Change Status Inside Canada Manitoba

Change Status Inside Canada Manitoba

Manitoba is situated in the central part of Canada, bordered by the provinces of Saskatchewan, Ontario, Nunavut, and the American states of North Dakota and Minnesota. The total area of the province is 649,950 km2, and its total population is 1,342,153 residents. The capital city, Winnipeg, is the most populous in Manitoba and acts as a cultural hub, attracting residents from diverse occupations.

Manitoba is a melting pot of cultures, with the major communities of European, Asian, African, and Indigenous people. English is the official language of Manitoba. The other widely spoken languages are French, Tagalog, Punjabi, German, and Hindi.

Churchill, a town located on the coast of Hudson Bay, is often referred to as the Polar Bear Capital of the World. It is renowned for its unique bear-watching opportunities, where visitors can observe these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat.

Manitoba is also one of the best places to witness the mesmerizing Northern Lights. The dark skies in regions like Churchill offer an ideal setting to view this natural spectacle, attracting visitors from around the world.

Each year, Manitoba welcomes about 3,000,000 tourists who come to explore breathtaking parks, such as Riding Mountain National Park, enjoy music at The Winnipeg Folk Festival, or visit their relatives. Moreover, Manitoba is a popular destination for immigrants because it offers a variety of economic opportunities, a strong social safety net, and a welcoming environment. Today, over 200,000 foreigners temporarily live in the province. For foreigners who find themselves in situations where they need to change status inside Canada, this article provides an overview of each scenario.

Change Status Inside Canada Manitoba:Change Status for a Study Permit in Manitoba

When individuals wish to obtain a study permit, they find themselves in the first scenario where they need to change status inside Canada. Although a visitor visa permits you to stay in Canada until the specified expiration date on your visitor records, it does not enable you to study in the country.

There are ten groups of foreigners eligible to change status inside Canada and apply for a study permit.

1. Holders of visitor visas valid for at least six months and their family members.
2. Visiting and exchange students studying at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI).
3. Students who study at the preschool, primary, and secondary levels.
4. Individuals who have completed prerequisite short-term courses required for their enrollment at a DLI.
5. Individuals whose study permits were authorized by a visa office abroad.
6. Individuals with valid work permits, along with their accompanying family members.
7. Refugee claimants.
8. Protected persons, along with their accompanying family members.
9. In-Canada permanent resident applicants and their family members.
10. Family members of media representatives, athletes on a Canadian-based team, military personnel, and members of the clergy assigned to Canada.

The study permit allows you to enroll at a DLI and stay in the country throughout your program. For individuals who want to change status inside Canada and pursue post-secondary study programs, it is essential to provide a letter of acceptance from the DLI. For minor students attending primary or secondary schools in Canada, a letter from the school indicating the intended level of study and completion date is required.

To apply for a study permit and change status inside Canada, you must complete the Application to Change Conditions, Extend my Stay or Remain in Canada as a Student [IMM 5709]. Along with this application, you need to include photocopies of your passport, proof of sufficient funds to cover your expenses during your study period, and evidence of payment for the $150 application fee. Additionally, to change status inside Canada, parents of minor international students must submit the Custodianship Declaration.

The processing time to get a study permit and change status inside Canada is two weeks.

Change Status Inside Canada Manitoba: Change Status for a PGWP in Manitoba

The second scenario where you need to change status inside Canada is the desire to stay and work in the country after graduation. To achieve this, you must apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), which allows you to work in Canada for up to three years.

If you want to change status inside Canada, you need to qualify for PGWP. Thus, you must have completed a full-time study program at a DLI that was at least two years in duration, leading to the attainment of a degree, diploma, or certificate. Additionally, your study permit must still be valid for at least 180 days at the time of your PGWP application if you intend to change status inside Canada.

During the application process to change status inside Canada, you ought to submit documents confirming the completion of your studies. It can be a degree or diploma awarded by your educational institution, an official letter confirming your program’s completion, or a copy of your official transcript.

The PGWP processing fees consist of a work permit fee of $155, along with an additional $100 for an open work permit. The processing time to obtain the PGWP and change status inside Canada takes four months.

Change Status Inside Canada Manitoba: Change Status for a Work Permit in Manitoba

The third scenario where it is required to change status inside Canada is when you receive a job offer while staying in the country. To work in Canada, foreigners must obtain a work permit, as they do not have the inherent right to work without authorization. There are eight categories of foreigners who are eligible to change status inside Canada and obtain a work permit to work in the country.

1. Holders of visitor visas valid for at least six months, along with their family members.
2. Holders of valid work or study permits, as well as their accompanying family members.
3. In-Canada foreign workers who seek secondary employment.
4. Foreign residents whose work permits were issued by a migration office abroad.
5. Graduates from Canadian DLIs.
6. Refugee claimants.
7. In-Canada permanent resident applicants and their family members.
8. Visitors from Mexico may change status inside Canada and apply for a work permit under any category of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA). Visitors from the US may change status inside Canada and apply only under the Professional or Intra-company Transferee categories of CUSMA.

In addition to meeting the eligibility criteria to change status inside Canada, you need to get a copy of the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from the prospective employer. LMIA-exempt employers must give you an Offer of Employment number.

When you are ready to change status inside Canada and obtain a work permit, you ought to submit an Application to Change Conditions or Extend Your Stay in Canada [IMM 5710], a copy of LMIA or Offer of Employment number, photocopies of the passport and proof of payment of $155. If you qualify for an open work permit, you should pay an additional $100.

The processing time to get the work permit and change status inside Canada is five months.

Change Status Inside Canada Manitoba:Change Status for a Permanent Residency in Manitoba

The fourth scenario in which you need to change status inside Canada is when you are eligible to get permanent residency in Manitoba. To apply for permanent residency through the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), you must have at least one year of full-time in-Canada work experience in a job category classified as TIER 0, 1, 2, or 3. Furthermore, applicants must meet language proficiency requirements of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 for TIER 2 and 3 jobs or CLB 7 for TIER 0 and 1 jobs.

Foreign residents can also be eligible to change status inside Canada and get permanent residency under the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program. The program has three streams: Skilled Worker, International Education, and Business Investor. The Skilled Worker Stream has two pathways: Skilled Worker in Manitoba and Skilled Worker Overseas. International Education Stream has three pathways: Graduate Internship, Career Employment, and the International Student Entrepreneur Pilot. Business Investor Stream has two pathways: Entrepreneur and Farm Investor.

The common requirements to change status inside Canada under the provincial nomination streams are two years of full-time work experience in the past five years, a post-secondary education, CLB 7, settlement funds, and an intention to reside in Manitoba. Still, all applicants must meet the specific eligibility criteria of the chosen stream.

The processing fees and time depend on the specific immigration program to change status inside Canada.

 

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