Hi there,
Thank you for sharing your question and situation with us.
You might find information in the forum questions, my work permit is expiring soon, what do I do? and Can I get a new job with a closed work pemrit? to be helpful.
In this situation, you might be eligible to submit an application asking to change the conditions of your work permit.
This application is for you if you:
- want to extend your work permit
- need to make changes to the conditions on your work permit, such as
- the type of work you can do
- the employer you can work for
- where you can work
- This includes restrictions because you needed a medical exam. For instance, you received an open work permit with restrictions on working in health care because you hadn’t completed a medical exam.
- You can remove the conditions on where you can work once you get a medical exam.
The article above also discusses applying for an open work permit if you would like to explore that option.
According to this article on what to expect after you apply for Employment Insurance, the service standard is to provide you with a decision within 28 days of filing your application.
To avoid delays in processing your application, it’s important you:
- provide any required documents or missing information
- check online for your records of employment
- submit your biweekly reports
You can find more information about how to apply for Employment Insurance in the Settlement.Org article, How do I apply for Employment Insurance (EI)?. It might aslo be helpful to know that you are eligible for Ontario Works while you wait for EI.
If you are in the Toronto area, Kababayan Multicultural Centre offers employment services to temporary residents. It might also be a good idea to reach out to 211 Ontario for employment counselling and employment agency referrals near you.
Regarding your last question, you might find helpful information in Can I leave and come back to Canada if I have a work permit?
Yes. However, a work permit isn’t a travel document. It doesn’t give you the right to travel to Canada. Along with your permit, you need either:
- a temporary resident visa or
- an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)
Having an eTA or a visa, along with your work permit, doesn’t guarantee that we will let you back into Canada. You must show the border services officer that you meet all the requirements before we will let you re-enter.
Read more about travelling while you are a temporary worker.
In essence, your work permit allows you to work in Canada – but it is not an official immigration document that allows you to enter or re-enter Canada, like a passport, PR document, or temporary resident visa. Still, having an eTA or a visa, along with your work permit, doesn’t guarantee that you can re-enter Canada. You must show the border services officer that you meet all the requirements before you re-enter. It is best that you seek the advice of a reputable and registered immigration consultant or an immigration lawyer familiar with immigration law regarding your situation.
If you contact 211 and speak to a Community Resource Navigator, they may be able to connect you to local legal services. 211 Ontario is a free, confidential service. Their phone service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Here is a link to their live chat if you prefer to communicate online. Their live chat service is available Monday to Friday from 7am-9pm ET.
We hope this information is helpful.
Sincerely,
Your Settlement.Org team