Spousal open work permit for international students

Why Spousal Open Work Permit?

Under the spousal open work permit programme, foreign students studying in Canada now have the option of inviting their spouses. Even better, common-law spouses or partners who qualify for a work permit can find employment while their sponsors are in school. It's interesting to note that your spouse has the option to use their work permit to work for employers inside or outside the school.

Under the NOC matrix, a spousal open work permit is not restricted to a particular class of employment. This implies that your spouse or common-law partner is always eligible to work on campus as non-academic staff. You won't have to worry if you apply for a spousal open work permit because the permit's validity is matched with your student visa.Your partner's spousal open work permit is still in effect while you're still enrolled as a student in Canada.

Who is Eligible?

Before beginning, applicants must confirm that their spouses satisfy the National Occupational Certification (NOC) skill types requirements that allow them to submit an application for the permit. Second, for their spouses to qualify for a work permit, they must be enrolled full-time in an academic programme in Canada. Only applicants who have spouses or common-law partners enrolled in full-time academic programmes are eligible to process their open work permits using student visas.

In addition to meeting the requirements for a full-time academic programme, your spouse in Canada would need to submit legal documentation to prove your relationship. Candidates who already have partners in the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program or who are currently processing an application have a better chance of having their open work permit applications approved.

Please be aware that your spouse's abilities or profession in the pilot programme must match the matrix for open work permits maintained by NOC. The spouses of Canadian representatives who reside abroad may also apply for their spouse's open work permit. You are also qualified for the work permit if you are the spouse or common-law partner of a member of the armed forces stationed in Canada.

When Should You Apply?

Unlike other immigration options, people seeking open work permits can apply before or after arriving in the country. Please keep in mind that your spousal open work permit is only valid while your spouse's study permit is still in effect. Consider this before delaying the submission of your application, applicants. Applicants can process their open work permits outside of the country for convenience's sake.

For applicants seeking to obtain their permits outside of Canada, the Canadian government continues to make substantial investments in affiliated facilities (Canadian Visa Offices). Please be aware that there will be additional fees if you send your documents through the consulate when applying for a visa at the designated visa office in your nation.

You may also decide not to submit an application at a visa office and instead fly to Canada to have your open work permit processed there. This would entail spending some time with your spouse or common-law partner while you pursue the permit. On the plus side, the open work permit application process would benefit from the applicant's visitation record to their spouse in Canada. If a TRV is not required, you can always start the application process at the border.

Spousal Open Work Permit Under Different Programs

Conjugal relationships often require more evidence from a citizen or permanent resident looking to sponsor their partner. Please provide the following documents before applying for spouse sponsorship for your conjugal partner:

Atlantic Immigration Pilot (AIP) Work Permit Holders

As long as their spouses work in professions that satisfy the NOC skill level requirements, this programme enables partners of AIP participants to obtain their open work permits. Candidates can anticipate receiving their open work permits under this programme within the time it would take to receive the principal worker's permit. The typical wait time for an open work permit is no more than 12 months.

Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) Holders

Bridging Open Work Permits are available to principal workers in Canada, but under this programme, spouses of international students can also obtain their spousal open permit. To ensure that their spouse, a BOWP holder, is currently employed under the NOC matrix, applicants should check with the Federal Skilled Workers Class (FSWC) before processing their applications.

Provincial Nominee Work Permit (PNWP) Holders

Under this stream, spouses of Canadian citizens who were nominated as permanent residents under the provincial nomination programme can obtain an open work permit. They also take on the status of provincial residents, subject to how long their PNWP spouses' travel documents are still valid. Regardless of the occupational level, a PNWP holder loses their open work permit status when their travel document expires.

Both common-law and conjugal relationships do not require legal documents or proceedings to prove the validity of your relationships. Instead, immigration officers would look out for interpersonal connections and emotional links between both parties to prove that they are serious about their relationship.

FAQs

Citizens of Canada and permanent residents living in the country can sponsor their partners for permanent residency. Applicants can process the application from Canada if their spouses reside in the country or consider visa offices stationed across the globe to apply for spousal permanent residency in Canada.

Ideally, all spousal sponsorship applications should be ready for confirmation between 6 months and a year after submission.

A Canadian sponsor can decide to withdraw his/her spousal sponsorship application whenever they seem fit. However, this can only be done pending approval and before the recipient receives their permanent residency confirmation.

Spousal sponsorship submission can be sent through the in-Canada option for foreign spouses currently residing in Canada – and visa offices at Canadian Embassies and Consulates for outside Canada applications.