Because it is extremely beautiful, Canada is very popular with visitors, tourists and transit passengers. Canadians are very hospitable people and the temptation to overstay in the country is always a real possibility.
However, a visitor visa cannot be changed into a work permit while in Canada. So, don’t be fooled by press reports that may have carried such stories during COVID. It is true people were, during the pandemic, allowed, through a pilot program, to change from visitor visa to work permits, but that pilot program has been discontinued.
Another untruth that has been peddled widely is that one can change from visitor visa to a study permit without leaving Canada. If one enrolls in a college while visiting, the requirement is that before going to class, one has to exit the country, apply for a study permit, and if successful, return to Canada as an international student.
There are two instances that allow visitors to apply to change their visitor visas to another form of status i.e., work permit and ultimately, permanent residence. One such instance is the In-Canada spousal sponsorship. If you fall in love with a Canadian and would like to apply to stay, you don’t have to return to your country of origin. The spousal sponsorship application can be done while you are still in Canada. This is a legal-intensive application, but our legal help is always at hand.
Approvals for In-Canada spousal sponsorships can take a very long time. So, smart applicants prefer the off-shore processing as approvals are much faster. Another instance that can allow a switch from Visitor to another status while in Canada is an application for Refugee Protection. War can break out in your country of origin, for example. Fear of persecution and death can prevent a temporary resident from returning home. If such happens, one can apply for refugee protection. This, also, is a legal-intensive application, but our legal team is always ready to help.
Marriage and Refugee Protection are not avenues of convenience. As licensed professionals, we have an obligation to safeguard the integrity of the immigration system in Canada. So, our first step is to ensure that those seeking our services are legit applicants. We cherish numbers, but integrity, in Canada, comes first.