Visa-contract-workpermit Problem

[otherstuff1957]

Here's my problem: My type B Visa and Work Permit expire in January. My contract with my employers ends next March. Now, I know that I can easily extent my Visa and Work Permit for another year if I go to immigration with a new contract from my employers, BUT I'm thinking seriously about changing jobs. So, as I see it, I have a number of choices:

1) Let my visa expire and work illegally for a couple of months until my contract expires and then find a new job.

2) Try to get a new job (with Visa and Work Permit) lined up before my current Visa expires and then walk out on the last 1.5 months of my current job

3) Sign up for another year with my current employer

4) Try to get my current employer to give me a two month or three month contract and then extend my Visa and Work Permit for that period.

Just to make things more complicated, I am working toward an ultimate goal of Permanent Residency and have been paying taxes and working legally for about a year now. If I interrupt my record of visa extentions and work permits, will I set myself back a year in working towards that goal?

I haven't made up my mind what to do, I might just have to stay where I am for another year. Any advice would be appreciated.

[rishi]

If your ultimate goal is a PR, you shouldn't even be considering working without a WP (especially not as an actual employee). The other important thing is that you must keep your one year entry stamp extensions alive - and this back to back - until you have your PR. Otherwise, you'll have to restart from square 1. As for the WP, I'd guess, that the size of the buttom line of your taxpaying record is much more important than a few holes in your WP/work-history. However, if the mentioned buttomline, is close to the lower limit, those few holes, might make the difference.

Sorry, I guess this reply, doesn't make your choie easier, but I can see an option 5. Sign a contract with you current employer, that expires January 2007. Make sure you have everything lined up with a new employer to make a seemless switch at that time.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

If your ultimate goal is a PR, you shouldn't even be considering working without a WP (especially not as an actual employee). The other important thing is that you must keep your one year entry stamp extensions alive - and this back to back - until you have your PR. Otherwise, you'll have to restart from square 1. As for the WP, I'd guess, that the size of the buttom line of your taxpaying record is much more important than a few holes in your WP/work-history. However, if the mentioned buttomline, is close to the lower limit, those few holes, might make the difference.

Sorry, I guess this reply, doesn't make your choie easier, but I can see an option 5. Sign a contract with you current employer, that expires January 2007. Make sure you have everything lined up with a new employer to make a seemless switch at that time.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well put. But I wonder if this residency thing is all that it is cracked up to be. Great expense and trouble for little gain IMHO

[Sporting Dog]

Also I THINK now if you want a second (or more) non Imm B, you'll need a form WP3 from the labour office before the embassies will give one. Letters from schools etc aren't enough in some cases.

I'd sign up for another year, get the visa, getthe new job and then transfer the WP.