Working for an online company while 'visiting' Canada

[Hohn]

Hi, a friend of mine wants to have his US citizen fiancee come and stay with him in Canada, but she works for an online business based in China. He is concerned that would be qualified as 'working in Canada' and wants to be as honest as possible regarding border agencies etc because they want risk any chances of them being together. I'm wondering what the requirements for such a thing are, or if she is legally allowed to continue her online work while visiting Canada or if she would be required to stop doing it. She only recently got this job, and her tax info is reported to the IRS but I believe she is technically a private contractor and so has to save taxes to pay at the end of the year.

Many thanks.

 

[rj2301]

Hi, a friend of mine wants to have his US citizen fiancee come and stay with him in Canada, but she works for an online business based in China. He is concerned that would be qualified as 'working in Canada' and wants to be as honest as possible regarding border agencies etc because they want risk any chances of them being together. I'm wondering what the requirements for such a thing are, or if she is legally allowed to continue her online work while visiting Canada or if she would be required to stop doing it. She only recently got this job, and her tax info is reported to the IRS but I believe she is technically a private contractor and so has to save taxes to pay at the end of the year.

Many thanks.

Working in Canada means you are working for Canadian employer.
If she is working for Canadian employer without valid Canadian work permit that will be counted as illegal.
So as far as she is not doing any illegal work except online work, that won't count as illegal and she can definitely work online while visiting Canada.

 

[Hohn]

So what, if anything, should she mention to anyone about it?

 

[rj2301]

So what, if anything, should she mention to anyone about it?

doesn't hurt mentioning to CBSA officer.

 

[Bs65]

doesn't hurt mentioning to CBSA officer.

Others can comment but personally I would only mention if asked and not volunteer any extra information to CBSA. The primary purpose of visit is to visit fiancee but as soon as anyone says they are going to work even if totally legally remotely online for an employer outside Canada it sort of could imply intention to stay in Canada longer than authorised and maybe even live in the country with their partner.

As a US citizen unlikely to have any issues anyway but as said keep anything shared with CBSA to what is asked by them, if they ask about work of course be honest and being honest can simply involve saying work remotely for a company that is based in China. That should not come across as more important than just visiting fiancee as the primary purpose of trip but as a side issue, checking emails and so on, once in the country what the fiancee does as long as continues to be legal is fine.