E-commerce while visiting Canada?

[RyanD91]

I am an American citizen currently in Canada on an open work permit that will expire in less than a week and then i'll remain here on implied status while waiting for a decision on a visitor visa and ultimately spousal sponsorship PR and new open work permit.

I am currently self-employed selling handmade items and vintage re-sells on ebay and am wondering how this will effect my business if at all? It is 100% e-commerce.

As I understand it during my implied status I remain under conditions of my open work permit. Say I get approved by January for a visitor visa, would my e-commerce then be considered American work that I am overseeing from abroad? (for tax purposes etc) until my open work permit gets approved?

Its sort of confusing since it is both self-employment and e-commerce both entirely so I wouldn't be working for a Canadian employer.

I mean theoretically say I go to another country for vacation or to visit for a few weeks to a month or so to visit someone, wouldn't it still be ok to manage my e-commerce business?

90% of my customers are American too

 

[canuck78]

I am an American citizen currently in Canada on an open work permit that will expire in less than a week and then i'll remain here on implied status while waiting for a decision on a visitor visa and ultimately spousal sponsorship PR and new open work permit.

I am currently self-employed selling handmade items and vintage re-sells on ebay and am wondering how this will effect my business if at all? It is 100% e-commerce.

As I understand it during my implied status I remain under conditions of my open work permit. Say I get approved by January for a visitor visa, would my e-commerce then be considered American work that I am overseeing from abroad? (for tax purposes etc) until my open work permit gets approved?

Its sort of confusing since it is both self-employment and e-commerce both entirely so I wouldn't be working for a Canadian employer.

I mean theoretically say I go to another country for vacation or to visit for a few weeks to a month or so to visit someone, wouldn't it still be ok to manage my e-commerce business?

90% of my customers are American too

If you have changed your status to visitor then no you can't work.

 

[scylla]

I am an American citizen currently in Canada on an open work permit that will expire in less than a week and then i'll remain here on implied status while waiting for a decision on a visitor visa and ultimately spousal sponsorship PR and new open work permit.

I am currently self-employed selling handmade items and vintage re-sells on ebay and am wondering how this will effect my business if at all? It is 100% e-commerce.

As I understand it during my implied status I remain under conditions of my open work permit. Say I get approved by January for a visitor visa, would my e-commerce then be considered American work that I am overseeing from abroad? (for tax purposes etc) until my open work permit gets approved?

Its sort of confusing since it is both self-employment and e-commerce both entirely so I wouldn't be working for a Canadian employer.

I mean theoretically say I go to another country for vacation or to visit for a few weeks to a month or so to visit someone, wouldn't it still be ok to manage my e-commerce business?

90% of my customers are American too

During implied status, you do not necessarily remain under the conditions of your open work permit. You would only remain under the conditions of your open work permit if you have submitted a new work permit application before your OWP expires. In other words, the spousal sponsorship application + OWP would need to be submitted right now and reach IRCC before your OWP expires.

If you are gaining implied status through applying for a visitor visa, this allows you to remain in Canada under implied status legally - however this does not allow you to continue working. You must stop working as soon as your OWP expires (edited to add: stop working in a way that is classified as competing with the Canadian labour force).

Once you are a visitor, the e-commerce is fine provided you aren't selling to anyone who is in Canada. You will need to change the settings to disallow sales to Canada.

 

[RyanD91]

During implied status, you do not necessarily remain under the conditions of your open work permit. You would only remain under the conditions of your open work permit if you have submitted a new work permit application before your OWP expires. In other words, the spousal sponsorship application + OWP would need to be submitted right now and reach IRCC before your OWP expires.

If you are gaining implied status through applying for a visitor visa, this allows you to remain in Canada under implied status legally - however this does not allow you to continue working. You must stop working as soon as your OWP expires.

Once you are a visitor, the e-commerce is fine provided you aren't selling to anyone who is in Canada. You will need to change the settings to disallow sales to Canada.

Ok, so if I follow you correctly-

I can continue to operate my online business as long as customers arent from Canada? Less than 5% are Canadian anyways.

You seem knowledgeable so I have another question for you

Since I have applied for a visitor visa as of yesterday, my open work permit expires this coming weekend, will I still be able to submit my spousal sponsorship/ OWP next week while on implied status?

My wife is waiting to get a code from CRA so that she can download her tax assessment so we can send our application package

 

[scylla]

So is it illegal to manage an ecommerce business while on vacation in another country?

I guess what im confused by is im not employed by or seeking employees of Canadian background and almost all of my customers are in USA, I think maybe less than 5% are Canadian

Is there more nuance to this or would I essentially have to halt my website completely



Ok, so if I follow you correctly-

I can continue to operate my online business as long as customers arent from Canada? Less than 5% are Canadian anyways.

You seem knowledgeable so I have another question for you

Since I have applied for a visitor visa as of yesterday, my open work permit expires this coming weekend, will I still be able to submit my spousal sponsorship/ OWP next week while on implied status?

My wife is waiting to get a code from CRA so that she can download her tax assessment so we can send our application package

Yes, you can continue the e-commerce as long as you're not competing with the Canadian labour market. Fine to sell to customers as long as they are not in Canada.

Yes, you can submit your spousal sponsorship + OWP while on implied status.

Make sure you continue to extend your visitor status in Canada until the OWP is approved.

 

[RyanD91]

Yes, you can continue the e-commerce as long as you're not competing with the Canadian labour market. Fine to sell to customers as long as they are not in Canada.

Yes, you can submit your spousal sponsorship + OWP while on implied status.

Make sure you continue to extend your visitor status in Canada until the OWP is approved.

Well you have all the answers I need. Thank you very much!

One more question if youre able to answer it- For my OWP I am submitting an IMM5710. It is asking what my intentions are, would it be which of the following:

-Apply for work permit with same employer
-Restore status as worker
-apply for work permit for the first time with new employer
-get a new temporary resident permit (for inadmissable applicants only

im leaning towards the 2nd option, but unsure, It also asks my address of work, im assuming id just put my current address since im self emplyed?

all help is greatly appreciated

 

[scylla]

Well you have all the answers I need. Thank you very much!

One more question if youre able to answer it- For my OWP I am submitting an IMM5710. It is asking what my intentions are, would it be which of the following:

-Apply for work permit with same employer
-Restore status as worker
-apply for work permit for the first time with new employer
-get a new temporary resident permit (for inadmissable applicants only

im leaning towards the 2nd option, but unsure, It also asks my address of work, im assuming id just put my current address since im self emplyed?

all help is greatly appreciated

It's a new work permit. You are not restoring your status.

 

[RyanD91]

It's a new work permit. You are not restoring your status.

Ok

so would you recommend option 1 or 3? Since I am not getting a new employer and don’t really have an employer per se it’s a little confusing.

I guess new employer to leave room for the possibility of seeking employment outside of my own business?