Family reunification is significant in Canada’s immigration strategy, and Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) have taken a new measure to facilitate more families staying together.
Under this measure, spouses, partners, and dependents of permanent residents, Canadian citizens, temporary workers, and students already in Canada may now qualify for an Open Work Permit. Previously, open work permits were only accessible to applicants applying through inland sponsorship or those with a Temporary Residence Visa (TRV) while residing in Canada. However, with the recent change, even applicants from outside Canada (outland sponsorship) can now be eligible for open work permits.
The eligible family members encompass spouses, common-law partners, conjugal partners, and dependent children over 18.
In addition, to expedite the process, IRCC aims to process all spousal sponsorship applications within 12 months. This development represents a significant step forward in bringing families together and facilitating smoother immigration pathways for those seeking to be with their loved ones in Canada.
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Qualification Criteria for Open Work Permits
To be eligible for open work permits, family members must meet specific criteria outlined by IRCC. They should have a valid temporary resident status, maintained status, or have applied for status restoration in Canada, and share the same residential address as their sponsor during the open work permit application.
The IRCC public policy grants open work permits to foreign nationals who meet one of the following conditions:
The following individuals qualify as foreign nationals:
The foreign national is a principal applicant who:
- Has submitted a permanent residence application under the spouse or common-law partner in Canada or as a spouse, common-law, or conjugal partner under the family class, which IRCC has accepted for processing.
- Has submitted a work permit application with a maximum duration of two years for the requested work permit.
- Is the subject of a sponsorship application submitted by their Canadian citizen or permanent resident spouse, common-law, or conjugal partner.
- Has the same residential address as their sponsor in Canada at the time of the application.
- Has valid temporary resident status in Canada or is eligible for and has applied for restoration of status.
OR
The foreign national is a dependent child who:
- Has been included as an accompanying family member in the application for permanent residence.
- Has submitted a work permit application with a maximum duration of two years for the requested work permit.
- Has the same residential address as the principal applicant and their sponsor in Canada at the time of the application.
- Has valid temporary resident status in Canada or is eligible for and has applied for restoration of status.
Continued Dedication to Family Reunification in Canada
Immigration Minister Sean Fraser emphasized Canada’s unwavering dedication to family reunification through a recent announcement on May 26.
This announcement included the introduction of open work permits for outland spousal sponsorship, along with several other family reunification initiatives. It includes faster processing times for temporary resident visas (TRVs) for married applicants, specialized processing tools for spousal TRV applicants, and extensions for open work permits expiring between August 1st and the end of 2023.
Minister Fraser emphasized that IRCC is committed to expediting family reunification, enabling newcomers to work and support themselves more swiftly upon arrival. By doing so, Canada aims to empower newcomers to reach their full potential while bolstering the nation’s economy and social fabric.
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