Hey Latvian, you can and you have to apply for visitor visa if you cannot extend your current work permit- that is how you secure your legal status. I guess you did not include OWP with your original application. If you would have done so, you could have been on implied status until AIP, meaning you could have continued working for the same employer under the same conditions. You cannot send an OWP request later to be attached to the initial application, you have to wait until you get AIP. To apply for visitor visa is 75$, you can do it online or on paper. Online processing time is 50 days compared to the 100+ by paper. They advice you to send it 30 days earlier than your current visa expires, however you can wait until the day before the expiry. It worth to try to convince your employer to get a new LMO for you. Under the new policy if your LMO doesn`t arrive until your WP expires, you can send the extention off without it in 2 weeks before the expiry date. You have to include the details of LMO request (when, where it was made, better to attach the request form fom your employer, job offer and contact). You can continue working this way under implied status until they make a decision. For visitor visa request you can ask for a full year and later if you still need more time, get it extended for a 2nd time. Hope it is helpful!