HELP Volunteer Visitor?

[Hellup]

Hi,

I am a master student and I want to do my internship (3 months) in Canada in begin july. I got an offer letter from the research center where i am going to work saying i will be a VOLUNTEER visitor and that i will not get a salary and thus am not an employee or will have any responsibility, but i will get a compensation for living expenses. I do not need a visitor visa.

I first applied for the young professionals category, but the quota was full.

1. The research center seems to think I do not need a work permit at all, since I will not be an employee, but a volunteer?

2. But I think I do (but im not really sure), so i started the application (clicked that I am LMO excemption???) and it asks me for my current employer (which I don't have, but i have money) and a contract (so they see how many hours ill work, medical insurance etc.) but I only have an agreement where it says I don't get all that and that I am just a visitor, do I need to submit this instead?

3. Am I an LMO excemption?

I really don't know where to look anymore I've tried to call the embassy but theyre not available by phone, so theyre not of any help at all

 

[zardoz]

If you are doing any work, unpaid or not, that a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident could be paid for, then you will need a work permit. (This is the simplest distillation of the WP rules). The basic question that you need to answer is, are you potentially competing in the Canadian labour market against someone who has the right to work?

As you say, it's probably best to be cautious.

 

[scylla]

You are not LMO exempt. And internships are not work permit exempt. Your employer needs to obtain an approved LMO and then you need to apply for a work permit. Doing anything else will be working illegally in Canada (even though you aren't being paid).