Hi David,

Is it possible to extend the student working hol visa to working professional visa without having to leave the country?

I have read on my visa organizing company (Usit) website that I am eligible to apply for the Under 35s working professional visa but would have to leave Canada for 12 months.
Is this true and if so, is there a way around it?

My longterm Canadian girlfriend is here and having to do long distance for 12 months while Im waiting to get my visa is something neither of us want to do.

Would it be worth considering a conjugal or common law visa? we will have been living together for 15 months when my current visa expires.

In most cases, youth program visas are not eligible for renewal. If you wish to continue to work in Canada, you must consider a standard work visa, which may mean the requirement of a Labour Market Opinion approval first. Conjugal partner refers to a permanent resident application; being a common law partner of a Canadian does not directly affect your ability to work unless you are the subject of an approval-in-principle in an inland sponsorship application.