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Spousal Open Work Permit at Port of Entry

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eheasterweekend

Newbie
Feb 20, 2025
4
0
Hi all. I think I have pieced everything together from the various sources and just want to check something for my sanity. I have a Letter of Introduction for UK working holiday visa which needs to be activated by 9th May. My husband, who is 37 (UK too) and therefore ineligible for the working holiday visa, is coming with me to Canada. The plan is to come to Canada early May, activate for me and have my husband enter on his ETA. After having found a job in TEER 0 or 1, once three pay stubs (bi-weekly I assume will suffice so after 6 weeks), my husband will fly out of Canada and then back, he needs to go back to the UK sporadically anyway. At the port of entry, he will then be able to present my pay stubs, marriage certificate, letter of employment, I assume my working holiday visa showing 16+ months and should be able to receive a SOWP upon landing at the airport. Is that correct? Do I need to be present with him at the airport?
 
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canuck78

VIP Member
Jun 18, 2017
57,609
14,158
eheasterweekend said:
Hi all. I think I have pieced everything together from the various sources and just want to check something for my sanity. I have a Letter of Introduction for UK working holiday visa which needs to be activated by 9th May. My husband, who is 37 (UK too) and therefore ineligible for the working holiday visa, is coming with me to Canada. The plan is to come to Canada early May, activate for me and have my husband enter on his ETA. After having found a job in TEER 0 or 1, once three pay stubs (bi-weekly I assume will suffice so after 6 weeks), my husband will fly out of Canada and then back, he needs to go back to the UK sporadically anyway. At the port of entry, he will then be able to present my pay stubs, marriage certificate, letter of employment, I assume my working holiday visa showing 16+ months and should be able to receive a SOWP upon landing at the airport. Is that correct? Do I need to be present with him at the airport?
Click to expand...
He doesn’t qualify for an SOWP if you are on IEC.
https://ircc.canada.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=841&top=25
 
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canuck78

VIP Member
Jun 18, 2017
57,609
14,158
There are many potential pitfalls in your plan on top of that. Easily securing a top tier job relatively quickly, the employer willing to commit that the job will last 16+ months or you apply before there is less than 16 months on your IEC, proof of 3 paystubs in 6 weeks, etc.
 
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canuck78

VIP Member
Jun 18, 2017
57,609
14,158
Unless you secure a job in advance would suggest you travel to Canada to see if you can secure a job and how quickly. Not a great job market at the moment so this may be tough unless from very specific skills. If you are able to secure the job within enough time and still qualify then your spouse can fly to Canada.
 
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eheasterweekend

Newbie
Feb 20, 2025
4
0
canuck78 said:
Was answering someone else’s question who was German and suggested CETA may be an option. Obviously UK no longer part of the EU but your spouse may qualify for an WP under our trade agreement with the UK.
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/permit/business-people.html
Click to expand...
He does also happen to have an Italian passport so the CETA looks like an option. Though it looks similar to the UK equivalent in CUKTCA.

Looking at the options, it would appear he could be classified as an 'investor' but the definition is a little vague. He is a Chief Operating Officer for a hedge fund in the UK which I assume fulfills the first criteria. The second criteria is to be the primary investor; primary investor in what? And how much?
 
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