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| Subject: Work permit expiry, need renewal for 10 days only |
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We are currently living in Ontario where my husband is doing a teaching exchange. The teaching exchange is due to finish on January January 18th. Our flights are booked accordingly to leave Canada on Sunday 20th January.
On our arrival in Vancouver in January of this year, when we went through immigration, our work permits (and visitor/study permits for our children) were all issued for 12 months from the date of our arrival. They state, ‘must leave Canada by 10 January 2013’. We have spoken to other teachers from Australia on exchange in Ontario in the same situation as us who have confirmed that they have been issued a work permit until the end of January therefore allowing them a few days’ grace prior to commencing work and the same after they finish their exchange.
We therefore need to extend the date on our permits for a few days in order for my husband to fulfil the obligations of his teaching exchange.
We have tried to contact Citizenship and Immigration Canada, CIC to speak to someone as we were advised at the time of arrival that we would be able to have our permits reissued inland with appropriate dates on them. The phone number on your website and the reverse side of our permits gives us voice prompts and just when we finally get through and placed on hold to speak to a representative, we have been disconnected with a recording saying that they are unable to take our call, please call again. They recommend calling on Thursdays or Fridays which are their quietest days but we have been calling on these days for about a month now and have not yet been able to speak to someone directly.
Any help, PLEASE? We´d really like to ensure we have the appropriate forms completed well ahead of time so that we can enjoy our last few months in Canada but we don´t want to have to pay for 4 new permits.
Fingers crossed someone can help us or give us a contact person we can speak to directly.
[25-10-2012,11:50]
[**.54.82.134]
Libby |
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(in reply to: Work permit expiry, need renewal for 10 days only)
Hi Libby, i don´t know what time you do try to call them. Call the call center around 8am. I called them this morning around 9am and it went thru. You don´t have to call them in the afternoon,because that a busy time to call.
[25-10-2012,12:06]
[**.49.99.161]
Anonymous |
(in reply to: Work permit expiry, need renewal for 10 days only)
My request doesn´t really match any of the menu options either. Thank you for the tip though. I will try calling earlier.
[25-10-2012,13:08]
[**.54.82.134]
Libby |
(in reply to: Work permit expiry, need renewal for 10 days only)
Call them for what? You have two options..that´s it:
1- Leave Canada before your permit expires. (Change your departure day)
2- Apply for an extension on your permits (you still have time to do so) and pay the fees.
Quoted "Any help, PLEASE? We´d really like to ensure we have the appropriate forms completed well ahead of time so that we can enjoy our last few months in Canada but we don´t want to have to pay for 4 new permits".
So you want to fill the forms, get an extension but not to pay for the processing?...ya right! good luck.
[26-10-2012,10:16]
[***.115.153.178]
DocD |
(in reply to: Work permit expiry, need renewal for 10 days only)
Just still not sure why we were not granted the 10 days beyond the 12 months when we went thru immigration initially. We had confirmation letters stating the period of work. Others we know were given permits to match their dates exactly - no extension necessary, no additional fees, just literally a few days either side of the 12 month work dates to allow for travel, arriving, settling in etc... then packing up to leave the country.
[26-10-2012,14:38]
[***.144.46.86]
Libby |
(in reply to: Work permit expiry, need renewal for 10 days only)
So, I finally got through on the phone this morning and spoke to a helpful and understanding woman... situation remains though. They cannot or will not simply reissue the permits with appropriate dates on them. We are required to apply again - applications that won´t even be processed for the sum of at least $375. Such a waste of time to fill out forms and post for processing.
[29-10-2012,09:14]
[***.144.46.86]
Libby |
(in reply to: Work permit expiry, need renewal for 10 days only)
"So, I finally got through on the phone this morning and spoke to a helpful and understanding woman... situation remains though. They cannot or will not simply reissue the permits with appropriate dates on them. We are required to apply again"
Isn´t it what I said?
Were you really hoping for a different answer?, you can still get an extension though, as long as you go through the proper channels. Otherwise you are going to stay beyond your authorized time in Canada and then things will get complicated in the future when you attempt to re-enter this country.
[29-10-2012,10:18]
[***.115.153.178]
DocD |
(in reply to: Work permit expiry, need renewal for 10 days only)
Yes, DocD, this is what you said BUT yes, I was hoping for a different answer. I was hoping we could simply have new permits issued with appropriate dates with no additional charges required (for 10 days!) I still don´t understand why our situation has been treated very differently to many others from our country here for the same reason and period of time - they were given a few days either side of their employment commencing and finishing - time to perhaps set up and pack up their lives and families, time required when you are moving from one side of the world to the other.
I don´t get why our work permit did not allow us this time is the first place when others did. Some were given 13 months!
Don´t suppose you know someone specific I can write to or call in CIC?
[29-10-2012,13:12]
[***.144.46.86]
Libby |
(in reply to: Work permit expiry, need renewal for 10 days only)
What if I go over the border on the date when I am supposed to leave Canada for a couple of days? Can I then return to Canada as a visitor without a visa for the remaining days before my flight out of Canada?
[01-11-2012,11:43]
[***.144.46.86]
Libby |
(in reply to: Work permit expiry, need renewal for 10 days only)
no, you will then require a visitors visa.
[01-11-2012,13:38]
[**.16.209.169]
Sharon |
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