Can you meet potential employer while tourist or not ? a Final answer ?

[mauro80]

Hi everyone,
I'm from Italy.
I keep on reading quite confusing things regarding this topic.
I know Im not allow to Work because I don't have permission right.
But many forum and blog say you are not even allow to look for a job. So Im
confused. Am I allowed to have these meeting or not ? Is there something I
should avoid to say at the airport immigration ?

I have already set up some appointment but now I'm quite anxious over it.

Beside special programs (IEC) or federal skilled work program.
And beside Skype interview. How is someone supposed to find a job opportunity
if he's not even allowed to talk with potential employers ?
I understand the Governament wants to keep Canadian first, but apparently I
don't see the exit here.

has anyone understand the whole point ?


posted also in TWP forum

 

[scylla]

The answer is easy.

You can certainly look for work and meet with potential employers as a visitor. You don't need a work permit to do that. You just need a work permit to physically start working.

The only place where you have to be careful when it comes to looking for work is when you enter Canada as a visitor. When you enter Canada as a visitor, one of the things assessed by immigration officials is if you are a genuine visitor who is going to follow the rules stipulated and not overstay the time allowed for a visit. If you tell the immigration official that you are coming to Canada to look for a job, if they find printed copies of your resume in your luggage or soft copies on your PC, if they find text messages on your phone discussing jobs with potential employers - these types of things can complicate your entry into Canada since you will no longer look like a genuine visitor but someone who intends to stay in Canada long term.

So... perfectly legal to look for jobs and interview for jobs as a visitor. Just avoid looking like that's the purpose of your visit when you enter Canada.

 

[Jalex23]

Hi everyone,
I'm from Italy.
I keep on reading quite confusing things regarding this topic.
I know Im not allow to Work because I don't have permission right.
But many forum and blog say you are not even allow to look for a job. So Im
confused. Am I allowed to have these meeting or not ? Is there something I
should avoid to say at the airport immigration ?

I have already set up some appointment but now I'm quite anxious over it.

Beside special programs (IEC) or federal skilled work program.
And beside Skype interview. How is someone supposed to find a job opportunity
if he's not even allowed to talk with potential employers ?
I understand the Governament wants to keep Canadian first, but apparently I
don't see the exit here.

has anyone understand the whole point ?


posted also in TWP forum

The way you should do it is simple:

- If you are coming for an interview then you should state that in your application form. Usually companies that fly in people write invitation letters stating something like "the candidate will leave the country after the end interview", also it will specify the details of financing and the potential schedule.
- On the entry point you show this letter so the officer knows you come for an interview (one or many).
- Then you fly back home and wait for results.
- Then you apply for work permit based on the offer and the LMO given to you by the company (which in first place it needs to fly in people).

Now, if you did something that doesn't look like a logical variation of what I said then what you are doing could be illegal. Why?

If you apply for a turist/visit VISA without specifying that you were coming for interviews then that lying to CIC.
If you don't say you come for an interview at the entry point that is also lying.
Doing anything you didn't specify at the entry point nor on your VISA application is lying.

Lying to Immmigration Canada is a serious offense.

So to answer your question, yes you can meet a potential emplyer as long as you specified that reason either during your application or at the point of entry.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

If you apply for a turist/visit VISA without specifying that you were coming for interviews then that lying to CIC.
If you don't say you come for an interview at the entry point that is also lying.
Doing anything you didn't specify at the entry point nor on your VISA application is lying.

Lying to Immmigration Canada is a serious offense.

So to answer your question, yes you can meet a potential emplyer as long as you specified that reason either during your application or at the point of entry.

OP does not need to state that s/he is coming to meet with a potential employer. It is not an offense for him/her to enter as a visitor and have an interview without telling CIC. A person is allowed to do those things while a visitor.

 

[mauro80]

Sincerly thank you all for the reply, however this keep on beeing such a grey area...

You say the answer is Easy but...

Its not illegal to have meeting but you should avoid saying you will be doing interview... WoW
Am I the only one who still doesn't get the final point over it ?

Anyway that's exatly MY situation: I arrive saturday and I leave exactly 7 days later. Yes I have fly back ticket. Yes I already have accomodations and hotel.
But yes: I have some appointment already set up.

Its 100% sure I'll fly back in 7 days 'cause I have a job in my country and that's just a vacation.
Its 100% sure that if the things go on I will proceed following all law and procedures.

