Can I enter Canada as a foreign worker in advance? HELP!!!

[Dong Qian]

Dear all,

I have a naive question.

I will visit McGill Uni from March 1st to August 31st, 2021. My visa application with a work permit has been accepted. In order to avoid long delays for my enrolment (due to a 14-day quarantine), I am wondering whether it is possible to seek entry to Canada before March 1st (say on or after February 20th), while the visit period (3.1 - 8.31) was explicitly mentioned in the visa application procedure (invitation letter and offer of employment).

Looking forward to hearing from you. Your help would be highly appreciated.

Best regards

 

[scylla]

Dear all,

I have a naive question.

I will visit McGill Uni from March 1st to August 31st, 2021. My visa application with a work permit has been accepted. In order to avoid long delays for my enrolment (due to a 14-day quarantine), I am wondering whether it is possible to seek entry to Canada before March 1st (say on or after February 20th), while the visit period (3.1 - 8.31) was explicitly mentioned in the visa application procedure (invitation letter and offer of employment).

Looking forward to hearing from you. Your help would be highly appreciated.

Best regards

Will you be visiting under a TRV or eTA? Do you fall under one of the travel exemptions that allows you to visit?

Generally speaking you would need to have an approved work permit to be able to board a plane and travel to Canada under the current restrictions.

 

[Dong Qian]

Hi Scylla,

Thanks for your prompt reply and sorry for my vague description.

According to the IRCC website, as a worker, your travel is non-discretionary if you're in either of these situations:

• You have a valid work permit and normally live in Canada.
  • This applies even if you’ve been laid off.
• You’re a worker who meets all of the following:
  • has a letter of introduction for a work permit (open or employer-specific)
  • has a valid job offer
  • can work once you enter Canada and complete your 14-day quarantine (unless you're exempt)

Based on my understanding, I satisfy the second situation. I have a letter of introduction for a work permit (POE letter, an approved TRV with a work permit), a valid job offer (invitation letter and offer of employment), and will first complete a 14-day quarantine and then work.

As the period (3.1 - 8.31, around 6 months) was mentioned in my invitation letter, I am just wondering whether it is possible to seek entry to Canada before March 1st (on or after February 20th) to avoid long delays for my enrolment (due to 14-day quarantine). This is my concern.

Best regards,

Dong

 

[scylla]

Hi Scylla,

Thanks for your prompt reply and sorry for my vague description.

According to the IRCC website, as a worker, your travel is non-discretionary if you're in either of these situations:

• You have a valid work permit and normally live in Canada.
  • This applies even if you’ve been laid off.
• You’re a worker who meets all of the following:
  • has a letter of introduction for a work permit (open or employer-specific)
  • has a valid job offer
  • can work once you enter Canada and complete your 14-day quarantine (unless you're exempt)

Based on my understanding, I satisfy the second situation. I have a letter of introduction for a work permit (POE letter, an approved TRV with a work permit), a valid job offer (invitation letter and offer of employment), and will first complete a 14-day quarantine and then work.

As the period (3.1 - 8.31, around 6 months) was mentioned in my invitation letter, I am just wondering whether it is possible to seek entry to Canada before March 1st (on or after February 20th) to avoid long delays for my enrolment (due to 14-day quarantine). This is my concern.

Best regards,

Dong

So to clarify - your work permit application has been approved (not just submitted and the application accepted).

Your post was confusing in saying that you're "visiting". You're actually coming to work on a work permit - you're not really visiting. Correct?

If your work permit is approved, you can travel to Canada. I don't see an issue coming earlier (i.e. ahead of your employment start date) to get through quarantine.

 

[Dong Qian]

So to clarify - your work permit application has been approved (not just submitted and the application accepted).

Your post was confusing in saying that you're "visiting". You're actually coming to work on a work permit - you're not really visiting. Correct?

If your work permit is approved, you can travel to Canada. I don't see an issue coming earlier (i.e. ahead of your employment start date) to get through quarantine.

Hi Scylla, You are right. Thanks a lot. Your explanation really addressed my concern.