New Open Work Permit Eligibility For Spousal & Family class Applicants

Last Updated On 23 July 2023, 9:30 AM EDT (Toronto Time)

On May 26, immigration minister Sean Fraser announced a new temporary public policy offering an open work permit for spousal and family class applicants.

INC – Immigration News Canada provided live updates and extensive coverage of new announcement by immigration minister on family reunification.

Eligibility Criteria For Open Work Permit For Spousal & Family Class Applicants

The new public policy signed by Sean Fraser facilitates the issuance of an open work permit to foreign nationals applying under the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class or the Family Class.

This also includes family members, who have a valid temporary resident status, have maintained their status, or are eligible for and have applied to restore their status, and have the same residential address as their sponsor in Canada when they apply for an open work permit.

You are eligible to apply for an open work permit (less than 2 years), if either 1 of the following applies to you:

1. The foreign national is
   • a principal applicant who has submitted an application for permanent residence under the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class or as a spouse, common-law or conjugal partner under the Family Class that has been accepted for processing by IRCC after meeting the requirements for a complete application.
   • the subject of a sponsorship application that was submitted by their spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident;
   • having the same place of residence in Canada as their sponsor at the time that the application is submitted;
   • possesses either a current and active status as a temporary resident in Canada or the ability to apply for restoration of status and has done so.

“OR”

1. The foreign national is:
   • a dependent child and has been included as an accompanying family member in the application for permanent residence
   • meet all the requirements mentioned in first part

New Announcement For Family Reunification By IRCC Minister

How To Apply

After receiving Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR) for permanent residence application under spousal or family class, eligible spouses and dependent children will need to apply online for an open work permit.

Applicants will need to sign in to their GCKey or create a new one (if they don’t have it).

After signing in, applicants will have to answer certain questions to get a personalized documents checklist.

Furthermore, answer “Yes” to the following question in the work permit application form.

Also select “open work permit” in the section where it asks “What type of work permit are you applying for?”

Additionally make sure that you enter below code for job title and description of duties.

• Job Title: Enter “SCLPC – FC OWP”
• Brief Description of duties: Enter “SCLPC – FC applicant in Canada public policy.”

What about 18-month spousal open work permit extension?

Please don’t confuse above information with 18-month spousal open work permit extension announced.

Spousal open work permit extension ‘opt-in’ process opened on June 7 and ended on 28, 2023.

This was an easy facilitative measure to accept an automatic extension option in the online IRCC secure account.

All of the eligible applicants are now required to apply for an open work permit using the instruction given in first part of this article.

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