Working holiday visa expiring, what are our options?

[dblair]

My partner and I are here on New Zealand Working Holiday Programme 1-year visas. These expire in one month. We have applied for BC PNP nomination, and the application is in process. However with the given processing times we will likely hear the result of this application a few days before our permits expire, or even just after.

I am wondering if anyone can help us out with the following questions:

- Are you able to transfer your working visa to a visitor visa so that you are able to legally stay on in Canada? (and obviously stop working) We would be doing this in order to give us time to sell our belongings and possibly travel a little before we leave Canada.

- Are we able to simply cross the border to the US and re-enter Canada under visitor visas a few days before our existing visas expire? (again, same reason as above - would this be simpler?)

- If our work permits expire before we have heard from the BC PNP what should we do? Do we have any options that would allow us to stay and continue working?

Thanks for any help you can provide.

 

[scylla]

1) Yes - you can apply to change over to a visitor visa. I would apply from inside Canada rather than going to the border.

2) If you want to keep working, either your current employer or a new employer will have to provide you with a job offer and obtain an approved LMO. You can then apply for a closed work permit.