Guys, I need advice! I have LMIA based work permit. Restaurant supervisor in Delta, BC. My WP ends in December this year but my employer cannot obtain another LMIA. His business is slow now and he is just not able to get a new one. By December I will have just 8 months of continuous employment and are not able to apply for pr. I know it's my fault but I took vacation in middle of contract and my employer was ok with that. But now I am in real trouble. I cannot find another LMIA as businesses are not hiring now as it's pretty slow because of pandemic and again we may see businesses closing because of second wave. What should I do to legally extend my stay in Canada? To change my status to a visitor? But how will I pay my bills then... To leave Canada? But I may not be able to come back again. Current situation is so unstable. My coworker advises to apply for status change and try to apply for open work permit. Do you think government may give me a chance and issue open work permit for couple of months to let me find another employer? Or any other advise please! Any recommendations are welcome! Thanks
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- Thread starter Julyva
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Guys, I need advice! I have LMIA based work permit. Restaurant supervisor in Delta, BC. My WP ends in December this year but my employer cannot obtain another LMIA. His business is slow now and he is just not able to get a new one. By December I will have just 8 months of continuous employment and are not able to apply for pr. I know it's my fault but I took vacation in middle of contract and my employer was ok with that. But now I am in real trouble. I cannot find another LMIA as businesses are not hiring now as it's pretty slow because of pandemic and again we may see businesses closing because of second wave. What should I do to legally extend my stay in Canada? To change my status to a visitor? But how will I pay my bills then... To leave Canada? But I may not be able to come back again. Current situation is so unstable. My coworker advises to apply for status change and try to apply for open work permit. Do you think government may give me a chance and issue open work permit for couple of months to let me find another employer? Or any other advise please! Any recommendations are welcome! Thanks
You do not qualify for an open work permit. If you apply for an open work permit, it will be refused.
If you don't have a new employer by the time your work permit is set to expire, then you will need to change your status to visitor and then stop working once your work permit expires. You can then continue to remain in Canada and look for a new employer but of course not work.
Alternatively you can return to your home country and look for an employer from there.
Yet another option would be to enrol in a full time college or university program in Canada and apply for a study permit. You could then work 20 hours per week while you study full time and then qualify for a post graduate work permit once you finish your studies. The downside of this option is that it's expensive because international tuition fees are high. You'll need to show a bank balance of $25,000 for the study permit to be approved.
Thank you for answer and advise! I may consider option with study permit. I know it's very expensive but I really want to stay in Canada.
I asked about OWP as my friend's work permit was expiring in May and his employer had same issue so my friend went on US border in March (when borders were still open) and officer issued him open work permit for a year because of extraordinary situation. But that's just exception
I asked about OWP as my friend's work permit was expiring in May and his employer had same issue so my friend went on US border in March (when borders were still open) and officer issued him open work permit for a year because of extraordinary situation. But that's just exception
Thank you for answer and advise! I may consider option with study permit. I know it's very expensive but I really want to stay in Canada.
I asked about OWP as my friend's work permit was expiring in May and his employer had same issue so my friend went on US border in March (when borders were still open) and officer issued him open work permit for a year because of extraordinary situation. But that's just exception
There must be more to your friend's story. Has he applied for PR?
It's actually friend of my friend so I am not sure. It may be even gossips... So I don't take it seriousThere must be more to your friend's story. Has he applied for PR?
One more question, just trying to figure out all possible outcomes. If I don't find any new LMIA by end of my permit and don't apply for study or visitor status I will lose my status in Canada. But I have 60 days to restore it. So if I find an employer with LMIA in that 60 days will I be able to restore my status as a worker. I understand that once I lose my status I am not able to work or study. Just curious about that. Thanks
Try to find a job in ´ Saskatchewan or hay river plenty of LMIA.Guys, I need advice! I have LMIA based work permit. Restaurant supervisor in Delta, BC. My WP ends in December this year but my employer cannot obtain another LMIA. His business is slow now and he is just not able to get a new one. By December I will have just 8 months of continuous employment and are not able to apply for pr. I know it's my fault but I took vacation in middle of contract and my employer was ok with that. But now I am in real trouble. I cannot find another LMIA as businesses are not hiring now as it's pretty slow because of pandemic and again we may see businesses closing because of second wave. What should I do to legally extend my stay in Canada? To change my status to a visitor? But how will I pay my bills then... To leave Canada? But I may not be able to come back again. Current situation is so unstable. My coworker advises to apply for status change and try to apply for open work permit. Do you think government may give me a chance and issue open work permit for couple of months to let me find another employer? Or any other advise please! Any recommendations are welcome! Thanks
Good luck feel you bro
One more question, just trying to figure out all possible outcomes. If I don't find any new LMIA by end of my permit and don't apply for study or visitor status I will lose my status in Canada. But I have 60 days to restore it. So if I find an employer with LMIA in that 60 days will I be able to restore my status as a worker. I understand that once I lose my status I am not able to work or study. Just curious about that. Thanks
You will end up restoring your status to visitor not worker. I would expect that it will be very difficult to find an employer in the restaurant business who will qualify for an LMIA. Getting a work permit will be extremely difficult in hospitality given the high unemployment rate in the sector. Some provinces will no longer approve WPs in that category.