Some sponsored spouses, partners, and their dependent children will be allowed to enter Canada as temporary residents to be with their sponsor while their family class sponsorship application is being processed. End of May saw the announcement by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) of a temporary public policy enabling these people to work in Canada while their applications are being processed.

This public policy makes it easier to obtain an open work permit for the foreign citizens applying to live and work in Canada under family class sponsorship, including dependent children over the age of 18 years.

These open work permits, which were previously only available to applicants through the inland spousal sponsorship program, are now open to people who are submitting applications from outside of Canada.

The issuance of open-work permits, according to the IRCC, will not only support families’ capacity to integrate into their communities and maintain financial stability, but it will also aid in addressing the nation’s labour shortages and the economy.

Eligibility requirements to obtain an Open work permit are as follows:

Foreign nationals who meet either one of the aforementioned requirements may be given an open work permit by IRCC officers.

The foreign national is

• A primary applicant who has submitted a permanent residency application under the spouse or common-law partner category in Canada or as a spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner under the family category that has been approved for processing by IRCC.
• Has submitted a work permit application, requesting a maximum of two years as the duration of the work permit .
• Is the subject of a sponsorship application submitted by their Canadian citizen or permanent resident spouse, common law or conjugal partner.
• Posses the same residential address as their sponsor in Canada at the time of the application, and.
• Posses valid temporary resident status in Canada or is qualified for and has applied for restoration of status

OR

The foreign national is

• A dependent child who has been listed as an accompanying family member on a permanent residency application.
• Has submitted a work permit application, requesting a maximum of two years as the duration of the work permit.
• Possess the same residential address as the prime applicant and their sponsor in Canada at the time of the application, and.
• Possess valid temporary resident status in Canada or is qualified for and has applied for restoration of status

Announcement to expedite Family reunification in Canada

In order to strengthen family class immigration and family reunification in Canada, Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced changes on May 26.

The new measures include:

• Quicker processing times for spousal temporary resident visa (TRV) applications.
• New and focused processing tools for spousal TRV applicants.
• A new open work permit for spousal and family class applicants.
• Open work permit extensions for open work permit holders whose permits expire between August 1 and the end of 2023

He claimed that these actions mirror IRCC’s commitment to family reunification and the significance of family reunification as a component of Canada’s immigration policy.