Changing a visitor's visa to a work visit WITHIN Canada

[jessan41]

Hello,

My friend is coming to visit from Scotland next month on a 6 month visitor's visa, but he has mentioned that while here, he might like to check out the job market. (He's an IT specialist). Is it possible to change a visitor's visa to a work visa if he finds an employer that's interested in him?
Also, whatever happened to "landed immigrant status"? Both my parents and my best friend are landed immigrants from the UK but I never see it mentioned as an option anymore.

Thanks so much for your insight and advice.

 

[scylla]

Yes - your friend can switch to a work permit either from within Canada or by flagpoling (going to a US / Canada land border to obtain a work permit). To do this he will need a full time job offer from an employer and that employer will have to obtain an approved Labour Market Opinion (LMO). Prior to applying for an LMO, the employer will have to advertise the job for at least one full month to prove no Canadians could be found for the role. The processing time for the LMO is anywhere from 6 to 20 weeks these days.

What you are referring to as a "landed immigrant" is officially referred to as a "permanent resident".

 

[jessan41]

Thank-you for taking the time to review my post, scylla. Just one more question. The LMO application, during the waiting period, can my friend work or only once the LMO is granted? (Just seems like a long time for an employer to hold a vacant job open just because of paperwork, and therefore unlikely for an employer to do it.)

Thanks again!

 

[scylla]

Thank-you for taking the time to review my post, scylla. Just one more question. The LMO application, during the waiting period, can my friend work or only once the LMO is granted? (Just seems like a long time for an employer to hold a vacant job open just because of paperwork, and therefore unlikely for an employer to do it.)

Thanks again!

No - your friend cannot work while waiting for the LMO. He also cannot work once the LMO is granted. He won't be allowed to start working until he has a valid work permit (the work permit is what he applies for AFTER he has an approved LMO). It's a multi-step process and he can't work until he reaches the end of that process.

Yes - it's a long process. There is also a fee the employer has to pay for the LMO to be processed and paperwork they have to complete. Also, there is never a guarantee the LMO will be approved. For these reason many/most employers aren't willing to consider foreign candidates for open positions. So he should unfortunately expect it to be quite difficult to find an employer.

 

[Jalex23]

(Just seems like a long time for an employer to hold a vacant job open just because of paperwork, and therefore unlikely for an employer to do it.)

Yes! That's the whole point, to discourage employers from hiring foreigners just out of convinience instead of out of need. If the employer really NEEDS a foreigner then he will be willing to do all that.