tugrularas/irccfaq huggingface dataset:
Question: How can I find a doctor who can provide the medical exam I need to come to Canada?
Answer: Only a panel physician authorized by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada can do the immigration medical exam.
You can choose a panel physician anywhere in the world. You have to tell them where your application will be processed, so that the medical results can be sent to the right office. You will have to pay for the medical exam. The cost can differ from one doctor to another.
See the list of panel physicians to find a doctor in your area. You cannot choose your family doctor if their name is not on this list.
Question: My work permit has expired. Can I apply for another one?
Answer: Yes, but you can only do this if your permit expired fewer than 90 days ago. You also need to restore your temporary status in Canada.
Since you need to apply to restore your status after it has expired, you can’t work while this application is in progress.
How to restore your status and get a work permit.

International Experience Canada participants
To restore your status, you must be eligible to extend your work permit. See Extend or change your work permit - International Experience Canada.
Question: I work in Quebec. How can I extend my work permit?
Answer: If you’re an International Experience Canada participant, see Extend or change your work permit – International Experience Canada.
Step 1: Find out if you need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
If you need an LMIA, your employer must follow these steps:

Apply for an LMIA renewal from Employment and Social Development Canada. A positive LMIA allows your employer to hire you.
Apply to Quebec’s provincial government for a Québec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) for your job.

For more information, see the page Immigrate and settle in Quebec – Temporary workers.
If your employer doesn’t need an LMIA to hire you, you’re also exempt from getting a CAQ. In most cases, your employer will need to submit a new offer of employment through the Employer Portal.
Some LMIA-exempt employers don’t need to submit an offer of employment or pay the employer compliance fee. Find out how to get a work permit for these jobs.
Step 2: Apply to extend your work permit
Before your work permit expires, apply to extend your work permit.
Include copies of your job offer letter or contract and:

the new LMIA or CAQ, or
the offer of employment number that your LMIA-exempt employer received after submitting your offer (if applicable)

Information for your spouse or common-law partner
Your spouse or common-law partner may be eligible to apply for an open work permit. Their work permit will have the same expiry date as your own.
Question: I applied for a new work permit. Can I stay in Canada if my work permit expires?
Answer: Yes, you can stay in Canada until we make a decision on your new work permit application. This is called maintained status.
You may also be authorized to work until we make a decision on your application. However, you must respect the following requirements:
If you applied for another work permit
You must stay in Canada and work under the conditions of your original work permit.
If you applied to extend or change your work permit before it expired, you’re authorized to keep working under the same conditions as your original permit until we make a decision on your application.
If you applied for a study permit or visitor record
You must stop working on day the original work permit expires.
For example, you may have come to Canada as a worker and then applied for a study permit. If so, you must stop working once your work permit expires. After that, you cannot work or study until you get a new permit.
Question: Can I keep working if my permit expires? How do I prove this to my employer?
Answer: Yes, if you applied to extend or change your work permit before your work permit expired, you

have maintained your status 
are authorized to work until we finalize your application

You must stay in Canada and continue working under the same conditions as your original work permit. For example, if you have an employer-specific work permit, you must still work for the employer named on that permit.
If your employer needs proof you can keep working, there are documents you can show them.
Question: I have applied to extend my work permit. Can I travel outside Canada?
Answer: You can leave Canada and come back. However, one of three things will happen when you return to Canada.

You may be allowed to come back to Canada as a visitor, if we have not yet decided to extend your work permit. If this is the case, you cannot work until you get your work permit extension. The officer at the port of entry may ask you to prove you have enough money to support yourself in Canada.
You may be allowed to come back to Canada as a worker, if the officer at the port of entry finds out that we extended your work permit while you were away.
You may be asked to apply for a new work permit at the port of entry.

You must also meet all other applicable entry requirements.
Question: I’ve maintained my status, but my health insurance card, driver’s licence and other government ID documents have expired. How can I renew my ID documents?
Answer: You should apply to renew your government ID before your work or study permit expires.
If you applied online to extend or change your work permit, you can use your letter (WP-EXT except PGWP) as proof that you’re authorized to keep working.
What to do if you need to renew your government ID document
These services are provided by the province you live in. If you need to renew your government ID, you’ll have to apply to the government of the province or territory you live in. That government will decide how and when they renew the documents.
For more information, contact the appropriate government department or agency in the province or territory where you live, such as those responsible for health or transportation.
Question: My work permit expired and I did not apply to extend it. Can I stay and keep working in Canada?
Answer: If you’re an  International Experience Canada participant, see Extend or change your work  permit – International Experience Canada.

