Hi all!
So, I'm in Canada on a working holiday visa and am applying for a new visa (because my current one can't be extended, but I can re-apply).
I'm currently in two pools of the International Experince Program:
- Working Holiday (same as the visa I'm currently on)
- Young Professional (my employer has already issued an offer of employment)
The problem is, to apply via the International Experience Program you must first be invited to apply. Invitations are sent in rounds based on the current quotas of respective countries (I'm Swedish). In the Young Professionals category, for example, I'm currently in the pool to receive an invitation along with 6 other Swedes, and the status of me receiving an invitation in the next round is listed as "very low". I may have to wait several rounds before I receive an invitation to apply.
My current visa expires April 1. I understand that once I have sent my official application (after receiving an invitation to do so), I can in fact keep working beyond April 1 while awaiting approval/denial of my new application.
But, since I haven't received the invitation yet and likely won't receive one before April 1, does that mean I will have to leave the country on or before April 1, await my invitation, then return once I have a new approved visa?
Or, can I keep working beyond April 1 just by being in the pool to receive an invitation?
If I can't keep working, am I allowed to stay in Canada as a tourist while awaiting the invitation, or do I need to leave the country (and potentially return as a tourist on a visitors visa/ESTA)?
I have a feeling I already know (but don't like) the answer to all this, but the reason I'm asking is because a friend is claiming I can keep working beyond April 1 until I receive a letter that I must leave because my visa/work permit has expired. This sounds odd to me as that would likely be a violation of the work permit terms, but if there's a small chance that it's true, I'm hoping someone with experince can clear things up for me
Thanks in advance for any help!
So, I'm in Canada on a working holiday visa and am applying for a new visa (because my current one can't be extended, but I can re-apply).
I'm currently in two pools of the International Experince Program:
- Working Holiday (same as the visa I'm currently on)
- Young Professional (my employer has already issued an offer of employment)
The problem is, to apply via the International Experience Program you must first be invited to apply. Invitations are sent in rounds based on the current quotas of respective countries (I'm Swedish). In the Young Professionals category, for example, I'm currently in the pool to receive an invitation along with 6 other Swedes, and the status of me receiving an invitation in the next round is listed as "very low". I may have to wait several rounds before I receive an invitation to apply.
My current visa expires April 1. I understand that once I have sent my official application (after receiving an invitation to do so), I can in fact keep working beyond April 1 while awaiting approval/denial of my new application.
But, since I haven't received the invitation yet and likely won't receive one before April 1, does that mean I will have to leave the country on or before April 1, await my invitation, then return once I have a new approved visa?
Or, can I keep working beyond April 1 just by being in the pool to receive an invitation?
If I can't keep working, am I allowed to stay in Canada as a tourist while awaiting the invitation, or do I need to leave the country (and potentially return as a tourist on a visitors visa/ESTA)?
I have a feeling I already know (but don't like) the answer to all this, but the reason I'm asking is because a friend is claiming I can keep working beyond April 1 until I receive a letter that I must leave because my visa/work permit has expired. This sounds odd to me as that would likely be a violation of the work permit terms, but if there's a small chance that it's true, I'm hoping someone with experince can clear things up for me
Thanks in advance for any help!