Remote work in Canada for US company

[kmich]

Hi all...here is my situation...

I am a temporary resident on an open work permit in Ontario. My wife got a job here and her company took care of getting both of our visas. We're both US citizens.

My former US-based employer would like me to do some consulting work for them while I look for permanent work here in Toronto. I already have an LLC in Michigan (rental property) so it would be easy for me to set up another LLC so they could pay me.

I am wondering about the legalities of working remotely from Ontario for my US-based LLC as an American citizen from the Canadian perspective. Any ideas if this would be frowned upon?

TIA!

 

[scylla]

Do you hold an open work permit? If so, no issues.

 

[kmich]

Do you hold an open work permit? If so, no issues.

I do. Do you know of a source I could point to when my wife asks how I'm so sure?

 

[scylla]

I don't think you're going to find something that specific online anywhere. I certainly don't know of anything.

An OWP is an open work permit - meaning you are allowed to work in Canada. It doesn't matter if you're working for an employer here or an employer elsewhere.

When someone is working remotely from Canada, it's sometimes even possible to work without an open work permit (i.e. with visitor status only). The requirement to be able to do that is that the company must have no Canadian customers / clients.

You have an open work permit. That's a huge step above visitor status and pretty much lets you do whatever you want.

 

[kmich]

You have an open work permit. That's a huge step above visitor status and pretty much lets you do whatever you want.

Except work in the sex trades. That's spelled out on the OWP

Thanks for the replies, scylla. Very helpful.

 

[Visalakshi]

Hi Scylla,
It's good to know that an immigrant with Visitor status can work in Canada. Are you sure about that?
Meaning - Can I work for a company in India if I am residing as a Visitor in Canada?

 

[scylla]

Hi Scylla,
It's good to know that an immigrant with Visitor status can work in Canada. Are you sure about that?
Meaning - Can I work for a company in India if I am residing as a Visitor in Canada?

Yes - as long as that company does absolutely no work with Canadian customers / companies / clients.

 

[Visalakshi]

Thanks for that info. Is it allowed if the company has a registration in Canada as well? But they don't have any customers/clients.
Also can you let me know the process to do this.