Leaving job while on Closed Work Permit. What is the process to convert to an Open Work Permit?

[jamburger 5]

I came to Canada (BC) from USA on a closed work permit, working at one of the tech companies in BC. I am about to quit my job (for personal reasons).

 

• My closed work permit is valid for 2 more years. Will it remain valid even if I resign my job at this company? Am I legally allowed to stay in Canada while the work permit is valid? If I don't find another job in a few months, I will move back to US. But I am not sure if I am allowed to stay here and look for another job.

 

• I want to look for another job. Do I have an option to convert my closed work permit to an open work permit? What is the process for it? Or is finding another employer and changing to their closed work permit the only option.

 

• My wife also is currently working on a closed work permit. Can I apply for an open work permit as her dependent? Wondering if it is better to apply to open work permit by myself or better to apply as my wife's dependent. If I get the open permit as my wife's dependent, will I automatically lose my work permit if my wife loses her job for some reason?

 

Thank you for your help.

[JeanneAdil 6,583]

https://www.canadim.com/work/#:~:text=Closed work permits are tied,they change their work permit.

 

check the Canadian site for all that information

 

Closed work permits are tied to specific employers, this means that a foreign national issued a closed work permit must remain working with the same employer at the same location unless they change their work permit.

[appleblossom 2,814]

9 hours ago, jamburger said:

I came to Canada (BC) from USA on a closed work permit, working at one of the tech companies in BC. I am about to quit my job (for personal reasons).

 

• My closed work permit is valid for 2 more years. Will it remain valid even if I resign my job at this company? Am I legally allowed to stay in Canada while the work permit is valid? If I don't find another job in a few months, I will move back to US. But I am not sure if I am allowed to stay here and look for another job.

 

• I want to look for another job. Do I have an option to convert my closed work permit to an open work permit? What is the process for it? Or is finding another employer and changing to their closed work permit the only option.

 

• My wife also is currently working on a closed work permit. Can I apply for an open work permit as her dependent? Wondering if it is better to apply to open work permit by myself or better to apply as my wife's dependent. If I get the open permit as my wife's dependent, will I automatically lose my work permit if my wife loses her job for some reason?

 

Thank you for your help.

You are permitted to stay until the expiration date of your work permit, but you cannot work for another employer on it. You cannot convert your closed work permit to an open work permit, but you can apply (as a new application) for an open work permit if you are eligible. It sounds like you may be if your spouse is working?  All of the info you need is on the ICCRC website - https://ircc.canada.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=177&top=17

 

Good luck.