Change Status Inside Canada Vancouver

Change Status Inside Canada Vancouver

Vancouver, located on the west coast of Canada in the province of British Columbia is known as a vibrant city. Positioned between the majestic Coast Mountains and the sparkling waters of the Pacific Ocean, the city boasts breathtaking views in all directions. The picturesque setting has earned Vancouver the reputation of being one of the most beautiful cities on the planet. The total area of the city is 115.18 km2, and its total population is 662,248 residents.

The most significant ethnic communities in Vancouver include Chinese, Indian, Filipino, Vietnamese, Iranian, and various European ancestries. English is the primary language spoken, followed by Chinese, Punjabi, and Tagalog.

One of Vancouver’s crown jewels is Stanley Park, an urban oasis spanning 400 hectares. It is larger than New York City’s Central Park and offers a plethora of outdoor activities, including walking and biking trails, beaches, gardens, and the famous Vancouver Seawall.

Throughout the year, Vancouver hosts a wide array of cultural festivals that celebrate its diverse communities. From the Chinese New Year Parade to the Vancouver International Film Festival, there is always something exciting happening in the city.

Each year, Vancouver welcomes almost 3,000,000 tourists from all parts of the world. They explore Stanley Park, indulge in international cuisines, or experience the city’s vibrant arts scene. Today, there are almost 300,000 foreigners who reside in the city for varied reasons, such as tourism, study, or work. In certain situations, they may find it necessary to change status inside Canada. If you are interested in learning how to change status inside Canada in each situation, continue reading this article.

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

The first situation when you need to change status inside Canada is when you receive a job offer while staying in the country. A visitor visa permits you to stay in Canada until the specified expiration date mentioned on your visitor records, but it does not enable you to work in the country. You must change status inside Canada and obtain a work permit. There are eight categories of foreigners eligible to change status inside Canada and obtain a work permit.

1. Holders of valid study or work permits, as well as their family members.
2. Visitor visas holders, if their visas are valid for at least six months, along with their family members.
3. Foreign residents whose work permits were issued by a migration office abroad.
4. In-Canada foreign workers who want to get a second employment.
5. Graduates from Canadian Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs).
6. Refugee claimants.
7. In-Canada permanent resident applicants and their family members who are eligible for permanent resident status.
8. Visitors from Mexico can 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 under the Professional or Intra-company Transferee categories of CUSMA.

If you want to change status inside Canada, your potential employer needs to provide you with a copy of the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). If the employer is exempt from obtaining an LMIA, they must provide an Offer of Employment number. In addition to the mentioned documents to change status inside Canada, you ought to submit an Application to Change Conditions or Extend Your Stay in Canada [IMM 5710], copies of your passport, and proof of payment of $155. If you are eligible to work under an open work permit, you should pay an additional $100. It takes five months to get the work permit and change status inside Canada.

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

The second situation where you should change status inside Canada is when you wish to study in the country. Hence, you need to apply for a study permit, which allows you to change status inside Canada and stay in the country for the duration of your academic program. Ten groups of foreigners are eligible to change status inside Canada and obtain a study permit. 

1. Visitor visas holders, if their visas are valid for at least six months and their family members.
2. Individuals who have completed prerequisite short-term courses for their enrollment at DLIs.
3. Visiting and exchange students attending DLIs.
4. Students who attend preschool, primary, or secondary schools.
5. Students or applicants whose study permits were authorized by a visa office abroad.
6. Individuals who hold valid work permits, along with their accompanying family members.
7. Refugee claimants.
8. Protected persons and their accompanying family members.
9. In-Canada permanent resident applicants and their family members who are eligible for permanent resident status.
10. Family members of media representatives, athletes on a Canadian-based team, military personnel, and members of the clergy assigned to the country.

Foreigners seeking to change status inside Canada and pursue post-secondary study programs must provide a letter of acceptance from the DLI. For minor students who wish to attend primary or secondary schools in Canada, a letter from the school indicating the intended level of study and completion date is required.

In addition, to change status inside Canada, you need to submit an Application to Change Conditions, Extend my Stay or Remain in Canada as a Student [IMM 5709], copies of your passport or travel document, proof of sufficient funds to cover your study expenses and proof of payment of the $150 application fee. Parents of minor international students also need to fill out the Custodianship Declaration [IMM 5646]. The processing time to get a study permit and change status inside Canada takes two weeks.

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

The third situation where you ought to change status inside Canada is when you graduate from a DLI and want to gain work experience in the country. To achieve this, you need to apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP), which allows you to work in Canada for up to three years.

To be eligible to change status inside Canada and get a PGWP, you must complete at least a full-time two-year study program at a DLI that results in the attainment of a certificate, diploma, or degree. Additionally, your study permit must still be valid for a minimum of 180 days at the time of your application to change status inside Canada and get the PGWP.

In addition, you ought to provide supporting documentation that verifies the completion of your studies. This documentation can include 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 processing fees to change status inside Canada and obtain a PGWP include a work permit fee of $155 and additional $100 for an open work permit. The processing time to get a PGWP is four months.

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

The fourth situation where you must change status inside Canada is when you want to apply for permanent residency in Vancouver. To be eligible for permanent residency through the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) program, you must have at least one year of full-time in-Canada work experience in a National Occupation Classification (NOC) TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3. Additionally, applicants must meet specific language proficiency requirements, with a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of 7 for TEER 0 and 1 occupation or CLB 5 for TEER 2 and 3 occupation.

You may also apply for permanent residency and change status inside Canada under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program. It includes two categories: Skills Immigration and Entrepreneur Immigration. The skills Immigration category has five streams: Skilled Workers, Entry-Level and Semi-Skilled Workers, Health Authority, International Graduates, and International Post-Graduates. The Entrepreneur Immigration category has three streams: Base Stream, Strategic Projects, and Regional Pilot.

The common eligibility criteria for provincial nomination are job offers in TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3, at least a year of full-time work experience under the mentioned categories, post-secondary education, and at least CLB 4 in English or French. Nevertheless, if you want to change status inside Canada under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program, you must meet the criteria of the specific immigration stream. The application processing fee and time also depend on the chosen stream.

 

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