Start of work permit

[dbdbdb]

Hi,

Is it correct that a work permit is valid as soon as it is issued? Or does it have a future starting date, coinciding with the starting date stated on the letter from my employer? If so, can I arrive in Canada a few days before that date? (I am from a visa exempt country).

I have a job offer from McGill univeristy in Montreal as a PostDoctoral researcher, starting in Sept 2013, but naturally I would like to arrive a bit earlier to set myself up. I asked some people who have gone to Canada to work previously, and they all said that they arrived before the start of their employment. But I also sent an e-mail to the Canadian embassy that is responsible for my application asking if I could arrive "before the start of my work permit", and they gave the one word answer "no". This makes me think that possibly they misunderstood my question, and that they thought I was asking if I could go to Canada before my work permit is issued.

If anyone could clarify I would be very grateful!

 

[natsy]

if your work permit is at your hands and was issued prior to this moment, then you are good to go to canada...c",)

 

[natsy]

...there is no starting date...the issue date is the validity date...c",)

 

[dbdbdb]

Thanks! By the way, I realised I might be confused about something: Is the issue date/validity date the time the embassy sends me the documents saying that my application has been approved, or is it the day that I arrive at the airport and go see the immigration officers?

 

[nikiB]

when you arrive at the airport and they officers issue the permit

 

[natsy]

in my case, i'm from the philippines...i applied for a work permit from there...canada embassy in manila approved my application and they gave me my temporary resident visa...with this visa, i can enter canada. upon arrival at vancouver int'l airport, the officer issued my work permit...it was valid on the day i arrived canada...c",)

 

[Gussy24]

Thanks Natsy. This clears it up..