You can apply to restore your work permit in the first 90 days after it expires. If you do this, you can stay in Canada until you get further instructions, but you must stop working until you receive your restored work permit. There is no guarantee that your application will be approved.
Otherwise, you must leave Canada right away when your work permit expires. If you do not leave, you could be deported and will need permission from an immigration officer to come back.
Find out how to restore your work permit.
Question: Who needs a Labour Market Impact Assessment?
Answer: Employers  of some types of temporary workers need to get a Labour Market Impact  Assessment (LMIA) before the worker applies for a work permit. An LMIA is a  document from Employment and Social Development Canada that gives the employer  permission to hire a temporary worker.
If  you are an employer, find  out if you need an LMIA.
If  you are a worker, you can answer a few questions to find out:

the kind of work permit you can apply for, and 
the  steps your employer needs to take before you submit your work permit  application.
Question: Why do I need another Labour Market Impact Assessment if I just got one a year ago?
Answer: A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is a document an employer may need to get before they are allowed to hire a foreign worker. The LMIA is valid for a limited time. If your employer would like to keep you for a longer period, they must apply for a new LMIA. Employment and Social Development Canada / Service Canada will make sure there are still no Canadian citizens or permanent residents who can do your job.
Question: Can my spouse or common-law partner and dependent children come with me to Canada?
Answer: If you are coming to Canada for a short time
Your spouse or common-law partner and dependent children can come with you to Canada or visit you in Canada, if they

meet all the requirements for temporary residents to Canada,
satisfy an immigration officer they will only stay in Canada temporarily,
can prove they have no criminal record, if necessary, and
meet all the conditions for getting a temporary resident visa, if they are from a country or territory whose citizens require a visa in order to enter Canada as visitors.

If you are moving to Canada permanently
Your spouse or common-law partner and dependent children can come with you to Canada if

you and your family members meet the eligibility requirements of your program (for example, you meet the income requirement to sponsor your family members),
your children qualify as dependants, and
your family members are not inadmissible to Canada.
Question: Does each person applying for a work permit from outside Canada have to fill out a separate application?
Answer: All applicants must complete and sign their own application, even if they’re travelling to Canada together as a family. A parent or guardian must sign the form for applicants under the age of 18.
Some family members can apply for an open work permit at the same time as the principal work permit applicant. It depends on the type of worker the principal applicant is.
Find out when to apply.
Question: If other family members are coming with me, what documents should I send with the application?
Answer: You may have to send a marriage certificate and birth certificates for those family members. If your common-law partner is coming with you to Canada, you may have to fill out the Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union form and provide the documents listed in it to support your relationship.
Question: Can my spouse or common-law partner work in Canada?
Answer: Yes, in most cases, your spouse or common-law partner can work in Canada. However, they will usually need  a work permit to work in Canada. They must apply for their  own work permit.
  In some cases, your  spouse or common-law partner may be able to apply for an open work  permit—allowing him or her to accept any job with any employer. For more  information, see Who can apply for an open work permit?
In other cases, your spouse or common-law partner must  apply for a work permit for a specific employer. The employer may have to get a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). An LMIA allows an employer to hire someone for a specific job. Find out  if your spouse or common-law partner's employer needs an LMIA to  hire them.
Question: Can my dependent children work in Canada?
Answer: If your dependent children aren’t Canadian citizens and they want to work in Canada, they must apply for their own work permit.
Your children may be eligible for an open work permit if you’re in one of the following situations:

You’re a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and you’re sponsoring your spouse, common-law partner or your dependent children.
You’re a foreign worker in Canada.

