Published
Sundeep S. Grewal is a lawyer at Lawgical Law Corporation, called to the BC bar in 2018, and a member of the Law Society of British Columbia.
Updated November 12, 2026: the business visitor rules in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations checked that day.
The issue: the officer decided your activity was work, not business visiting.
The fix: confirm whether the activity fits the business visitor rules, bring the right documents, or get the right work permit.
Why a lawyer: the line between business visit and work is technical, and a refusal goes on record. Why a lawyer
The lawyers who review these refusals
Sundeep S. GrewalBarrister and Solicitor
Prabhpreet Kaur SanghaBarrister and Solicitor
Pardeep S. GrewalBarrister and SolicitorAbout our lawyers
Sundeep S. Grewal founded Lawgical Law Corporation and argues immigration cases at the Immigration and Refugee Board and the Federal Court of Canada.
Prabhpreet Kaur Sangha focuses on refugee claims, immigration appeals, inadmissibility, detention reviews and Federal Court cases, and has presented at Continuing Legal Education seminars and the National Immigration Conference.
Pardeep S. Grewal is an immigration and estates lawyer known for clear communication and practical strategy.
Business visitors can come to Canada without a work permit for activities such as meetings, conferences, buying goods for a foreign business, and some after-sales service on equipment sold from outside Canada. But the line is technical. Installation, repair and servicing work, especially hands-on building or construction work, often needs a work permit, and border officers in BC see many cross-border service workers. If you were turned back at the border, the officer decided your activity was work. The fix is either documents that show the activity fits the business visitor rules, or the right work permit before the next trip.
Lawgical Law Corporation, an immigration law firm in Surrey, Abbotsford and Vancouver, BC, advises business travellers and employers on entry to Canada and handles border refusals; this guide is by Sundeep S. Grewal.
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What fits, and what doesn’t
| Usually business visitor | Usually needs a work permit |
|---|---|
| Meetings, conferences, consultations | Doing work for a Canadian client or employer |
| Buying goods or services for a foreign business | Hands-on building or construction work |
| Some after-sales service under a sales or warranty agreement | Long-term installation projects |
Documents to bring
- A letter from your employer outside Canada describing the activity and confirming you’re paid there.
- The sales, warranty or service agreement, if after-sales service.
- Proof of where your main place of business and income are.
After a refusal
See being turned back at the Peace Arch, Pacific Highway or Sumas and being refused entry at an airport or border.
Why talk to a lawyer before the next trip?
One lawyer, one file, every step:
- assessing whether the activity fits the business visitor rules;
- preparing documents and a letter for the border officer;
- applying for the right work permit if needed;
- dealing with any report or refusal on record.
Each refusal at the border is recorded. A lawyer sorts out the right category first, so the next crossing goes smoothly.
Immigration lawyers are members of a provincial law society (in our case, the Law Society of British Columbia), and only a lawyer can take a refusal to the Federal Court. An immigration consultant cannot file or argue it there.
Mistakes I have seen
- Telling the officer you’re “working” on a project in Canada without explaining.
- No letter from the employer outside Canada.
- Treating a construction job as a business visit.
Frequently asked questions
Can I install equipment we sold to a Canadian company?
Sometimes, as after-sales service under the sales or warranty agreement. The details decide it.
I’m American. Do I still need a work permit?
Possibly. Trade agreements and work permit exemptions have their own conditions.
What should I do right now?
Write down what you’ll do in Canada, get a letter from your employer outside Canada, and gather the sales or service agreement.
Book a consultation with our immigration lawyers in Surrey, Abbotsford or Vancouver, or online from anywhere.
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Sources (official)
This article is general information, not legal advice. Every case depends on its own facts.