What options do I have? Change in status...help/advice!

[babalyss]

Hey guys,

Need some advice, any advice really. Basically my work permit is expiring this July 2015 and my contract is not being renewed for various reasons. I received an ITA and I am currently applying for PR. I don't want to return to UK as I have made friends etc and would like to stay as I await final approval on my PR application.

My question is what options do I have while I wait? Should I go to the States for a week and return to Canada which will give me 6 months automatically? Or should I just apply to change my status in the country via the online portal? Perhaps there is an option that someone might know of which I haven't...?

I would appreciate any help/advice I can get.

Thanks

 

[Canadian__Irish]

Hello,

I can tell you from personal experience that they will probably refuse you entry into Canada as you have showed interest in staying here permanently with your PR application. To be able to be granted the Visitors Visa you have to show that you have strong ties to your home country and will leave Canada when your visitor status expires, if you do not get PR. Job, house, family... those sorts of things.

This exact situation happened with my boyfriend. I'm a Canadian citizen and he was here on a open work permit for 2 years. We drove to the U.S. border the day his visa was expiring to change his status to a visitor while waiting on PR as he already had an ITA (per info we received from a CIC call centre agent) and he was then denied for the reasons above and given an "allowed to leave" (this is a document that technically refuses you entry, but voluntarily so it's not bad) and 3 weeks to get his things in order and leave Canada.

I'm not entirely sure if you'll have more luck submitting it online, but I'm pretty sure once you've shown interest in staying permanently it will be the same answer no matter which route you take. Unfortunately, you have to consider you may have to go back to the UK while you wait. I hope I'm wrong for your case, though.

Best of luck!