Pilot Program: Open Work Permit for Spouse/Common-Law PR Applicants

[swestenzweig]

I was just reading about this pilot program that started on December 22, 2014. According to the details, anyone who applies for permanent residence as a spouse or common-law can apply for an open work permit at the same time. It looks like the CIC begins processing the OWP in parallel to the immigration application once sponsorship is approved.

Granted, in reality the delta between the PR approval and granting an OWP may not be too significant, but it's still an interesting option for those looking to work while they await PR approval in Canada.

Does anyone have any experience with this new program?

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/tools/updates/2014/2014-12-22.asp

 

[Ponga]

I was just reading about this pilot program that started on December 22, 2014. According to the details, anyone who applies for permanent residence as a spouse or common-law can apply for an open work permit at the same time. It looks like the CIC begins processing the OWP in parallel to the immigration application once sponsorship is approved[/b].

Granted, in reality the delta between the PR approval and granting an OWP may not be too significant, but it's still an interesting option for those looking to work while they await PR approval in Canada.

Does anyone have any experience with this new program?

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/tools/updates/2014/2014-12-22.asp

The pilot OWP has NOTHING to do with the approval of the sponsor. It is issued simply because of the Inland application being received by CIC. The caveat, is that the applicant must have legal status for the pilot OWP (unlike the normal OWP that is issued after AIP).

There are about a half-dozen (or more) threads that have already been started here that discuss this new program. Use the handy search feature here to read through them.

It was a very positive step for CIC.

 

[swestenzweig]

Thank you. I revised my search terms and was able to find the topic here: http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/-t260580.0.html

My apologies for the clutter.