Still haven't understand if I have to declare it at border or not...

 

[mauro80]

- If you are coming for an interview then you should state that in your application form

Hi, Thank you but...
What application form ? My country is Visa exempt for tourist. I never applyed any form for this incoming travel.
Are you refearing to some paper you have to fill while the airplane is landing that will be asking if my parents were Nazi, or if I'm bringing tropical fruits or strange animals in my luggage ?

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Still haven't understand if I have to declare it at border or not...

You don't have to say anything about it. Entry into Canada depends on the border officer; some would be perfectly fine with what you are doing, as you are not breaking the rules and you have your hotel booking and return ticket. Others might think you intend to break the rules, regardless of your return ticket; they might think that if you get a job, you will stay and work illegally. If they have that suspicion, they can refuse you.

You aren't breaking the rules by not saying anything.

What application form ?

Ignore that.

 

[mauro80]

Well,
just in case anyone knows how did it go ...
The border officier didn't even say a word.
He stamp my passport and moved the hand away telling me to go.

In a way: the mistery continues

 

[mikeymyke]

I was hoping for something more exciting like, they found some concealment inside your shoes.

 

[bandwidth]

Well,
just in case anyone knows how did it go ...
The border officier didn't even say a word.
He stamp my passport and moved the hand away telling me to go.

In a way: the mistery continues

hi mauro80,

i'm just wondering, based on your ticket, you are expected to leave Canada in (i.e. 2 weeks, a month)? and did the officer give you a 6-month stay?

 

[Jalex23]

Hi, Thank you but...
What application form ? My country is Visa exempt for tourist. I never applyed any form for this incoming travel.
Are you refearing to some paper you have to fill while the airplane is landing that will be asking if my parents were Nazi, or if I'm bringing tropical fruits or strange animals in my luggage ?

If you don't need a VISA then there is no application form (you are writing in a TRV forum, so I wrongly assumed you had a VISA).

OP does not need to state that s/he is coming to meet with a potential employer. It is not an offense for him/her to enter as a visitor and have an interview without telling CIC. A person is allowed to do those things while a visitor.

Correct. I forgot to include "if you are asked". If you knowingly omit information then that's lying.

I have also seen people getting asked like "would you be looking for a job during your stay". At a direct question you would have to be truthful while answering.

Well,
just in case anyone knows how did it go ...
The border officier didn't even say a word.
He stamp my passport and moved the hand away telling me to go.

In a way: the mistery continues

No such mystery. The officer didn't ask you so that's alright.

Usually that's the way they are. As we all have been saying it is a matter of luck. If they have lots of people waiting they just see your passport, and will ask how long you will be staying and then let you go. Or maybe they are bored and will give you a hard time, asking and asking questions.... you never know.

As Canuck said, it is not illegal to look for a job, and it is not illegal not to say anything if you don't get asked. As long as you don't lie in the entry point. Did you lie? You didn't have a chance to lie, so you were playing by the rules.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

If you don't need a VISA then there is no application form (you are writing in a TRV forum, so I wrongly assumed you had a VISA).

This isn't "a TRV forum". This is the "Visitors" section of the forum; visitors can be visa-exempt or non visa-exempt.

 

[Jalex23]

This isn't "a TRV forum". This is the "Visitors" section of the forum; visitors can be visa-exempt or non visa-exempt.

That is why I said "I WRONGLY assumed".

 

[mauro80]

I'm back in my country now, and all went well.
I stayed just 7 days.
And, in a way, YES = I DID search for job. I did job interviews and I WAS proposed to work for some companies (actually all I went to job interview do want me now).

The funniest thing in this all topic is that - AGAIN - Still I haven't understood if I did something illegal or not.

It is not illegal to search, but you are not supposed to search for job like if they ask you if you are going to search for job you might have trouble.
i wasn't asked nothing so I did not have any trouble, but If they asked me something I still don't know what I should have say.

You keep on beeing very nice to answer this topic and I like the fact that many ppl still reply and read.
But again You can say it's not illegal to search for job, but at the same time that it is.

Just trying to help future people...

 

[canuck_in_uk]

The funniest thing in this all topic is that - AGAIN - Still I haven't understood if I did something illegal or not.

You did nothing illegal.

Border officers use their personal judgement to decide whether to let people in. Some officers hold the opinion that a person looking for work might do something illegal if they get a job.