If your child isn’t eligible for an open work permit, their employer may have to get a labour market impact assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada. An LMIA is a document an employer usually needs to get before they can hire a foreign worker; it allows an employer to hire someone for a specific job.
Before your dependent children work in Canada, check the minimum age required to work in the type of job and province/territory that they plan to work in.
In some cases, your dependent children will need a medical exam.
Question: As a foreign worker, do I need an eTA or a visa to work in Canada?
Answer: Depending on your citizenship, you may need an eTA or a visitor visa, as well as a work permit. Your eTA or visa will be issued to you at the same time as your work permit. You do not need to apply separately or to pay an additional fee.
Question: Can I pay for the temporary resident visa in my country’s money?
Answer: Yes, in many countries. For details, visit the Pay your fees page to learn about the methods of payment  accepted by Canadian visa offices.
Question: How do I apply for a temporary resident visa?
Answer: Fill out the Application for a Temporary Resident to Visit  Canada.
 Starting between September and December 2013, citizens from 29 countries and 1 territory will need to give biometrics (fingerprints and photograph) when they apply for a visa.
Question: Should I apply for an eTA or a visa when I apply for a work permit?
Answer: No. Depending on your citizenship, you may need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) or a visitor visa, as well as a work permit. Your eTA or visa will be issued to you at the same time as your work permit. You do not need to apply separately or to pay an additional fee.
You may also need to give biometrics. Citizens from 29 countries and 1 territory need to give biometrics (fingerprints and photograph) when they apply for a visa.
Question: How can I help a family member or friend apply to visit Canada?
Answer: If your friend or family member wants to visit Canada, they must apply to the Canadian visa office responsible for his or her country or region. A visa officer will review the application and decide whether to issue a visa.
You can help your friend or family member by writing a letter of invitation. It should explain how you will help the person. For example, you may offer to pay for plane tickets or accommodation. A letter of invitation can help, but it does not guarantee the person will get a visa.
Question: I have a visitor visa. Can I leave Canada and come back?
Answer: The visitor visa is officially called a temporary resident visa.  There are 2 types of visas: single-entry visa and multiple-entry visa.
If you have a single-entry visitor visa

In most cases, you’ll need a new visa if you want to leave and come back to Canada
You can ask to return to Canada on your original single-entry visitor visa only if:
    
you’ll only visit the U.S. or St. Pierre and Miquelon; and
you’ll return to Canada before the end of your approved stay in Canada.



If you have a multiple-entry visitor visa

You can leave and come back to Canada multiple times as long as your visitor visa has not expired.

If you have an expired visitor visa

You can ask to come back to Canada on your original temporary resident (visitor) visa, even if it’s expired, if:
    
you’ll only visit the U.S. or St. Pierre and Miquelon, and
you’ll return to Canada before the end of your approved stay in Canada.



Before travelling back to Canada
You must meet all the necessary traveller entry requirements. A border services officer will make the final decision at the port of entry.
Find out more about the documents you need before you travel to Canada.

Foreign students and workers who got a temporary resident (visitor) visa in Canada
If there is a V-1 code on your visitor visa

Foreign students and workers who applied for a visitor visa in Canada since July 2021 may get a V-1 visitor visa.
You can use your V-1 visa to leave and re-enter Canada – the same way you would use your S-1 or W-1 visa.
You don’t need to request a different type of visa or follow up with the processing office or client support centre. A new visa will not be issued in this case.

Validity period is different on the V-1 visa

The V-1 visa is valid until the expiration date of your passport.
    
This is part of the temporary measures in place that will be in effect until further notice.
If your V-1 visa expires, you can apply for a new visitor visa.
Question: How do I know when my temporary resident status expires?
Answer: If you are travelling with a passport:
When you arrived in Canada and gave your passport to the officer, they placed a stamp in your passport and/or issued another document. Check your passport. If you find a stamp, it should look like one of these.

For example, if the officer placed a hand written date as shown above, your temporary resident status would expire on that date (June 30th, 1993 in this case).
If there is no stamp, a handwritten date or document in your passport, your temporary resident status will expire six months from the day you arrived in Canada.
If you were given a visitor record, study or work permit, the expiry date is marked on the document.
Question: How do I hire a temporary foreign worker?
Answer: There are 3 basic steps to hire a temporary foreign worker:

Get a labour market impact assessment or submit an offer of employment
Have the worker apply for a work permit
Tell the worker what to expect from their application

Before you create an offer of employment in the Employer Portal
Make sure that

you haven’t charged any recruitment fees to the foreign worker
anyone acting on your behalf doesn’t charge recruitment fees to the foreign worker
you give the foreign worker a copy of an employment agreement in their chosen official language (English or French) that
        
is signed by both you and the worker
includes information on their occupation, wages and working conditions that you’ll need to then enter into the Employer Portal under “offer of employment”


you give the foreign worker information on their rights as a worker in Canada 

Get an LMIA or submit an offer of employment
Find out if you need a labour market impact assessment (LMIA). The LMIA will verify that there’s a need for the job you are offering and that there is no Canadian worker available to do it. Read about the Temporary Foreign Worker Program to find out more about LMIAs and where to apply.
If you don’t need an LMIA, submit an offer of employment, complete the employer attestations and certifications, and pay the employer compliance fee using the Employer Portal. Give the offer of employment number to the worker you want to hire so they can apply for their work permit.

