Globetrotters Immigration Services

01/29/2026

Visitor to PR in Canada: Myths vs. Reality

There's a lot of misinformation out there about converting a visitor visa into PR. These are some statements that I've heard over the course of the last few months:

❌ Myth #1: “I can apply for PR directly from a visitor visa.”

✅ Reality:
Visitor status does not itself make you eligible for PR. You must qualify under an actual immigration program (e.g., Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Program, family sponsorship, etc.), and meet eligibility criteria such as work experience, education, language ability.

❌ Myth #2: “Being inside Canada increases my PR chances.”

✅ Reality:
Physical presence alone doesn’t add points or guarantee approval.

❌ Myth #3: “I can work while on visitor status.”

✅ Reality:
Visitors cannot work unless they obtain a valid work permit (with limited exceptions). Working without authorization can seriously harm future applications.

❌ Myth #4: “Visitors can apply for a work permit from inside Canada anytime.”

✅ Reality:
Under current IRCC rules and policy, visitors are generally not eligible to apply for a work permit from within Canada. To apply from inside Canada, you usually need another valid status (e.g., study permit, existing work permit or certain exemptions).

❌ Myth #5: “I can just switch from visitor to work permit easily.”

✅ Reality:
Switching from one status to another is not automatic. Most visitors need:
- A valid job offer
- Possibly an LMIA
- To meet eligibility rules (some temporary public policies may apply, but they are limited and change often)

❌ Myth #6: “Visitors can switch to a work permit inside Canada because of a special policy.”

✅ Reality:
There used to be a temporary public policy allowing some visitors to apply for an employer-specific work permit from inside Canada due to COVID-19, but IRCC officially ended this policy on August 28, 2024.

❌ Myth #7: “Everyone can go Visitor → Work Permit → PR.”

✅ Reality:
This pathway depends on individual circumstances:
- Occupation & TEER level
- Employer compliance
- Province & nomination programs
- Language scores and work experience
- For some, it’s possible. For many, it isn’t.

The Bottom Line:
A visitor visa can be a starting point, but it is not a shortcut to PR. Any strategy for PR should be program-based, compliant, and realistic. And with how often things are changing these days, don’t just have a plan A. The journey through Canadian immigration is rarely linear.

01/22/2026

I’ve been seeing this situation more and more lately. 👀

A client books a consultation to talk PR options, but their work permit expires in less than a month — with no active provincial EOIs or federal EE profiles in the system.

This can happen for a lot of reasons:

• Lack of preparation
• Misunderstanding immigration laws and policies
• Bad or incomplete advice
• A mix of all of the above

My job is to assess the situation and help you navigate the best possible path forward. 🧭

Sometimes there’s a way to stay in Canada.
Sometimes leaving is the only realistic option.
Either way, both outcomes require a clear and strategic immigration plan aligned with your long-term goals.

The takeaway? Don’t wait until the last minute. If you’re nearing the work experience requirements needed for PR eligibility, start planning early. ✍

In today’s Canadian immigration landscape, being proactive isn’t optional—it’s essential.

09/04/2024

" Border officers turned away 3,727 foreign travellers per month on average through the first seven months of 2024, an increase of 633 people or 20 per cent from a year earlier.

Separately, officers deemed 285 visa-holders inadmissible in July, also the most in any month since at least January 2019, the data showed."

Full article here:

https://globalnews.ca/news/10730242/canada-border-refusals-foreigners-visas/

Canada's immigration policies have been tightening over the last few months, which in turn has resulted in fewer visa approvals. It is crucial to have a well put together application and be prepared to answer any questions that the border officer may have to increase your chances of success.

In July, Canada refused entry to 5,853 foreign travellers, who were 'allowed to leave,' as Canada puts it, the most since at least January 2019, according to border agency data.

08/28/2024

❗️ EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY ❗️

The temporary public policy that was introduced in August 2020 and was set to expire on February 28, 2025, to allow visitors to apply for a work permit from inside Canada has now come to an early end.

This is another effort being made by IRCC to recalibrate the amount of temporary residents in Canada and to preserve the integrity of the immigration system.

Applications submitted before August 28, 2024 under the policy will continue to be processed.

08/27/2024

Don’t fall prey to . If you choose to work with an immigration consultant for your Canadian permanent residency or citizenship, verify that they have an ‘Active’ status at college-ic.ca/publicregister.

08/27/2024

Starting on September 26, 2024, certain low-wage LMIA applications will be affected by the following:

☑️ current cap of 20% on the proportion of low-wage positions decreasing to 10% (exceptions granted for seasonal and non-seasonal jobs in food security sectors (primary agriculture, food processing and fish processing), healthcare and construction)

☑️ certain LMIA applications for low-wage positions in census metropolitan areas with 6% unemployment rate or higher won't be processed (exceptions granted for seasonal and non-seasonal jobs in food security sectors (primary agriculture, food processing and fish processing), healthcare and construction)

☑️ maximum employment duration decreasing from 2 years to 1 year for low-wage positions

Over the next 90 days, there will be further review of the TFW program. This may result in changes to the High-Wage Stream, to existing applications where positions remain unfilled, to sectoral exceptions or refusing to process other LMIA applications.

04/30/2024

Starting tomorrow (April 30), the public policy that allowed international students to work more than 20 hours per week expires!

International students enrich Canada’s social, cultural and economic fabric. That is why, in recent months, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has introduced reforms to the International Students Program, to ensure system integrity while protecting students from fraud and financial vulne...

02/02/2024

IRCC's official release can be read here: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/updates/2024-pearson-language-test.html

01/23/2024

Today, we announced that the Government of Canada will set an intake cap on international student permit applications to stabilize growth, for a period of two years. Details: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2024/01/canada-to-stabilize-growth-and-decrease-number-of-new-international-student-permits-issued-to-approximately-360000-for-2024.html

For 2024, the cap is expected to result in approximately 360,000 approved study permits, a decrease of 35% from 2023. Study permit renewals will not be impacted. Those pursuing master’s and doctoral degrees, and elementary and secondary education are not included in the cap. Current study permit holders will not be affected.

To implement the cap, as of January 22, 2024, every study permit application submitted to IRCC will also require an attestation letter from a province or territory. Provinces and territories are expected to establish a process for issuing attestation letters to students by no later than March 31, 2024.

In order to better align the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program, we are changing the eligibility criteria:
• Starting September 1, 2024, international students who begin a study program that is part of a curriculum licensing arrangement will no longer be eligible for a postgraduation work permit upon graduation.
• Graduates of master’s and other short graduate-level programs will soon be eligible to apply for a 3-year work permit.

In the weeks ahead, open work permits will only be available to spouses of international students in master's and doctoral programs. The spouses of international students in other levels of study, including undergraduate and college programs, will no longer be eligible.

11/02/2023

The public policy that was set to end on September 9, 2023 has now been extended for another 3 years. This policy extension will expire on September 10, 2026.

Why is this good news? 🤔

Under R117(9)(d) or R125(1)(d), a foreign national that did not have a non-accompanying family member examined at the time they applied for permanent residence could not later apply to sponsor that family member (usually a spouse and/or children).

Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for unscrupulous agents and consultants to mislead foreign nationals by telling them that their application will be processed faster or even approved if they do not declare their family members, among other unethical practices.

In response to, and in line with the goal of family reunification, IRCC has implemented this public policy to grant exemptions to those PR's who meet certain eligibility requirements, which would allow them to sponsor their spouse and/or children for Canadian permanent residency.

Do you believe that you may be eligible to sponsor your spouse or child under this policy? Or would you like some more information that is more specific to your situation? Please do not hesitate to book a consultation! 😊