I NEED HELP!!!

[june1990]

Hi,
On december my partner and i would declare our common law. he is Canadian.
which should i do first? apply for an open work permit ? or process my permanent residency? i need help...

 

[Gemmie]

Your living in Canada correct?

Right now there is a pilot program that you apply for an open work permit WITH your application for permanent residency for INLAND applicants.

I do not know how long this pilot program for the open work permit will be continuing, but hopefully it will continue.

 

[deweysmith]

The OWP program is a one-year pilot program. Details here. The two are tied together, you submit an application for Permanent Residency via Spouse Sponsorship in Canada and you include an Open Work Permit application in it. Once you have reached the sponsorship approval stage, CIC will issue you an open work permit so you can work while they finish processing the rest of your application.

 

[Ponga]

The OWP program is a one-year pilot program. Details here. The two are tied together, you submit an application for Permanent Residency via Spouse Sponsorship in Canada and you include an Open Work Permit application in it. Once you have reached the sponsorship approval stage, CIC will issue you an open work permit so you can work while they finish processing the rest of your application.

You're talking about two different OWP streams:

Pilot OWP is offered as soon as CIC sees that an Inland application has been submitted. This OWP is issued ~ 4 months after it is received.

The `other' OWP that you described (last sentence of your post) is the regular OWP that is issued ~ 17 months after the Inland application is received.
Those that are out of status in Canada will only qualify for the regular OWP, after they have received sponsor approval and Approval in Principle (AIP).

 

[deweysmith]

That explains a lot. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[june1990]

thaks all for your reply! so i should apply for common law sponsorship first then open work permit???

 

[Aquakitty]

thaks all for your reply! so i should apply for common law sponsorship first then open work permit???

If you are applying INLAND then as long as you are in Canada legally, you can apply for the OWP pilot programme at the same time as you send your INLAND application. I have no idea what country you are from, but make sure you consider the difference between applying INLAND vs. OUTLAND. There could be considerable time differences in getting your PR.

 

[june1990]

hello, yes i am currently living in Canada. I am from Philippines. can i process my OWP at the same time with my PR?

 

[Leon]

hello, yes i am currently living in Canada. I am from Philippines. can i process my OWP at the same time with my PR?

In order to get sponsored for PR as a common law, you need to have been living together as common law partners for at least 12 months and if you are not out of status in Canada, you may apply for an OWP along with your PR application.