Please help us to verify before going to port of entry

[bababebe]

Hi guys,

My husband and I came here a week ago with Travel visa and we just got a job offer(LMO) from one of the restaurant in Souther Alberta.

1. Will we be able to work in Canada and switch our tourist visa to work permit at the border? My employer never have an experience with in land LMO before. He wasn't clear about our situation. (Mostly he hired from Philippine)
2. What should we expect from the border officers? Do we need to bring anything beside employment contract and LMO paper?
3. How much fee do we have to pay?
4. We both are from Cambodia. Will it possible to change visa type?
5. Where is the closet border nearby medicine hat.

Hope you all can help. We only have 2 weeks left for our tourist visa so we need to help badly.

Thank you all so much and have a very happy new year.

Bababebe

 

[canadavisa13]

Hi bababebe,

im not sure if you can switch from visitor to worker from within canada but you can try going to the border if you still hold a valid visitor permit and valid multiple entry visa since you are not from a visa exempt country.
you need to take your valid LMO,job offer,$150 work permit fees for each of you so total $300,resume of the person under which the LMO is named and valid passports.
in alberta you can either go to CARAWAY or COUTTS border to flag pole and obtain work permit(they are both about an hour drive from lethbridge).
in my opinion since you came here as a visitor and not worker you may not be issued a work permit at the border because you will need to undergo a medical exam since most visitors to canada don't do medical exams.
in case you have to apply at a canadian visa office,you have two options:
OPTION NUMBER 1:go back to your home country and apply for a work permit there(ensure your LMO and job offer are still valid at the time of application).
OPTION NUMBER 2:apply for your work permit at a canadian consulate in the USA(you will have to mail in your complete application)the issue here is if you get called for an interview you may face problems obtaining a USA visa since you are not from a visa exempt country.
if you choose option number 2 you will also need to apply for an extension of your visitor permit at the case processing centre in VEGREVILLE alberta before your current one expires to maintain a legal status in canada.

good luck and happy new years

 

[bababebe]

Dear canadavisa13

ThAnk you so much for replying my questions

We came here with single tourist visa and wasn't sure what to do at the border. Do we need us visa to be able to turn around and back to Canada? How can we do it?

I have heard the border patrol can be very mean. My husband don't speak English very good. Will that hold us from getting work permit?

We have our medical report from our country along. Does it work to show at the border?
I have called my consulate in Cambodia and she said I can swap visa as long as I have job offer (LMO)
I am torn and really don't want to go back to my country to start over.

What is visa exempt country means? ( I am so sure what is mean sorry)

Look forward to hear from you.
Thank you so much for your time

 

[scylla]

You don't qualify to obtain a work permit at the border since you only have a single entry visa. If you had a multiple entry visa, then you could.

 

[bababebe]

That's mean I won't be able to get out of country even turn around at port of entry?

Thanks

 

[scylla]

You can get out of the country. However if the border official is following the rules he/she will not issue a work permit for you at the border since you don't meet the requirements to obtain a work permit at the border.

 

[bababebe]

Thank you Scylla for a quick reply.
As right now I don't have a choice. I can try online but not sure how long will it take as I only have 2 weeks left on visa.
I am not sure what to do next. Do you know how do I get out and come back to canada border. Do I have to go to us and they will send us back to canada ( due to we don't have us visa either ) I am very devastating hope things turn out ok.

Thank you for reading guys

 

[Dayna]

Hi guys,

My husband and I came here a week ago with Travel visa and we just got a job offer(LMO) from one of the restaurant in Souther Alberta.

1. Will we be able to work in Canada and switch our tourist visa to work permit at the border? My employer never have an experience with in land LMO before. He wasn't clear about our situation. (Mostly he hired from Philippine)
2. What should we expect from the border officers? Do we need to bring anything beside employment contract and LMO paper?
3. How much fee do we have to pay?
4. We both are from Cambodia. Will it possible to change visa type?
5. Where is the closet border nearby medicine hat.

Hope you all can help. We only have 2 weeks left for our tourist visa so we need to help badly.

Thank you all so much and have a very happy new year.

Bababebe

I would not recommend even attempting to apply for a work permit at the border! A friend of mine had all proper documentation , ex: visa, lmo, job offer/contract, funds available for fees and his stay.. He was denied! The border service officers are ignorant , disrespectful and will almost surely deny you without any reason at all!! I am canadian citizen and I cannot stress enough how awful border service officers treat foreigners as well as Canadians when trying to cross the border ! Applying for a work permit there would be the worst option to you! Just my opinion.

 

[bababebe]

Hi Dayna,
I am afraid of that as well. I have heard from some of my friends as well. What should I do then? Please help

Thanks

 

[scylla]

You either need to apply online or by mail.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/apply-how.asp

If you want to apply without leaving Canada then you will also have to apply to extend your visitor visa before your current visitor visa runs out.

 

[cee12345]

Thank you Scylla for a quick reply.
As right now I don't have a choice. I can try online but not sure how long will it take as I only have 2 weeks left on visa.
I am not sure what to do next. Do you know how do I get out and come back to canada border. Do I have to go to us and they will send us back to canada ( due to we don't have us visa either ) I am very devastating hope things turn out ok.

Thank you for reading guys

Please look at this link: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/apply-who-eligible.asp
It will determine your eligibility.
Good Luck!
Most likely since you are not from VISA EXEMPT (even if you have MULTIPLE ENTRY VISAS) you cannot apply at the Border.
Apply as you enter Canada. You can ask to be allowed to work in Canada as you enter Canada but only if:
-you do not need a visa,
-you already hold a valid medical certificate, if you need it for your job, and
-your employer does not need a labour market opinion (LMO) for your job (with some exceptions) or you already have an LMO.

 

[trese1310]

We just received our confirmation letter under the provincial nominee program we called cic and ask if we are allowed to land in other provinces the agent told we as a permanent resident we can do so...in the boarder the officer told us that we violated a law because we are not yet permanent and we cant transfer other province and thay hold my immigration letter...my question is we got approved for our application we assume we are landed immigrant by this mistake they goin to deny our application that we wait for three year what was our option and give us advice regarding this matter...

 

[trese1310]

The reason why we decide to land in other province is because we want to have a good medical service that why we took the opportunity when we got our letter from the immigration...my common law partner after she give birth on a c section process felt realy bad we try to ask the gynecologist regarding this matter he couldnt explain thats why we decide to move places..when we arrive to the other provin just a few weeks she brought to the hospital because of non stop bleeding..she rush to the emergency and declare code blue means in critical condition...got lucky because where near in the hospital which specialist is always available...they found out after a test that her uterus is infected of the left placeta covered with blood...i slmost lost her...is this a ground of deny application for permanent residency if you just what is to get a better and secure life for your family

 

[bababebe]

Do anyone know if I apply online instead of going to port of entry how long will it take?

Thanks bee

 

[zardoz]

We just received our confirmation letter under the provincial nominee program we called cic and ask if we are allowed to land in other provinces the agent told we as a permanent resident we can do so...in the boarder the officer told us that we violated a law because we are not yet permanent and we cant transfer other province and thay hold my immigration letter...my question is we got approved for our application we assume we are landed immigrant by this mistake they goin to deny our application that we wait for three year what was our option and give us advice regarding this matter...

It seems that your English language skills are limited and this might explain the advice from CIC. You can "land" at any port of entry, but your whole application is based on an initial commitment to reside in the nominating province. If you told the CBSA officer that you are not actually going to reside there, they may consider that the application was based on misrepresentation. You probably need a lawyer. Your partners medical condition will probably be irrelevant to the immigration process.