Hi all
Okay here's my situation and any advice would be really appreciated
I'm from Ireland and came to Canada on a 1 year Usit open work permit which expired on March 28th 2012. Due to some mistakes there was a delay in getting my second year Usit work permit before the first one expired. I now have my IM5665 form so all I need to do is cross the border and I will be issued my second year Usit visa, the IM5665 is good for validation until June 2013.
But here's the problem
When my first visa expired I crossed the border to come back as a visitor until I received my new one. I was hoping to be allowed to stay for 6 months as a visitor as that would have been plenty of time, unfortunately the immigration officer at the airport was really stern about it so they gave me 1 month to stay, then I was to leave after the month was up if I still hadn't got my new Usit visa, and they also put a stamp on my passport saying CanadaImmigration valid until April 28th 2012 (the date I was to leave by). Anyway the month passed and I still hadn't got my visa so basically I just stayed and I am still here, employed working full time, basically my employers turned a blind eye to it.
So now I'm kind of worried, I really want to be legal here again but how much of a risk is it to cross the border now? If I do decide to do it I plan to fly back to Ireland for a few weeks then back here, Making it look like Ive been in Ireland all this time.
Ive got a great job and I want to stay so can anybody give me advice
do I just keep my head down and stay?
Do I take the chance to get my new visa?
Has anybody else ever been in this situation?
Is it really that big of a deal?
If I get legal again will getting an LMO and perminant residence be an option?
I'm open to all suggestions
Okay here's my situation and any advice would be really appreciated
I'm from Ireland and came to Canada on a 1 year Usit open work permit which expired on March 28th 2012. Due to some mistakes there was a delay in getting my second year Usit work permit before the first one expired. I now have my IM5665 form so all I need to do is cross the border and I will be issued my second year Usit visa, the IM5665 is good for validation until June 2013.
But here's the problem
When my first visa expired I crossed the border to come back as a visitor until I received my new one. I was hoping to be allowed to stay for 6 months as a visitor as that would have been plenty of time, unfortunately the immigration officer at the airport was really stern about it so they gave me 1 month to stay, then I was to leave after the month was up if I still hadn't got my new Usit visa, and they also put a stamp on my passport saying CanadaImmigration valid until April 28th 2012 (the date I was to leave by). Anyway the month passed and I still hadn't got my visa so basically I just stayed and I am still here, employed working full time, basically my employers turned a blind eye to it.
So now I'm kind of worried, I really want to be legal here again but how much of a risk is it to cross the border now? If I do decide to do it I plan to fly back to Ireland for a few weeks then back here, Making it look like Ive been in Ireland all this time.
Ive got a great job and I want to stay so can anybody give me advice
do I just keep my head down and stay?
Do I take the chance to get my new visa?
Has anybody else ever been in this situation?
Is it really that big of a deal?
If I get legal again will getting an LMO and perminant residence be an option?
I'm open to all suggestions