Is your work permit in Canada expiring soon? You must apply for a renewal if you wish to maintain your employment status. There are different kinds of working permits with various validity periods and expiration dates. And when they expire, you’re expected to leave Canada because you’ll no longer have permission to work in Canada. However, that doesn’t mean you don’t have options.
You must explore these options before your work permit expires promptly. Therefore, it’s best to confer with an immigration lawyer so they can advise you on how to maintain your employment status.
In this blog, we’ll discuss multiple working permits and how you can maintain your working permit and employment status in Canada as a temporary citizen. Here’s what you need to know:
How To Extend Stay In Canada As A Worker?
If your working permit validity ends soon, you should apply for one at least thirty days before your status expires. You might need to use a different application form based on your situation. However, if you receive a new job offer within that time, you may need to apply for a new work permit. And in this case, your employer may also need to acquire a new Labor Market Opinion before you apply for a work permit.
Can I Keep Working If My Work Permit Expires?
In most situations, you cannot keep working if your permit has expired. However, you can continue working if you’ve applied for a work permit extension before your old one expires. You may continue to work until a decision is made on your application. You must also stay in Canada and meet the conditions of your original work permit to maintain your implied status until your application is approved or declined to extend your work permit and stay in the country.
Moreover, you must keep proof of your application that you submitted before your work permit expired because Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) does not confirm that you have implied status in Canada. It’ll include your copy of the application, a document confirming the date it was sent and delivered, and the fee receipt. It should be sufficient proof of employment status for your employer, allowing you to work until a decision is made on your application.
Can I Stay In Canada If My Work Permit Expires?
You’ll be able to stay in Canada under maintained status if your work permit expires. The duration lasts until Citizenship and Immigration Canada decides on your application. If you’ve applied for another work permit, you must stay in Canada and meet all the requirements of your original work permit while your application is under review. And you may also continue to work until you hear back from CIC.
Can I Apply For Another Work Permit?
You can definitely apply to restore your temporary resident status and apply for a work permit. However, you can only do so if it expired less than ninety days ago. And if you applied after the validity date, you cannot work until the application has been processed and you have a new permit or the application has been declined. You must also pay for the new work permit and status restoration when you apply to extend your stay in Canada.
How To Get A Work Permit While Living In Canada?
You can apply for a work permit while living in Canada as long as the one you applied for from your home country is still valid. You might get an extension if you meet the following conditions:
- You submit your application before your current work permit expires. It allows you to stay in Canada until the decision is made.
- You apply for a new work permit before your current work permit expires.
- You both signed a new employer and employee contract.
- Your employer receives a new Labor Market Opinion (LMO)
Things To Consider During Application
While you’re applying for a different work permit or application extension, you cannot do any of the activities allowed by the original work permit. For example, you came to Canada on a valid work permit and then applied for a study permit. You can only work until your work permit expires and then cannot work or study until you have received a new permit.
What Do I Need To Know About The Application Process?
To maintain your status, you must submit your application before your work permit expires. The date and time of your submission is determined in two ways:
- Applying on paper: Your paper application is stamped the day it’s received at the processing center. If your application is received after the work permit has expired, the CIC will count back seven days and use that as the data received.
- Applying online: You must submit your application before midnight UTC on the day your work permit expires. Therefore, make sure you know the difference between your local and UTC because the online application system uses Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).
You must also check the validity of your passport. You can’t extend your work permit beyond the validity of your passport. Therefore, ensure your passport is updated and won’t expire before the requested end date of your permit application.
Applying For A Employer-Specific Permit
You can apply for an employer-specific work permit if:
- You want to work for a new employer.
- You’re offered a different job.
- Your current job responsibilities have changed, and your remuneration has been updated.
- Your job contract has been extended.
You cannot start working at a new employer or a different job until you get your work permit with the new conditions.
Applying For An Open Work Permit
If you have an open work permit, you can extend it as long as it doesn’t expire and you’re eligible to work in Canada.
How To Apply For A New Work Permit?
You must ensure that your employer has completed all the required steps before you apply for a new work permit.
In most cases, you may have to apply online to change or extend the conditions of your work permit. We recommend an online application because it’ll help you ensure your form is complete before you submit it and get status updates of your application directly in your online account.
Applying online can also help you submit more documents quickly if the CIC representatives ask you to. Moreover, you can avoid paying courier fees to send your application which may take a few days.
You’ll also receive a WP-EXT, except for a PGWP letter that proves you can continue working under the same conditions as your work permit. You won’t get this if you apply on paper because CIC won’t know if your paper-based application is complete until they review it.
Gather All Necessary Documents And Make The Payment
To apply online, you’ll need a valid debit or credit card and a scanner or camera to create electronic copies of your documents. Next, read the instruction guide online before you complete the application. It’ll instruct you on how to write and address each field on the form.
Moreover, you must answer a few questions before attempting the form. It’ll compile into a personal document checklist for you. Next, you must pay the processing fees for you and anyone included in your application after you’ve completed it. The payment for the work permit is $155, and the open work permit holder fee is $100. You may also need to schedule a biometric scan when applying for temporary residence after February 23, 2023.
What To Do If You Need To Travel Outside Canada And Then Reenter?
A work permit, by nature, is not a travel document, and it doesn’t give you the right to travel to Canada. You must have a valid passport and visa for this purpose. Moreover, having an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) or visa doesn’t guarantee that you’ll gain entry to Canada. You must show the border services officers that you meet all the preliminary requirements before you’re allowed re-entry.
If you’re from a visa-exempt country, you’ll still need an ETA and a valid passport if you travel by air. However, if you’re coming to Canada by cruise ship, boar, train, bus, or car, you won’t need an ETA. When your initial work permit is approved, an ETA will be automatically issued to you, which you can use to enter Canada.
Hire Professional Immigration Consultants To Advise On Your Employment Status Extension
If your work permit expires soon and you require an extension, our experienced immigration lawyers at Nanda & Associate Lawyers can help. We have a professional team of lawyers to review your case, assist in your application process, and provide legal counsel on your next course of action.
Contact us today to hire our commercial, business, family, litigation, and corporate immigration lawyers in Mississauga for your legal immigration requirements and issues.
Disclaimer: This article is only intended for educational purposes and shouldn’t be used as a substitute for legal advice.
