From a work permit to visitor status?

[Lady_Ashka]

Hi!

I have a question regarding what I can do in the following situation:
I have a work permit, so I am a temporary visitor, valid until the 30th of September. I am an academic, and am here on a grant (funded by an institution in Poland, where I'm from), and a fellow at a university in Canada, but the university is not paying me. I noticed CIC introduced new rules for employers "employing" people like me, and it's quite likely they will not want to pay the fee and go through a document submission process for someone who they're not even paying, but I want to stay because of personal, relationship reasons, and we want to apply for permanent residency for me in November.

Can I apply for a visitor visa? How do I do that? Can I apply for it as an extension of my status, even though I am now a worker? Is it called 'a visitor visa' simply? (I am from a country which is visa exempt, so it's a bit confusing). And can the visitor status be for longer than 6 months? Can I re-apply for a renewal after the period it was granted for expires? And - how much money do they expect one to have and how do I prove I have them?

 

[Jalex23]

Can I apply for a visitor visa? How do I do that?

No. You are from a visa-exempt country.

Can I apply for it as an extension of my status, even though I am now a worker?

No. You can apply to change the the conditions of your stay.

Is it called 'a visitor visa' simply? (I am from a country which is visa exempt, so it's a bit confusing).

There is no such thing like a "visitor visa".

And can the visitor status be for longer than 6 months? Can I re-apply for a renewal after the period it was granted for expires?

Yes

And - how much money do they expect one to have and how do I prove I have them?

Depends on your specifics. This is decided on a case-to-case basis.



Seems your questions are easily answered by using the tool, so please do:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/eligibility.asp

 

[Lady_Ashka]

hi! Thanks for answering - it was all very confusing, and I was really looking forward to learning whether the temporary resident stay can be extended:
1. for more than 6 months (it doesn't say anywhere on the CIC webpage)
2. can it be extended later
3. if I apply for a family/partnership aimed stay (I want to stay with my common law husband until we can submit our PR application for me and then later, when it's being process) for a year, do they deny or do they just allow the visa for less time?
4. I went through that eligibility thing on the CIC webpage, but it didn't ask me, and the form 5708E does not ask either, whether I'd been a worker, student, or visitor before applying - which is why I wanted to confirm it's possible to apply for the possibility to stay in Canada even though my permit expired...

 

[Jalex23]

1. for more than 6 months (it doesn't say anywhere on the CIC webpage)

Why would it? Why 6 months?

Whenever there is a limit it is annotated, otherwise there isn't.

2. can it be extended later

Well.... "Application to Change Conditions or Extend Your Stay in Canada as a Visitor"

Kind of selfexplanatory.

3. if I apply for a family/partnership aimed stay (I want to stay with my common law husband until we can submit our PR application for me and then later, when it's being process) for a year, do they deny or do they just allow the visa for less time?

Depends on how well you build up our case.

4. I went through that eligibility thing on the CIC webpage, but it didn't ask me, and the form 5708E does not ask either, whether I'd been a worker, student, or visitor before applying - which is why I wanted to confirm it's possible to apply for the possibility to stay in Canada even though my permit expired...

They have that info, it would be redundant.

 

[Lady_Ashka]

I asked about 6 months because the CIC eligibility 'test' has options I want to stay/work in Canada for more or less than 6 months - but if there is no limit, I'll try applying for a year. If they refuse, is there a rule somewhere that I cannot reapply? for less or again? (how many times can one try?)

I have another question, about the 'trip/itinerary/ticket' part of the application. The document checklist says you submit it if you have it (I don't), but the actual application process online shows, that this is required and the application cannot be processed without it...
So is it obligatory or not? I don't have a ticket, and I don't have an itinerary because I'll just be in the same city, with my common-law husband. And if is not obligatory, what do I submit instead to somehow fill in that part of the application?

 

[Jalex23]

I asked about 6 months because the CIC eligibility 'test' has options I want to stay/work in Canada for more or less than 6 months - but if there is no limit, I'll try applying for a year. If they refuse, is there a rule somewhere that I cannot reapply? for less or again? (how many times can one try?)

True. There has to be a number. Usually a visitor won't be staying more than that.

There is no rule that bounds you to any set time, neither any rile that bounds you for any number of retries.

I have another question, about the 'trip/itinerary/ticket' part of the application. The document checklist says you submit it if you have it (I don't), but the actual application process online shows, that this is required and the application cannot be processed without it... So is it obligatory or not? I don't have a ticket, and I don't have an itinerary because I'll just be in the same city, with my common-law husband. And if is not obligatory, what do I submit instead to somehow fill in that part of the application?

Then it is mandatory right?

Upload a letter stating what you just told us.

 

[Lady_Ashka]

Ok, thank you for that, then, I'll try applying for a year and see what they give me... thanks for the tip with the letter, I suppose that could do it, after all, the checklist says it's not mandatory, weird. Do you think my letter should also include some kind of statement that we want to apply for PR for me, or is it best not to mention it?

