An open work permit can be accessible by any of the following that fit into the descriptions; you may apply for an open work permit if the main applicant’s accompanying dependent child, a spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner living in Canada who is being sponsored for permanent residence. For a limited period of time, foreign workers in Canada are allowed to work for any Canadian company with an Open Work Permit (OWP). Companies or hirers are not required to provide any kind of verified employment offer or letter beforehand, as open work permits are not job-specific. The freedom to work for any company or in any occupation of your choosing is the main advantage of possessing an open work visa. Certain open work permits may impose particular regulations or limitations on the kind of employment or the place in which the foreign national may be employed. Also, international students pursuing their studies in Canada may choose to fund their spouse’s immigration and living expenses in the country. Spouses of international students living in Canada enjoy the additional benefit of being able to work in Canada while they are together. There are a few crucial prerequisites for an open work permit for the spouse of an international student in Canada. If applicants don’t meet these standards, there’s a good possibility their visa application will be denied. Those interested in applying for a spouse-open work permit visa should get in touch with West Highlander for advice and assistance.
In this article, you will get information related to Spousal Open Work Permit Canada Requirements in 2024 and all the other relevant information. West Highlander can help you guide and assist you through the process. We have an experience of over eighteen years and our experts can guide you thoroughly.
Benefits of Spousal Open Work Permit
Reside in Canada with your partner: As long as your sponsorship application is ongoing, you can continue to reside with your spouse.
Earn in Canadian dollars: By submitting an application for a Spousal Open Work Permit, candidates can receive the option to earn in Canadian dollars. A high standard of living and a decent quality of life are also experienced.
Select your employer: Unlike closed work permits, SWOP permits allow individuals to select their employer in Canada.
Given priority over LMIA: Because spouses with open work permits do not need to complete a Labour Market Impact Assessment, employers prefer to hire from this group.
Obtain work experience in Canada: Gaining work experience in Canada will enhance one’s professional progress even before becoming a permanent resident. In Canada, gaining more work experience contributes to a greater income.
Eligibility for Spousal Open Work Permit
It is important for you to understand the eligibility criteria for SOWP before knowing the Spousal Open Work Permit Canada Requirements in 2024. It has been noticed that many students will file jointly for a study permit and spousal open work permit before taking a plane to Canada with their spouses or partners. A spouse who is applying for an open work permit should remember that it is very important for him or her to be already enrolled in school in the nation. Also, the relationship of the spouse with the student in Canada should be a genuine one. The applicant for an open work visa who is the spouse of the student studying in Canada must also have obtained an Acknowledgment of Receipt (AOR) letter confirming the processing of their application for permanent residence. It’s also crucial that the applicant for the open work permit resides in Canada with their sponsor.
You can only be eligible for the spouse open work permit if your spouse is studying or working in Canada or if you are being sponsored by your spouse or partner for permanent residence. There are many steps that are included in the application process, and this depends on the kind of spouse open work permit you are applying for. Thus the very first step is to select an appropriate spouse work permit for yourself. The procedure can be tiring and hectic thus you can get in contact with West Highlander for any help with the application process for a spouse open work permit in Canada or else. We have been assisting applicants to obtain Canada spouse visas for the past 18 years. Thus our team of experts will get in touch with you and can help you schedule a session.
Process to apply for a spousal open work permit
- For copies of your documents, passport, or other identity proofs, you should keep a scanner or camera in hand.
- The instruction manual should be read carefully and thoroughly. The fields that are marked compulsory in the form need to be filled properly.
- A personalized document checklist will be given to you when you apply online. Keep all the documents intact and handy.
- All the necessary forms should be completed and similarly all documents checklist also checked.
- Either sign up to an IRCC secure account or log in to your existing one.
- The forms should be filled accurately and correctly.
- Pay the fees and submit your application and all the other accompanying documents online.
Spousal Open Work Permit Canada Requirements in 2024
There are certain key documents that you need to keep in mind while applying for the spouse’s open work permit in Canada. The paperwork required for a work visa for a spouse to Canada varies according to the category you are applying for. The following list tells you about the Spousal Open Work Permit Canada Requirements in 2024:
Passport copy: an applicant has to have a passport in order to come to Canada. The submission of the passport copy is really important for the applicant in order to get a spousal open work permit. Also, the applicant is moving to another country which makes it mandatory for him or her to have a passport.
