From visitor to worker

[eshsur]

Hi,

I am on a visitor visa in Canada which is applicable till July 2017. Before that I was on a work permit which was valid for 3 months. Oct to December 2016. I had entered canada on Open Work Permit spouse dependent Visa. But due to some circumstances I had to move to visitor status. But now I have applied for an open work permit based on my husband's offer letter and pgwp. It is still on process. I just wanted to know if I can start working on implied status until the final decision is made.? I had applied online on 4 March 2017 and processing time is 37 days. Kindly guide.

 

[Jalex23]

Hi,

I am on a visitor visa in Canada which is applicable till July 2017. Before that I was on a work permit which was valid for 3 months. Oct to December 2016. I had entered canada on Open Work Permit spouse dependent Visa. But due to some circumstances I had to move to visitor status. But now I have applied for an open work permit based on my husband's offer letter and pgwp. It is still on process. I just wanted to know if I can start working on implied status until the final decision is made.? I had applied online on 4 March 2017 and processing time is 37 days. Kindly guide.

You are a visitor. You cannot work until you have a work permit.

 

[scylla]

No - you can't start working. You only have visitor status in Canada - if you work, you'll be working illegally.

You need to wait until you have the actual approved work permit.

Note that open work permit applications based on a job offer are almost always refused. Your husband needs to have already started the job and be able to provide a few pay stubs in order for the OWP to be approved.