I am worried about the funds too. I definitely will have around 5 000 CAD on my account when applying, but I might have a problem with putting together the other six, because I have funding from my university which is set to be paid in certain intervals. Do you think I'll have a problem with their approval if I show them, that my account is fed through the university salary every two/three months, and present them with letters from the Dean about my grant and salary, and with translations of my grant agreements and documents? Should I ask a friend for a loan?

 

[Jalex23]

Ok, thank you for that, then, I'll try applying for a year and see what they give me... thanks for the tip with the letter, I suppose that could do it, after all, the checklist says it's not mandatory, weird. Do you think my letter should also include some kind of statement that we want to apply for PR for me, or is it best not to mention it?

No. That goes on the explanation letter, it is your justification to remain in Canada.

I am worried about the funds too. I definitely will have around 5 000 CAD on my account when applying, but I might have a problem with putting together the other six, because I have funding from my university which is set to be paid in certain intervals. Do you think I'll have a problem with their approval if I show them, that my account is fed through the university salary every two/three months, and present them with letters from the Dean about my grant and salary, and with translations of my grant agreements and documents? Should I ask a friend for a loan?

A letter of the university which details the nature of the funding is fine.

 

[Lady_Ashka]

Ok, so to confirm: I am to submit a letter explaining I do not have a return ticket yet, and no itinerary because I am staying with my partner, and then another one? Or the information that we want to apply for PR for me that year I am applying to extend my stay in should go onto the same letter as the explanation about no ticket?

thanks for the tip with the funds!

 

[Jalex23]

Ok, so to confirm: I am to submit a letter explaining I do not have a return ticket yet, and no itinerary because I am staying with my partner, and then another one? Or the information that we want to apply for PR for me that year I am applying to extend my stay in should go onto the same letter as the explanation about no ticket?

2 letters

- Travel Itinerary. Stating that you don't have one because you are going to <add what you will be doing while in Canada>
- Letter of explanation. Justification for extending your stay.

 

[Lady_Ashka]

OK!

And the second one, the one I use to explain why I want to extend my stay - is that going to go into the additional documents then? Because I don't see any required documents like that.

And: do you think I can tell them I am also working on a book (which is why I have the grant etc)?

Thanks!

 

[Jalex23]

And the second one, the one I use to explain why I want to extend my stay - is that going to go into the additional documents then? Because I don't see any required documents like that.

Letter of explanation is under optional documents.

And: do you think I can tell them I am also working on a book (which is why I have the grant etc)?

This is up to you if you think it is relevant.

 

[Lady_Ashka]

Ok, so I'll attach it in the extra documents, and I think I'll let them know that I am working on a book, because what else can I write in it? I'll tell them the truth, which is that I want to continue my relationship, because I love him, because it works, and because we want to submit an application for PR for me later that year, and that my grant is for me to stay at home and write...

I also have one last question about the proof of funds. I will most likely be able to provide the bank statements (do they mean the general balance, of all my cheqing, credit cards, etc, or just the cheqing account?) and the employer letter (about the grant), do you think that'll be enough? AND: I was wondering, how do people make sure their chequing account has the correct amount of money, do they take loans? (I mean apart from saving

 

[Lady_Ashka]

Ok, I have one more question. I am now a temporary resident, but a worker, on a work permit. I have been in Canada for almost a year, and will be applying for an extension of my stay after a year. Are you all sure I need to apply for 'Extend your stay as a temporary resident' and not a visitor visa? The 'extend your stay' application says "Use this application if you are a temporary resident who is already in Canada as a visitor and you want to..." but I'm not a visitor, but a worker. What do you think?

 

[Jalex23]

Ok, so I'll attach it in the extra documents, and I think I'll let them know that I am working on a book, because what else can I write in it? I'll tell them the truth, which is that I want to continue my relationship, because I love him, because it works, and because we want to submit an application for PR for me later that year, and that my grant is for me to stay at home and write...

that`s alright.

I also have one last question about the proof of funds. I will most likely be able to provide the bank statements (do they mean the general balance, of all my cheqing, credit cards, etc, or just the cheqing account?) and the employer letter (about the grant), do you think that'll be enough?

Hopefully

AND: I was wondering, how do people make sure their chequing account has the correct amount of money, do they take loans? (I mean apart from saving

That's one of many options.

Ok, I have one more question. I am now a temporary resident, but a worker, on a work permit. I have been in Canada for almost a year, and will be applying for an extension of my stay after a year. Are you all sure I need to apply for 'Extend your stay as a temporary resident' and not a visitor visa? The 'extend your stay' application says "Use this application if you are a temporary resident who is already in Canada as a visitor and you want to..." but I'm not a visitor, but a worker. What do you think?

Use the tool. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/eligibility.asp