American freelancer working for Canadian companies. Can I visit these companies?

[ConfusedAmerican]

So I've searched for this specific issue but I can't seem to find an answer.

I'm an American living just south of the Canadian border. I'd like to freelance for Canadian companies in Montreal, which is within easy commute distance. i have a couple questions:

1. Is it possible to freelance for Canadian companies in Canada without Canadian citizenship? From what I can tell I'd need to be "sponsored" by a specific company as a full time employee and getting a freelance visa isn't possible.

2. If a freelance visa doesn't exist then I'd need to work remotely from the USA. I assume this is okay, but is it possible to visit my Canadian contractors in Canada? I don't think I could go there and talk business, but would it be possible to go and meet them as kind of a character review of sorts? I'm very unclear about what would be okay and not okay. I have a license in Vermont that allows me to freely cross the border but without a visa I don't think I can talk business, or can I as long as I'm not doing the actual work in Canada?

I've seen a "TN visa" mentioned when talking about a Canadian freelancer visiting American contractors but I don't know if there is a Canadian equivalent or if it's even applicable.

I'd greatly appreciate any insight on the subject.

 

[scylla]

1. You need a work permit to work for a Canadian company in Canada. There is no freelance work permit. You would need a full time offer of employment from one of these companies to qualify for a closed work permit. The close work permit would only allow you to work for the specific company that gave you the offer of employment.

 

[ConfusedAmerican]

1. You need a work permit to work for a Canadian company in Canada. There is no freelance work permit. You would need a full time offer of employment from one of these companies to qualify for a closed work permit. The close work permit would only allow you to work for the specific company that gave you the offer of employment.

Thanks, it's really helpful to hear a definitive answer. The main thing I'm wondering then is if I would be allowed to visit a Canadian company that I'm doing remote work for? For instance, could I drive over the border to Montreal and talk to a prospective employer and then do the actual work remotely in the US?

 

[amira_mais]

It sounds like you might be eligible to come to Canada as a business visitor. See: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/business-who.asp

 

[ConfusedAmerican]

It sounds like you might be eligible to come to Canada as a business visitor.

As far as I can tell, that's exactly what I was looking for, thanks!

It says that you are considered a "business visitor" if you are doing any of these things:

- look for ways to grow your business,
- invest
- advance your business relationships.

That certainly seems like it would cover meeting with potential freelance employers and/or building those relationship.


As a US citizen it appears that I wouldn't need a visa to visit so the only requirements that apply to me would be:

- you plan to stay for less than six months,
- you do not plan to enter the Canadian labour market,
- your main place of business, and source of income and profits, is outside Canada,

What I'm not sure about is the 3rd point. if I ended up getting enough business in Canada where it was my primary source of income for the year it seems that it becomes more of a grey area. I would think that if my office is in the US and the Canadian company/companies are only one of my clients then that would be perfectly fine, but what if I worked for a couple Canadian companies sporadically for 12 months and they were my biggest employer? I'm not sure.

 

[amira_mais]

As a US citizen it appears that I wouldn't need a visa to visit so the only requirements that apply to me would be:

- you plan to stay for less than six months,
- you do not plan to enter the Canadian labour market,
- your main place of business, and source of income and profits, is outside Canada,

What I'm not sure about is the 3rd point. if I ended up getting enough business in Canada where it was my primary source of income for the year it seems that it becomes more of a grey area. I would think that if my office is in the US and the Canadian company/companies are only one of my clients then that would be perfectly fine, but what if I worked for a couple Canadian companies sporadically for 12 months and they were my biggest employer? I'm not sure.

Yes, this is a bit of a grey area. However, at the time that you enter, will your main source of income and profits be within Canada? I guess not, since you're coming over in order to establish contacts and drum up business. This criterion may be more applicable on future visits if you do end up with primarily Canadian clients.