Canada during Covid. Is there a factible expedite way to become permanent resident?
- Thread starter Yamely
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If you are eligible for express entry & have enough CRS points, you can apply. Just because you are a visitor during Covid doesn’t give you a benefit. You came to visit not work. You probably can go home.
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry.html
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry.html
Thanks. I was just wondering. We cannot go back yet, borders are not opened for us and it is very risky to get into a plane with the new cases popping up. We were just wondering if there was a way as they said in the news they were looking into that because immigration numbers had dropped so much. Anyway. Thank you.
The government is going to be addressing the drop in immigration numbers through increasing the intake of applications through existing economic immigration streams and in some cases trying to speed up procesing of those application.
So if you want to remain permanently, you would need to qualify through one of the existing programs like Express Entry or PNP. There is no immigration stream which gives you PR just for visiting Canada. Suggest you start by researching the Express Entry program. This is a points based program and you'll need to achieve a score of 470+ to be selected out of the pool. Details below:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/works.html
If you want to change your status to a temporary work permit to allow you to work in Canada, then you need to start by finding an employer in Canada willing to offer you a job and that employer will need to get an approved LMIA. Once you have the job offer + approved LMIA, you can apply for a work permit.
FYI my husband is a registered Paramedic and has been running a covid testing centre and IRCC wont even expedite his work permit and he absolutely an essential worker so Im afraid you've got no chance of expediting anything. You'd have to apply through normal streams but don't hold your breath for expedited processing. Good luck
I have not heard of a country whose borders are closed to their own citizens. Whatever country that is, that sucks. Definitely follow what others have said and check if you have enough points to apply for economic programs. Ensure you keep always have legal status here because if you don't, you won't be eligible to apply for those while in Canada. Good luck.
Just an FYI agree that although it would be unusual for a country closing borders to own citizens there are countries who by default make it difficult for any one to travel back such as Australia for example where at one point they cut the number of inbound flights and therefore new arrivals down to about 4000 people a week. Also that country did ban virtually all international travel out of the country other than assume authorised compassionate.
Not sure but NZ may have taken a similar approach so by default even if not intentional countries make it difficult for anyone to travel.
The main Australian airline Qantas for example has as I understand it suspended all normal international operations until at least mid 2021 and similar with AIR NZ other than mainly cargo
As for flying being safe then people can agree to disagree but being on a plane is possibly safer at least than the actual airport part of a trip.
Anyway this was just for info even though the OP did not share which country they come from but travel for now is not as straight foward as it used to be
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It's a slight risk. Nowadays airlines equipped state of art filters in their planes, and all crew members and passengers are mandatory to wear facial coverings inside the airport and the airplane and not every passengers get the disease.
Just to add that it's probably less risk than going to grocery shopping when some people (who is carrying the virus but no symptoms) wear no facial coverings, no social distance and infected the disease to another person who wear no facial covering.
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I'm in the same boat. I came from the States at the end of February to visit my fianceé, then the vitus hit. US border patrol are denying people back into the country. They have their own guidelines that thrybfollow which they seem to just make up out of thin air. Its unconstitutional, but, the then sitting President gave them full authority to do whatever they want.
So, I'm gathering from most responses the only ways are either through job offer or express entry?
So, I'm gathering from most responses the only ways are either through job offer or express entry?
What's your status in the U.S.? Are you American? I assume you are not and that you are on an H1B or H4 or something like that.
In terms of remaining in Canada long term or working here temporarily, the rules haven't changed due to COVID-19. It's the same as it was before. If you want to work in Canada, then you need a job offer from an employer in Canada and an approved LMIA in order to qualify for a work permit. If you want to remain long term (immigrate), then you need to qualify and be selected through an economic immigration program like Express Entry or PNP.
I guess another option would be a study permit provided you are willing to return to school full time and are able to pay international student fees.
Looking at your post again, the other very obvious option would be to marry your fiancee now (I'm assuming your fiancee is Canadian) and then have your fiancee sponsor you for PR through the inland spousal sponsorship route. You can include an open work permit with this application. The open work permit will likely be approved around 6-8 months of submitting the complete application package.
No, I was born and raised in Georgia. I'm a permanent residence there. Its just weird that I can't return as freely as Canada allowed me to come, pandemic or not.
We've looked into that aspect, but, looks as if its time to revisit that.
I'm thinking that Express Entry will have to be the way to go.
Thanks.