SPOUSE OPEN WORK PERMITS OVERVIEW.
A Spouse Open Work Permit allows the spouse of Canadian citizens and permanent residents to work in Canada without having a specific job offer.
The spouse can work for any employer in Canada, including self-employment opportunities, which allows them to gain valuable Canadian work experience that can be beneficial for future permanent residence applications.
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Key Details about Spouse Open Work Permits:
Who can apply for Spouse Open Work Permit?
Can your dependent child apply for a Work Permit?
Core Benefits of Spouse Open Work Permit
Who can apply for Spouse Open Work Permit?
Spouses, common-law partners, and conjugal partners of Canadian citizens and permanent residents who are currently living in Canada can apply for a Spouse Open Work Permit.
The spouses, common-law partners, and conjugal partners who are being sponsored must demonstrate that they are:
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Engaged in a sincere relationship with the sponsor.
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Included as part of a permanent residency application, with a confirmation letter (AOR) verifying that the application for permanent residency is under review.
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Residing in Canada alongside the sponsor.
Can the dependent child apply for a Work Permit?
The accompanying dependent child of the principal applicant, along with the spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner, may also be eligible for an open work permit.
For a dependent child to qualify for an open work permit, they must demonstrate that they are:
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Engaged in an authentic relationship with the sponsor.
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Included in a permanent residence application, and possess an AOR letter that verifies the processing of their permanent residence application.
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Residing in Canada with the sponsor and the main applicant.
Core Benefits of Spouse Open Work Permit.
A Spouse Work Permit gives the sponsored spouses, common-law partners, and conjugal partners the freedom to work for any employer in Canada.
On the other hand, It provides them with an opportunity to gain Canadian work experience, which can be beneficial if they are planning to apply for a permanent residency.
Other than that, it facilitates social integration, as it provides a platform for interacting with locals, understanding Canadian culture, and improving language skills.
Don't plan on working in Canada?
If the spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner, does not wish to work, there are still options available for them.
Those Outside Canada:
If the sponsor is applying for a work permit and the spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner wishes to come to Canada, they must apply for a visitor or study visa.
They can do this through the Canadian consulate in their home country before traveling to Canada. This will allow them to stay with the sponsor while you work, without needing to obtain a work permit.
Those Inside Canada:
If the sponsor is already working in Canada and the spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner wants to join in Canada, they must apply for a visitor or study permit while in the country.
The spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner's stay will be tied to the sponsor's work permit, so it is important to ensure that their work permit does not expire before their visit or study permit does.
It is important to note that they are on a visitor or study permit and are not allowed to work. If they decide they want to work while in Canada, they must apply for their own work permit.
Extension of Spouse Open Work Permit.
There might come a time when you need to extend your Spouse Open Work Permit (SOWP).
To apply for an extension, you must submit an application before the expiry date of your current SOWP.
While the application is being processed, you can continue to work under implied status, provided that your application was submitted prior to the expiry of the current permit.
Remember, it's crucial to check the processing times for extensions as they can vary.
Also, make sure to submit any necessary supporting documents along with the application to avoid any potential delays.
It's always a good idea to plan ahead to ensure continuous legal status in Canada.
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