A work visa is needed for anyone who wants to live in Canada as a permanent resident or citizen. There are two main types of visas that can be used for this purpose, which are called temporary (or tourist) visit and non-immigrant (resident) status.
A person may need a work permit to prove they have enough money to support themselves while living here, or they may need permission to travel or study outside of Canada while here. This article will talk about how long it takes to get your work permit with a K1 visa!
If you already have proof that you are eligible for a K1 visa and you’re just waiting for someone at Citizenship & Immigration to process it, then this article won’t help you, but if you’re not sure whether you’re ready to apply or not, read on!
We could probably write an entire book about why getting a work permit can take many months, even years. But we'll save that for another day. For now, just know that there are lots of things that can hold up your application, so try to plan for that!
K1 visa applications must include some basic information, such as your name, address, phone number, and email. They also ask about your criminal record, any children you might want to bring into the country, and anything else relevant to life in Canada.
There is no clear cut time frame for getting work permits for a parent of a dependent visa holder in Canada. It depends on how long you have known each other, what kind of commitments you make to each other, and whether or not there are children involved.
If you are both engaged then it will probably go faster than if you had only met recently. This is because Canadians tend to give more leeway when it comes to engagement.
A lot of people assume that once you get married, all family visas (for example E2s) automatically come up and expire after one year. They don’t!
There can be many reasons why this isn’t the case, but mostly it has to do with money. A marriage-based visa requires some sort of proof that the two partners will live together as spouses. If either person doesn’t then it can be difficult or even impossible to renew the visa.
This article contains important information about working while on a K1 visa in Canada. Make sure to read it fully so you know everything about eligibility, documentation required, and timing.
The second step in determining if you need a work permit is calculating how long it will take for your child to be eligible for Canadian citizenship. This includes figuring out when their residency status changes, and what kind of visa they have at that time.
You can find this information online or by talking to immigration lawyers. Some countries require an additional year of residency before granting full citizenship, so make sure to check those dates!
It's also important to know what kind of visa your kid has right now, as well as any limitations to working while under that visa. For example, most kids on F2 Visas are allowed to work during school breaks, but not outside of normal business hours.
Once again, look up all of these things yourself or through professional help, to ensure everything is valid and clear.
If you have lived in Canada for more than six months, and if you are applying as an extended family member or caregiver, you will need to prove that your children are attending school here.
You can use School Records to verify this! Many countries require proof of schooling beyond just giving them a certificate at their current school. They may also ask about previous schools they attended, so make sure to keep those records.
It is very easy to check school record information. Some states offer free access while others cost a fee depending on how many students you have and what level of detail you want. But it is worth the price because this can help confirm your student status!
School records can be found through state departments like Education, Labour, and Human Services. You can usually search directly from their websites or by contacting them via phone or email.
The next step in gaining permission to live and work in Canada as an international student is figuring out how long you will be working. This depends on two things – whether you have full-time employment or part time employment, and what country you are allowed to work for.
If you have full-time employment, then you can apply for extended work permit conditions. If you have part time employment, you can apply for seasonal worker status. Both of these require you to be able to prove that you don’t have enough hours at this job to qualify as full-time so you can extend your visa.
You also need to make sure your employers in Canada are aware that you will only be returning home during certain times of the year. This is done through what’s called return travel authorisation (RTA). These get issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) when you apply for permanent residence.
It's very important to note that if you do not notify CIC within six months of your RFA expiring, they may refuse to grant you PR and instead send you back home! So it is crucial to stay in touch with them while you are studying here.
The second major factor in determining how long it will take to get your work visa is your financial situation. Obviously, you cannot start looking for jobs until you have proof that you can live comfortably while living in the United States, so making money before you arrive is not an option unless you don’t need much of it.
It’s great to want to pursue your dreams, but you should be conscious of whether or not you are able to do so. It’s impossible to know if you’ve put yourself into debt by buying expensive things, so make sure to check your bank accounts, credit cards, and loans.
You might find that you’re overpaying now, but investing later could cost you too if you run out of money. A lot of people begin saving once they feel confident about their employment, which makes sense, but you should do it as early as possible to ensure that you don’t waste any time chasing the dream down.
Another thing to consider is whether or not you need to bring along a large amount of belongings. Some countries require only one suitcase per person, which can save you some money in transport costs.
One of the less discussed but vital aspects of moving to a new country with a work permit is the cultural adaptability. Canada, like the US and many other countries, has its own unique culture, norms, and values. Being able to integrate and adapt will make your stay smoother and more fulfilling.
Finding out how much time you have to work while on a visa can be tricky, particularly if you are not familiar with the process. You do not want to overstay your visit so it is important to know when your stay in the country will expire.
There are two main ways to find this information- by talking to people at the embassy or consulate, and through testing software that can help determine when your visa expires.
You should also make sure your travel documents are up to date as well as proof of employment or education.
After you have received conditional acceptance into the United States, it is time to begin gathering everything you need for your stay here!
You will first want to make sure that you have adequate health insurance. This can be through the employer that you are hired with or via individual policies.
Next comes the work visa. Once again, this depends on if you have an F-1 or M-1 visa. If you do not yet have either of these visas, then you will need to wait until you obtain one before getting the next step in your process.
Once you have both of those, then you can start looking into how long you will need to get your work visa.
It is very important that you apply for your K1 visa as soon as possible after receiving word of acceptance. Only once you have this document can you begin the process of moving to the United States, so it is best to be prepared early!
It is also important to remember that if you do not have proof of health insurance or work authorization in the US, you will likely not be able to register with your local doctor and may need to find new doctors immediately.
This could take some time so make sure to start looking well before you arrive in America! Luckily, there are ways to get quick work permits which we will discuss below.
General tips: Before you travel to the USA you should confirm that you have adequate medical coverage (visa sponsored or individual) and proof of employment. If these things are confirmed then you do not need to buy medical or job-related cover at a later date. You can wait until you enter the country to purchase these items.
Important!: As mentioned earlier, it is best to be ready as soon as possible after being informed that you have received your K1 visa, as this gives you more time to prepare for life here in the U.S.
It’s essential to look beyond the immediate work permit duration and plan for the long term.
Moving to another country for work is a significant life event. It's more than just acquiring a permit or visa; it’s about integrating into a new society, understanding its norms, and planning for a potential long-term stay. By being well-prepared and informed, you can ensure a smooth transition and a fulfilling experience in your new home.
