International employees, students, and tourists in Canada on work, study, or visitor visas may need a visa based on their current citizenship.
Work and study visas are essential aspects of the immigration journey for people who need them and differ from work and study permits. In this article, we have gathered the most frequent questions of new immigrants concerning visas for employees and students.
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What Is The Difference Between A Visa And A Permit?
Work and study permits are essential documents that authorize international citizens to get employed, study, and settle in Canada to ensure their permit authenticity. Permits offer a lawful status to the holder and specify what the holder can perform in the nation and the period.
Work permits in Canada can broadly be divided into Open Work Permits (OWPs) and closed or Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)-based work permits.
Visas, on the contrary, are either related to work or study permits or simply a tourist visa authorized for access and re-entry (if qualified) to Canada at a port of entry. Visas significantly authorize holders to cross a border with evidence that they have been conferred a lawful status and are authorized to enter and re-enter Canada. Work, study, and visitor visas, acquired by tourists visiting Canada, are widely described as temporary resident visas (TRVs). People who do not need a temporary resident visa will likely need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA).
Can I Pay For A Visa/eTA In My Nation’s Local Currency?
Several new immigrants to Canada can reimburse for their visas or eTAs in their local currency. To verify if this is applied to your condition, you can use IRCC’s site to check which visa office will run immigration requests from your nation of residence. This will give you an idea of whether you can reimburse in your local currency.
Should I Apply For An eTA Or Visa At The Same Time I Apply For My Work Or Study Permit?
Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) suggests not to make an application for (based on your nationality) an eTA or a visa when presenting a work or study permit request. An eTA or visa will be provided to successful candidates while their work or study permit is run.
Candidates who demand a work or study visa must be aware that they must present their passports at a Canadian visa office to receive the document.
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When I Have A Temporary Resident Visa, Can I Exit Canada And Return?
There are two types of temporary resident visas: single-entry and multiple-entry visas.
Temporary residents, including workers, students, and tourists with a single-entry visa, will require a new visa to return to Canada. You can request to come back to the nation on your original single-entry visa only if:
- You are going to St. Pierre and Miquelon, United States.
- You will come back to Canada before the end of your authorized visit.
The above requirements also apply to people requesting to return to Canada on an expired visitor visa. Temporary residents using a multiple-entry visa can exit and return to Canada multiple times within the duration of their visa authenticity.
How Do I Know When My Temporary Resident Status In Canada Has Expired?
For new immigrants in Canada on a work or study permit, it’s essential to check the expiration date of your temporary resident status. Suppose your visa or eTA expires before your temporary resident status. In that case, you may need to apply for an extension of your visa or continue your eTA to maintain your legal status in Canada.
For tourists landing at a port of entry in Canada, a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) official will place a stamp on their passport with a written note or provide new documents demonstrating their entry date.
Officials may periodically compose a note below the stamp demonstrating the date your temporary status ceases. If no stamp, written note, or new document is provided in your passport, your temporary status will terminate six months before you land in Canada.
I Received A New Passport, But My Valid Visa Is In My Old One. Can I Still Use The Visa In My Old Passport?
New immigrants in this condition can still move to Canada using the visa in their old passport. They must bring their old and new valid passports or travel documents.
While using the visa in your old passport is permissible, Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada advises new immigrants to consider obtaining a new visa in their valid passport to avoid potential border delays. New immigrants may also need to explain why their old passports or travel documents are no longer valid.
