Question regarding spousal sponsorship and open work permit application

[jatt-going-canada]

Hi everyone,

I'm planning to get married next year and we're trying to build a timeline of events. I am a Canadian citizen and my wife is US citizen. After getting married, she'll be here as a visitor. My question is regarding applying for PR and open work permit

Can both applications be sent at the same time in same envelope? Is it better to mail in PR application and apply for work permit online?

What is the wait time to get work permit? Also, do you have to wait until you get AOR for PR application to apply for work permit?

Thank you

 

[21Goose]

You should send both applications in the same envelope. If you do that, she will get the work permit roughly 4 months after you applied.

 

[jatt-going-canada]

You should send both applications in the same envelope. If you do that, she will get the work permit roughly 4 months after you applied.

That’s what I found on CIC website too. If she were to apply for work permit separately online, would the process be faster? I see processing times around 4-8 weeks. I’m okay with waiting for PR but we sort of need the work permit as soon as possible.

The reason is that she is in a medical profession and needs to register with provincial bodies and take qualifying exams here by a certain date.

If she has to wait four months, she’ll basically delay the whole thing by one year .

Anyone?

 

[21Goose]

That’s what I found on CIC website too. If she were to apply for work permit separately online, would the process be faster? I see processing times around 4-8 weeks. I’m okay with waiting for PR but we sort of need the work permit as soon as possible.

The reason is that she is in a medical profession and needs to register with provincial bodies and take qualifying exams here by a certain date.

If she has to wait four months, she’ll basically delay the whole thing by one year .

Anyone?

No. This is the fastest way to get it.

She doesn't have any right to a work permit till after you apply for sponsorship. If you don't submit the applications together, you will only delay the work permit, possibly by a whole year.

 

[jatt-going-canada]

No. This is the fastest way to get it.

She doesn't have any right to a work permit till after you apply for sponsorship. If you don't submit the applications together, you will only delay the work permit, possibly by a whole year.

I see. No way or getting that faster 4-8 weeks processing eh.. Thanks for your help

 

[21Goose]

I see. No way or getting that faster 4-8 weeks processing eh.. Thanks for your help

Does she need a work permit just to take the exams though? My wife is a lawyer and had to take similar licensing exams, but they didn't ask about her immigration status.

 

[jatt-going-canada]

Does she need a work permit just to take the exams though? My wife is a lawyer and had to take similar licensing exams, but they didn't ask about her immigration status.

She has to register with college of pharmacists before taking licensure exams and yeah they have it listed in their checklist. I would ask her to email the college and see if they can accommodate.

 

[21Goose]

She has to register with college of pharmacists before taking licensure exams and yeah they have it listed in their checklist. I would ask her to email the college and see if they can accommodate.

Yeah, then I guess she needs it. She may have to delay it by a year.

 

[jatt-going-canada]

I just learned about “flagpoling” and applying for work permit at land border. Would that be possible since she is from US, a visa exempt country

 

[21Goose]

I just learned about “flagpoling” and applying for work permit at land border. Would that be possible since she is from US, a visa exempt country

You know what, I completely missed that she's a US citizen! Apologies.

Yes, she can flagpole - but you will need to sponsor her through an inland application first, and get the AoR. Once you have the AoR, she can apply for a Open Work Permit at the Port of Entry. The AoR will make her eligible.

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigratio...s/work-canada/permit/temporary/apply/poe.html
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigratio...work-canada/permit/temporary/eligibility.html

 

[jatt-going-canada]

You know what, I completely missed that she's a US citizen! Apologies.

Yes, she can flagpole - but you will need to sponsor her through an inland application first, and get the AoR. Once you have the AoR, she can apply for a Open Work Permit at the Port of Entry. The AoR will make her eligible.

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigratio...s/work-canada/permit/temporary/apply/poe.html
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigratio...work-canada/permit/temporary/eligibility.html

Thank you. I’ll look into it a bit more. It looks like AOR takes a couple months and then I could flagpole. Although I’ve been reading that border officers hate it. We might try our luck at the airport

 

[canuck78]

Thank you. I’ll look into it a bit more. It looks like AOR takes a couple months and then I could flagpole. Although I’ve been reading that border officers hate it. We might try our luck at the airport

Definitely can’t flagpole at the airport only land border. Given the the work permit with inland spousal processing is a pilot program I have my doubts whether it can be done via flagpoling.

 

[Krysse]

Thank you. I’ll look into it a bit more. It looks like AOR takes a couple months and then I could flagpole. Although I’ve been reading that border officers hate it. We might try our luck at the airport

Did this ever work out for you? I'm just wondering because I didn't send my work permit with my PR application, applying under spousal (husband is a citizen) and considering just applying for this instead of a visitor record and study permit for my daughter....

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Did this ever work out for you? I'm just wondering because I didn't send my work permit with my PR application, applying under spousal (husband is a citizen) and considering just applying for this instead of a visitor record and study permit for my daughter....

You can't flagpole for the OWP. You can still send in the OWP app.