How Long Can Foreign Workers With Temporary Visas Stay In Canada?

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Oscar De La Huerte Profile
Although each case is dealt with individually, foreign workers who reside in Canada on temporary visas can usually stay in the country for up to two years.

2007 Changes to Canadian temporary visas

These signalled a change in Canadian immigration policy, which previously only permitted temporary visa holders to remain in Canada for 12 months, after which, immigrants were required to leave Canada and submit any potential requests for extension from their country of origin.

This change was announced on February 23, 2007 by Diane Finley, Canada's immigration minister, as well as by Monte Solberg, the country's human resources minister.

Reasons for the change in Canadian visa policy

The reasoning behind the change was that there was an increasingly acute labor shortage in parts of Canada, especially in the Province of Alberta, which currently enjoys a booming economy.

The government also asserted that labor shortages were becoming an increasing problem in parts of Ontario and British Columbia as well.

The problem with the old 12-month rule was that it often required workers to return to their home countries soon after they had completed training for their new jobs in Canada. This meant asking people to leave when they were at their most comfortable in their new work environment, and therefore at their most profitable to the Canadian economy.

For more information regarding Canada's policies on temporary resident visas and people's right to work in Canada, I would suggest you check out a website like the Citizen and Immigration Canada website, where you will find information on the following:
  • How to apply for a temporary resident's visa
  • Who is eligible for a Canadian visa
  • How to extend a temporary stay in Canada

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