7. Applying at a Port of Entry

A Port of Entry is a CIC office located at any border crossing, airport, or seaport where persons who arrive in Canada are examined by an Immigration Officer.

An Immigration Officer at a Port of Entry is responsible for assessing the admissibility to Canada of persons who seek entry. The officer must decide:

• if the person is eligible to make an application at a Port of Entry,
• if the person meets the qualifications of the position, and,
• whether to issue any documentation to the applicant.

Where it is determined that documentation is required they are also responsible for the issuance of either a Visitor's Record or an work permit.

If the officer determines that the activity that is being undertaken is not considered to constitute employment as it is defined in the legislation, or if there is a specific exemption from the need for a work permit, they may issue a Visitor's Record to the person seeking entry. This is a document that authorizes a person to whom it is issued to come into Canada for a specific period of time. It is mandatory for an Immigration Officer to issue a Visitor's Record to a person who will be staying in Canada for a period of time in excess of six months. Examples of situations where foreign academics may be issued with a Visitor's Record are listed in Section 3 of this Handbook. These include: Academic Consultants, Academic Examiners, Guest Speakers, and Self-funded Academic Researchers.

If the Port of Entry officer determines that the activity is considered to be employment, then an work permit will be issued. A work permit is a document that authorizes a person to whom it is issued to engage or continue in employment. Examples of situations where foreign academics who will be issued with work permits are listed in Sections 4 and 5 of this Handbook.

As a general rule, persons who do not require a work permit as described in Section 3 of this Handbook can proceed to Canada without making contact at a Canadian Visa Post abroad prior to traveling to Canada. However, in order to facilitate the process at the Port of Entry it is advisable to be in possession of a letter of introduction from the Institution hosting the academic which outlines the purpose of the trip and the duration of stay. In the case of Academic Consultants or Academic Examiners and Guest Speakers there should be an indication of what remuneration, if any, is being given to the academic in the form of an honorarium, stipend, or the repayment of expenses. In the case of a Self-Funded Researcher, the letter should include a statement that the researcher will be receiving no remuneration.

Academics as described in Sections 4 and 5 of this Handbook are also eligible to proceed directly to Canada and apply at Ports of Entry for their work permits without first contacting a Canadian Visa Post. They should be in possession of the documentation described in this Handbook in order to facilitate their entry. Failure to do so may result in a delay for the academic or possibly even a refusal of entry.

In all cases where the academic is a citizen of a country that requires a visa to travel to Canada all documentation should be presented to a Visa Post when applying for a visitor's visa for Canada.

Applicants from most countries will be required to be in possession of a valid passport. It will be necessary for the passport to be valid for the entire length of stay in Canada. Persons who are citizens or permanent residents of the United States will not be required to have a passport but will need proof of their citizenship. A permanent resident of the United States will be required to be in possession of their Alien Registration Card.

Cost recovery fees apply for processing applications for work permits and visitor’s visas. Please see Section 11 of this Handbook.