How to Restore Your Immigration Status in Canada After Your Visa Expires

Restore Your Immigration Status: Solutions After Your Visa Expires

In Canada, it is essential to maintain your legal immigration status to avoid any issues with the authorities. Upon legally entering this country, you will have a temporary status, which you must restore once the time established by the immigration authorities expires.

Now, if your visa has expired or is about to expire, don't panic. You must follow a specific process to restore your immigration status in Canada.

Although this process may seem lengthy or complex, we are here to help. Below, we will explain everything you need to know to restore your immigration status in Canada. Learn when your visa expires and if you are eligible to restore it, the steps to follow to regularize your status, and some limitations that may apply to the process.

How to Know if My Visa Has Expired?

When you arrived in Canada, you handed your passport to the immigration officer, who stamped it and authorized your entry into the country. Now, below that stamp, there may be a handwritten date; that would be the expiration date of your visa.

If the officer did not write any date below the stamp, your status will expire six months after your arrival in Canada.

It is important to clarify that in the case of having a work or study permit, the expiration date of your visa is marked on your permit.

Now, if you did not need a passport to enter Canada, consider that your temporary resident status will expire 6 months after entering Canada. If the immigration officer gave you a visitor record, work permit, or study permit, the expiration date of your status will be visible on the document.

Who Can Restore Their Immigration Status in Canada?

In general, only foreign workers, students, and visitors can renew their immigration status. However, they must keep in mind that they will only be able to restore the status of the authorization they had before its expiration.

For example, if you are a student and have a student visa, you will only be able to renew your temporary permit for students. That is, you will not be able to opt for renewal for a work visa.

Below, we explain in more detail the considerations that students, workers, and visitors who wish to restore their immigration status must take into account, as the case may be.

Students

If you are a student with an expired student visa, you will only be able to restore your temporary permit for students.

However, if you have completed your studies, you can opt for a work permit. Now, you must meet the requirements of the work permit program to which you are applying.

There is also a program called "Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)," which has specific requirements.

Workers

If you had a work permit and it expired, you can apply to restore your status within a maximum period of 90 days from the moment your status expired.

In case you wish to study in Canada, you can apply for a study permit. However, this application will be evaluated by the authorities after the restoration of your work visa is approved.

Visitors

If your visitor visa has expired, you can request that your temporary resident status be restored. However, if you are eligible to apply for a work or study permit, you can make the corresponding application after restoring your temporary resident status.

Steps to Restore My Immigration Status in Canada

The process to restore your immigration status after your visa expires is simple. Below, we explain the steps you must follow for your application:

Submit the application to renew your status within a period of 90 days following the expiration of your visa.

Meet the initial requirements established for your stay according to the visa you have.

Do not leave Canada until a decision is made. Do not violate any condition imposed by law or any official on your visa.

What Limitations Exist in This Process?

One of the main limitations in restoring your status after your visa expires is that you only have 90 days to make this request. Therefore, you must be very attentive to the expiration date of your temporary permit.

If you have a student or work visa, during this 90-day period you will not be able to study or work. When your status is restored, you will be able to resume your activities.

Restore Your Immigration Status Before It's Too Late

In Canada, it is very important to maintain your immigration status. Not only will it save you problems with the law, but it will also give you the opportunity in the future to apply for permanent status.

You must be very attentive to the expiration date of your immigration status. Remember that you have 90 days to restore your status and remain legal in the country. We are here to guide you in this process and avoid future problems with your immigration status.