Volunteering on a visitors visa?

[Edenshelby]

Hey, I'm currently in Canada on a visitors visa, me and my partner are getting together all the information and the funds we need to apply for common law sponsorship. I have already been in Canada for almost 6 months, and I know it is still going to be quite a long time before my PR will be accepted. I already know that I am not allowed to work in Canada on a visitors visa, but what is the de with volunteering?

I have read a lot about it, and the general message I get is that you are not allowed to do it because the government see it as taking work from Canadians and people coming over on a work visa, but if it was to volunteer for a charity like the BCSPCA then would it be a problem, as volunteering for them isn't taking a paid position?

Any help would be great, as I really would like to volunteer and do something useful with my time that I am waiting for the PR to process! ;D

 

[scylla]

It depends.

It is OK to volunteer if the work you are going to be doing is something someone would not be normally paid to do.

If the volunteer work is something someone would normally be paid to do, then it will be classified as illegal work even though you aren't being paid.

 

[Edenshelby]

Ok awesome, I guess it would probably be best to speak to the charity about the positions they have and what's paid and what's not!

Thanks for the help

 

[kcorbin]

Hi, I'm currently on a visitor visa as well. Usually, most organizations have volunteer positions available. I volunteer for the city and also a boys and girls club here and I had no issues applying. =) hope this helps!