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Advice needed regarding a spousal open work permit

thecentury303

Full Member
Feb 24, 2016
44
29
Job Offer........
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Hello everyone,

I will be working in Quebec for a NOC A job in August 2016. I just received my LMIA/CAQ documents today so I am evaluating my options to apply for my work permit. Although the application process for my own work permit is quite simple, I find it extremely confusing regarding the process of my wife's open work permit. Any suggestions/comments/thoughts are greatly appreciated.

Before I begin my questions, let me clarify things first. Both my wife and I are from a visa-required country. However, both of us already have a visitor visa (v-1). Mine will be expired in 2020 but my wife's will be expired in December 2016. Although my wife wants to apply for an open work permit, she will not be working in the next 6 months.

1) Do I need to apply for my wife's open work permit together with my work permit online? Can she apply at the port of entry instead?

2) If I apply for my work permit together with my wife's work permit, will the CIC process the applications together or separately? I heard that open work permit takes much more time to process compared to LMIA based work permit. As I only have a month and a week left before the job start date, I would like to have my own work permit as soon as possible. Therefore, if they process them together, then I think I should apply for my work permit only.

3) From 2, if the CIC processes the applications separately, would this scenario be ok? Suppose my work permit is granted in August while hers is still in process. I enter Canada with my work permit while my wife accompanies me with her current visitor visa. Then, a few months later, when her work permit is granted, she can mail her passport to get the visa, and then when we travel outside Canada and return, we can obtain a work permit then.

4) From 3, if that scenario is ok, what is the advantage of this scenario compared to wait and apply for an open work permit while we are in Canada.

5) Lastly, if I choose not to apply for my wife's open work permit together with my work permit online, does she need to do anything? In other word, if she accompany me with her current visitor visa (v-1), how long can she stay in Canada? 6 months or the period of my work permit?

Thank you very, very much!
 

metalrahul

Star Member
Dec 4, 2014
106
7
I am not sure about all those questions but I just applied for my wife's open work permit along with my work permit. Before you apply, CIC website ask you certain questions and if you answered them correctly then they would take you to a page where you can upload both yours and your wife's application together. I am not sure about the timelines but I guess it might be a bit longer since they need process two applications.

Another fact is, you don't get too many upload sections for spouse's section. Just the work permit application form, passport, purpose of travel and family information. There is additional optional space for cover letter and I attached her education certs in that space. I am assuming when you take this route, your application is weighted more than her SOWP.