Marriage certificate: It is important for the sponsor and the spouse applying for SOWP to be married and have a real relationship. To prove they are married it is important for them to show their marriage certificate.
Social recognition photographs: The spouse and the sponsor have to attach their photographs together of a social gathering or their marriage that proves that they are married legitimately and share their relationship publically.
Financial Documents: Both the sponsor and spouse have to share their financial statements which prove that they have accounts together. You can share a joint account proof, a document of a property owned together, or a bank statement that clarifies that both of you share an account. This also acts as proof that your relationship is legitimate.
Real Relationship: It is important for the two, the sponsor and the spouse to make a real relationship or else they may face consequences. They can present their marriage certificate, or a joint account statement, or property papers that have both of their names on them and are owned by them jointly.
Residence Proof of Sponsor: the sponsor whose spouse is coming on SOWP has to attach their residence proof for the application to move further. It is taken so that a confirmation the spouse and sponsor are authentic can be known.
Canada student visa copy of Spouse: The Canada student visa copy of the sponsor is to be attached. It is an important document and thus needs to be submitted carefully and correctly.
Programs that provide help in spouse open work permit
An applicant can also look into programs available for them after they have completed the Spousal Open Work Permit Canada Requirements in 2024. Sometimes it is hard to understand which course should be chosen by a spouse in order to get a spousal open work permit. There are certain programs that help you get a spousal open work permit easily and there are certain programs that are eligible for a spousal open work permit.
- An Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) work permit: In addition, if your spouse or common-law partner is employed in Canada in a job falling under the Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities (TEER) category and has applied for permanent residency (PR) through the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) and has been granted a work permit while their application is under consideration, you may apply for a SOWP under section C41.
- Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ): a candidate who has been selected for immigration to Quebec is issued a Quebec Selection Certificate by the provincial government. If your spouse or common-law partner is eligible for the International Mobility Program Plus and has an employer-specific job authorization as a CSQ holder, you may qualify for a spouse open work visa under section C41.
- Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP): You are eligible for a SOWP under section C41 if your spouse or common-law partner has a BOWP, which is a work permit while you wait for the result of a PR application. Your spouse or common-law partner must live in Canada as the major foreign national, but you are free to live anywhere else, outside of Canada. If you reside in Canada, you may submit both applications at the same time; but, the SOWP cannot be granted before the BOWP.
Different Categories for Open Spousal Work Permit Canada
In Canada, there are three categories for spousal sponsorship
- Spouse
- Common-law partner
- Conjugal partner
Certain guidelines must be followed in order to be eligible for spousal sponsorship. For example, the partner must fit into one of the three categories, and both the sponsors and the spouse should be at least 18 years old at the time of application. Additionally, a spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner who is already residing in Canada and is being sponsored for permanent residency is the only individual eligible to apply for a spousal open work visa.
Additionally, under two Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) exemption categories, wives or common-law partners of temporary residents may apply to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for a spousal open work visa.
The spouse or partner may be eligible to apply for a SOWP under the C41 LMIA-exemption category if they are granted a work permit in Canada. This exception applies to the majority of work permit categories, which include employer-specific work permits, bridging work permits, and open work permits including Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs) and BOWPs.
Your spouse or partner may be eligible to apply under the C42 LMIA exemption category if they are enrolled full-time and hold a valid study permit from Canada. Generally speaking, in order for your spouse to be eligible for a post-graduate work Permit after graduation, they need to be enrolled in a study program.
But in case you are a spouse of the work permit or study permit holder then it isn’t important for you to submit a Labor Market Impact Assessment or proof of an employer’s offer of employment. Thus it is easier to apply under these two categories.
Thus these are several types but an applicant applying for SOWP in Canada can follow the process, eligibility, and requirements for the SOWP and submit their application which will help them get started with their work permit process immediately. For further guidance or assistance on a Spousal open work permit, you can contact us at West Highlander. Our team will guide you through the process and solve all your queries. We have an experience of eighteen years.