Some employers don’t need to submit an offer of employment in the Employer Portal or pay the employer compliance fee. Find out if you are exempt.
Learn how to submit a job offer through the Employer Portal.

Have the worker apply for a work permit
Once you have an LMIA number or an offer of employment number, send those details to the worker, along with your job offer. They need to use this information to apply for a work permit.
If you are exempt from the employer compliance process, send the worker your job offer.  They can use it to apply.
Tell the worker what to expect from their application
Tell the worker that they will receive a letter of introduction when their work permit has been approved. The actual work permit is issued by a border services officer at the port of entry when the worker arrives in Canada. If the worker is already in Canada and eligible to apply, we will mail the work permit to them.
Find out more about hiring temporary workers.
Question: As an employer, what are my obligations to temporary foreign workers?
Answer: Your responsibilities as an employer include to:

make sure the temporary workers get the most recent information about their rights

on or before their first day of work
in their chosen official language of Canada


make sure you give the temporary workers a copy of the signed employment agreement
        
make sure the employment agreement includes information on the temporary worker’s wages, working conditions and occupation, as listed in the offer of employment or labour market impact assessment (LMIA)


make sure that the temporary workers have their work permit
make sure that the temporary workers follow the conditions and time limits outlined on their work permit
meet your commitments to the temporary workers regarding their wages, working conditions and occupation, as listed in the offer of employment or labour market impact assessment (LMIA)
comply with provincial, territorial or federal employment laws
make sure that your business remains active during the validity period of the work permit
make sure that temporary workers aren’t charged any recruitment fees
make reasonable efforts to provide
        
a workplace free of abuse
access to health care services when injured or ill in the workplace



Find out what to do after hiring a temporary worker.
Question: Can I lay off or fire a foreign worker?
Answer: Yes. If you follow federal and provincial or territorial labour laws, you can lay off or fire (dismiss) a temporary foreign worker as you would any other employee.
You don’t need to let us know. However, you do need to keep the temporary worker’s employment documents for 6 years from the date we issued their work permit.
Make sure you know your responsibilities as an employer before hiring a foreign worker.
Contact your provincial or territorial labour authorities for information on the steps to follow when laying off or firing an employee.
Question: What if a foreign worker becomes sick, has an accident, is hospitalized or needs home recovery?
Answer: Your employee is entitled to sick leave, as set out in provincial or territorial legislation. Do not force your employee to work if they are ill. The required health or workers' compensation plan in your province or territory should cover the employee.
Your responsibility depends on the coverage provided under these plans. Your employee may also be able to collect Employment Insurance sickness benefits. For more information, contact your provincial or territorial labour standards board.
Question: How do I find out if I need a Labour Market Impact Assessment to hire a temporary worker?
Answer: There are two ways to find out if you need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA): 

you can review the list of LMIA exemption codes yourself, or 
you can contact an International Mobility Worker Unit (IMWU) for help. 

You can request an opinion from an IMWU if you think a temporary worker does not need an LMIA or a work permit, as long as the temporary worker is: 

from a visa-exempt country, and 
currently outside of Canada.

Find out how to review the LMIA exemption codes or how to contact an IMWU.
Question: I want to extend my expiring work permit, but I don’t have a new LMIA or CAQ yet. What should I do?
Answer: You can apply without a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) if your work permit expires within 2 weeks of the date that you apply.
You must include both

proof of a valid job offer
proof that the LMIA or CAQ request was made, by either

including a copy of the application sent to Service Canada or the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration
including a copy of the receipt confirmation number, if the request was made online
indicating, in the section Details of Intended Work in Canada of the work permit application,
    
the date the LMIA/CAQ request was sent,
the office it was sent to,
the employer’s name, and
the confirmation number for the submission, if available.




If you’re waiting for your CAQ
When you apply online, you’ll be asked to upload a copy of your CAQ. If you have a copy of the receipt confirmation number or a copy of the application, you can upload those documents instead.
When you get your LMIA or CAQ
You must send us proof that you’ve received the LMIA or CAQ within 60 days of the date your application was received. If not, your application could be refused.
Question: I got a new passport after coming to Canada but I still have a valid work permit in my old one. What should I do?
Answer: Keep your old passport. If you plan to travel outside Canada, bring both your old and new passport with you. You’ll need your valid work permit when you come back.
The expiry date on your work permit is linked to the expiry on your passport. If you got a new passport because your old one was expiring, then your work permit will also expire at the same time. In this case, you need to apply to extend your work permit to keep working in Canada.