Entering as a visitor while looking for a job

[eugenia.albano]

Hello everyone!
This is the first time I write in this forum so I hope it's the right section.
I'm coming to Canada next week for the Working Holiday program. I haven't found a job yet so I was thinking: can I enter the country as a visitor, find a job and then activate my six months working permit without leaving the country?
I found this topic "Permit application or job offer first for Working Holiday Visa?" (sorry apparently I'm not allowed to post links) and it says that I can but I have no idea how, am I supposed to go back to the airport's Border Port and just say that I want to activate my working permit? When I first enter the country should I explain this to the officer or should I just say that I intend to stay as a visitor? I have the 2500$ (actually I have more) required but no return plane ticket.
Sorry for all these question but I want to know how to behave... when I'll get to the airport I'm gonna be tired and stressed out, I don't want to add not knowing what to say to the border officer!
Thank you in advance!
Eugenia

 

[computergeek]

If you are from a visa exempt country you may apply for a change of status or you may apply at a POE as you enter Canada.

Note: unless you have arrived by plane from outside Canada you may not apply at the airport.

Applying inland via mail or online takes 2.5-3 months right now according to the posted times.

 

[PMM]

Hi

If you are from a visa exempt country you may apply for a change of status or you may apply at a POE as you enter Canada.

Note: unless you have arrived by plane from outside Canada you may not apply at the airport.

Applying inland via mail or online takes 2.5-3 months right now according to the posted times.

1. The OP appears to have a letter of introduction as IEC/WHP, s/he can only activate the work permit at a Port of Entry, can't apply inland to Vegreville. So if s/he finds a job, then will have to return to a Border POE to activate the Work Permit.

 

[eugenia.albano]

Hello!
I'm Italian and my plane is from the UK... does it help? I know I don't need a visa to enter as a visitor.
Sorry but I don't understand all the acronyms. Should I say to the port of entry officer that I want to activate the working permit later?
Thank you very much for the answers!
Eugenia

 

[eugenia.albano]

I'm here again because I want to write my experience.
When I arrived at the airport I talked to the immigration officer and he told me that I couldn't just come back to the Port of Entry, but I would have had to leave the country and come back in order to activate the work permit.
Thank both of you for the answers, they helped me take the pressure off of it.