Family sponsorship outland applicants will also be able to apply for Open Work Permits.
Applicants for open work permits remained initially restricted to individuals who received sponsorship from within Canada or those who were already residing there on a Temporary Residence Visa. Those applying outside Canada (outland sponsorship) are now eligible for open work permits. This is a result of the new approach.
An important component of Canada’s immigration strategy is family reunions. A new initiative by IRCC aims to enable more families to remain together.
Those currently in Canada as students, temporary workers, permanent residents, or Canadian citizens may now apply for an Open Work Permit on behalf of their spouses, partners, or dependents.
Spouses, common-law partners, dependent children over 18, and conjugal partners fall under the family members’ category.
The processing for all applications for spousal sponsorship by IRCC will happen within a year.
Family Sponsorship outland applicants – obtaining open work permits
Family members may have the eligibility for an open work permit if they have the same residential address as their sponsor in Canada. Also, if they have a valid temporary resident status, have maintained it, are eligible for it, and have applied to have it restored, according to IRCC.
The official policy of IRCC claims that agents may issue an open work permit to foreign nationals. However, they must satisfy one of the following requirements:
- A principal applicant who has submitted a Canadian PR application under the spouse or common-law partner or as a spouse, common-law, or conjugal partner under the family class has received approval for processing by IRCC.
- Has submitted a work permit application, asking for a permit for a maximum of two years. Does their spouse, common-law partner, or romantic partner have a sponsorship application filed by a Canadian citizen or permanent resident?
- Possesses a valid temporary resident visa for Canada, is qualified for and
- Has submitted an application for restoration of status and possesses the same residence as their sponsor in Canada at the time of application.
Additional requirements for a foreign national include:
- A dependent child is listed as an accompanying relative on a PR application.
- Has submitted a work permit application with a maximum two-year permit requested for its term.
- Holds a valid temporary resident status in Canada or is qualified for and has applied for restoration of status.
- Possess the same residential address as the principal applicant and their sponsor in Canada at the time of the application.
Canada continues toward family reunification
Immigration Minister Sean Fraser announced the aforementioned action on May 26.
Open work permits for outland spousal sponsorship were introduced alongside other family reunification policies like:
- Faster processing times for spousal applications for temporary residence visas (TRV).
- Newly developed processing methods specifically for spousal TRV candidates.
- Extensions for open work permit holders whose permits expire between August 1 and December 31, 2023.
The IRCC, according to Fraser, is dedicated to reuniting families more rapidly and enabling them to start working and supporting themselves more soon once they arrive. He claimed that by doing this, Canada strengthens its economy and social fiber while assisting recent immigrants in realizing their full potential.
