TEMPORARY RESIDENCE
SUPER VISA
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Parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents intending to obtain temporary residence to visit their close relatives may apply for extended visitors’ visas known as Super Visas. The maximum validity date for the multiple entries Super Visa is ten years, or one month prior to the applicant’s passport’s expiry, whichever is earlier. Within that time, Super Visa holders can remain in Canada for periods of up to 2-years. In comparison, a regular visitor visa is usually valid for a maximum period of 6-months.
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For individuals who are citizens of visa exempt countries, the Super Visa program can still be useful. Persons from visa exempt countries are ordinarily permitted to enter Canada for 6-months without obtaining a visitor visa.
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VISITOR VISA & EXTENSION
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Every year millions of people visit Canada, many of which require a Temporary Resident Visa ("TRV"). This is also commonly referred to as a visitor or tourist visa. If you are from a country that requires a temporary resident visa to enter Canada as a visitor, you must apply for that TRV at the Canadian visa office responsible for your country or region before coming to Canada. A visa officer will review your TRV application and decide whether to issue a visa.
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There are two types of TRV's: a single entry visa and a multiple entry visa. Both are valid for a fixed period and cannot be used after they expire.
A single entry visa allows you to come to Canada only one time. Once you have left Canada, excluding travel to the United States and St. Pierre and Miquelon, you will need a new visa to travel back to and enter Canada.
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A multiple entry visa allows visitors to come and go from Canada for six months at a time, without having to reapply each time. It can be valid for up to 10 years, or one month before your passport expires, whichever is earlier. You must arrive in Canada on or before the expiry date on your visa.
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Extend Your Visit
If you want to extend your visit in Canada, you must apply to do so. Check your temporary resident visa to make sure you apply before the expiry date. You should apply 30 days before your status expires.
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STUDY PERMIT & EXTENSION
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Canada has of one of the greatest schools systems in the world. Ranging from elementary schools to university schools and vocational schools. Studying in Canada provides internationally reverence and lower than normal tuition fees than other countries.
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If you want to study in Canada and you are not a Canadian citizen or a Permanent Resident then you must have a valid study permit. Before you can apply for a study permit, you must have been authorized at a school, college or university in Canada. You will also need to have the right documents. In order to apply for the study permit, a foreign national must provide proof of acceptance into an approved institution, proof of adequate funds to pay for tuition and living costs, and make evident the intention to return home upon the completion of studies. You can obtain a study permit while you are in your country, or the country where you reside legally. Furthermore, you should always ensure that your passport is valid until the end of your study period.
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Study permits will only be granted to individuals who have been accepted as a student at Designated Learning Institutions. Moreover, students will be required to pursue their studies and make progress towards completing their academic program. The Designated Learning Institutions will report frequently on enrollment to Citizenship and Immigration Canada. In addition, full time student on a valid study permit who has an Off Campus Work Permit will be allowed to work up to 20 hours per week during scheduled breaks, including summer or winter holidays and reading weeks.
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Once a student has completed their studies in Canada there are other options that are available to the student if he or she wishes to work or become a permanent resident in Canada. Such options can include applying for a Post Graduate Work Permit, or Permanent Residency through the Express Entry Program- Canadian Experience Class Program, the Quebec Experience Class Program or the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
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WORK PERMIT & EXTENSION
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Individuals who are not Canadian or permanent resident of Canada and wishing to work in Canada require a work permit. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. Contact our office to find out if you require a work permit to work in Canada. A Canada Work Permit is only issued once an offer of employment has been made. A Work Permit is not an employment contract but, is a document that is issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) formally Citizenship and Immigration Canada for the purpose of allowing an individual to work in Canada to fill a labour shortage, and to support economic growth in Canada.
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A work permit is issued when a work permit application is accepted. More often than not, work permits are employer specific and cannot be used to work in another company. If a foreign national employment is terminated, the foreign national must apply for a new Work Permit in order to work in a new position. However sometimes, an open work permit can be obtained by a foreign national. An open Work Permit allows a foreign national to work in any position, and for any employer in Canada.
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There are two types of Work Permits: Confirmed LMIA Employment (ESDC Confirmed Employment, Labour Market Impact Assessment); and Confirmation Exempt Employment (ESDC Exempt Employment).
ESDC Confirmed Employment requires an approval from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). If a confirmed employment is obtained, it simply means that there are no other permanent resident or Canadians qualified to fill the position. In order obtain a positive LMIA, an employer must provide information of the position being offered, proof of their recruitment efforts in Canada, and evidence that they were no permanent resident or Canadian available to fill the position.
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The ESDC outside Employment allows for an expedited processing. The categories of work that are under the ESDC Exempt Employment are:
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North American Free Trade Agreement professionals, traders and investors. The regulation also allows the issuance of Work Permits to people who enter Canada under other types of international agreements such as the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS).
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Persons whose employment in Canada provides similar employment to Canadians abroad, such as participants in youth exchange programs, exchange teachers and other reciprocal programs.
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Abroad students studying in Canada who need to work in order to fulfill co-op placements.
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Abroad students in Canada applying under the Off-Campus Work Permit program.
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Foreign students in Canada seeking to purse post-graduate employment.
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Spouses and common-law partners of skilled workers, spouses and common-law partners of certain foreign students, spouses and common-law partners of a person doing post-graduation employment for certain foreign students and post-doctoral fellows.
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TEMPORARY RESIDENT PERMIT & EXTENSION
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A Temporary Resident Permit can be issued to a foreign national who, in the opinion of an officer, is inadmissible or does not meet the requirements of IRPA
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The Temporary Resident Permit is always issued at the discretion of the delegated authority and may be cancelled at any time. The delegated authority will determine whether the need for the:
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foreign national to enter or remain in Canada is compelling; and
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foreign national’s presence in Canada outweighs any risk to Canadians or Canadian society.
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INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE CANADA
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Citizens of countries with a bilateral youth mobility arrangement with Canada who are between 18 and 35 years old may be eligible for IEC work permits.
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The IEC program is composed of three categories:
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