Hello,
First of all, thank you for providing this forum! I've found a tremendous amount of useful info here in my application process, and canadavisa.com turns up on google more often than any other site when seeking comprehensive immigration info. So thanks!
Now to my question. I am a US citizen currently living in Canada on a temporary work permit valid through 2013. I resigned from that job in April 2011, and have been unemployed since then. I am a game developer by trade, and would like to develop games at home for sale over the internet, if possible. This could mean selling directly to customers, licensing to website operators, or doing contract work, if one is more doable than the others.
I spoke with CIC a couple times, and got friendly advice, though somewhat contradictory. I was unclear whether I could submit an IMM1249 to change my visa to self-employed or not. Additionally, I was told that if I was paid by a US company, in US funds, to a US bank account, that I could do so without violating my visa. I was also told that the aforementioned US company must not be one I've created solely for this purpose.
My question is this: is there any way I could earn income as a game developer without violating my visa/status?
Relevant info:
Thanks for reading, and I look forward to any info you can offer!
Best,
Daniel
First of all, thank you for providing this forum! I've found a tremendous amount of useful info here in my application process, and canadavisa.com turns up on google more often than any other site when seeking comprehensive immigration info. So thanks!
Now to my question. I am a US citizen currently living in Canada on a temporary work permit valid through 2013. I resigned from that job in April 2011, and have been unemployed since then. I am a game developer by trade, and would like to develop games at home for sale over the internet, if possible. This could mean selling directly to customers, licensing to website operators, or doing contract work, if one is more doable than the others.
I spoke with CIC a couple times, and got friendly advice, though somewhat contradictory. I was unclear whether I could submit an IMM1249 to change my visa to self-employed or not. Additionally, I was told that if I was paid by a US company, in US funds, to a US bank account, that I could do so without violating my visa. I was also told that the aforementioned US company must not be one I've created solely for this purpose.
My question is this: is there any way I could earn income as a game developer without violating my visa/status?
Relevant info:
- Worked for a Canadian game developer on visas between 2004-2011.
- Applied for spousal PR November 2010 with my common law wife as sponsor (she is a Canadian citizen).
- Current work permit was for an employer in Quebec. Past work permits for same employer in Alberta office.
- Currently residing in BC.
- PR application required some additional documents as a result of our move from QC to BC earlier this year. We sent those in and they were listed as received September 2011. PR status is now once again "in process."
Thanks for reading, and I look forward to any info you can offer!
Best,
Daniel