Do I need a visitor visa once my work permit expires if I'm American?

[tylerfts]

Hey, quick question:

I'm on a temporary work permit that expires in May, but my wife and I are planning on filing for my PR (spousal sponsorship). I'm from the US, do I need to apply to extend my stay/change my status? I'll be filing outland, as I'll be traveling to the US occasionally in the next 6 months or so.

Thanks!

 

[scylla]

Yes - you should file to change your status to visitor.

 

[CanV]

Leave and return as visitor. Yes you have to do take an action since you are now in the country for a different reason than the one you were admitted for.

 

[tylerfts]

Thanks for your answers. Is it a bad decision to request a visitor visa for a year, if I specify that I'm waiting on my PR app?

 

[CanV]

You cannot request the duration of the a visitor visa.This is decided by visa offices abroad. If you mean you want to request change of status then, if approved, you will get a document, cant remember what its called. In any case, the max allowed stay is six months and you can apply to extend for another six months, although I doubt you would be granted extensions since you will have lived in the country for a long time, and you dont really appeal as a "visitor".

As a US citizen you do not need a visa to enter Canada, you probably already know that, but you arent off the hook. You still have to convince officer your intention is to visit temporary, and dont think for a second to hide your long term plans, or not to tell them you have a PR app if you have one, they already know that.