Canada Introduces New Open Work Permit for Family Class and Spousal Applicants

Canada has recently announced a series of new measures aimed at streamlining the process for permanent residents to bring their families to the country. These initiatives include the introduction of an open work permit for spousal and family class applicants.

The government hopes that these policies will also help alleviate the labor shortages that Canada has been facing since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Expedited Visa Processing and Improved Application procedures

On Friday, Sean Fraser, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, revealed that the government will be implementing faster processing times for temporary resident visas (TRV) for spousal applicants.

Additionally, specialized processing tools will be introduced specifically for spousal TRV applications. These changes aim to expedite the reunification of families by allowing them to be together while they await the finalization of their permanent residence applications.

Key Measures Unveiled

The government of Canada has unveiled several important measures to facilitate family reunification and address labor shortages:

1. Faster TRV processing times for spousal applicants.
2. Introduction of new processing tools exclusively for spousal TRV applicants.
3. Launch of an open work permit for spousal and family class applicants.
4. Extension of open work permits for those whose permits are expiring between August 1 and the end of 2023.

In a statement, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) highlighted that most applications will now be processed within 30 days, with specific processing measures tailored to the circumstances of spouses and dependents. The IRCC reported an impressive approval rate of 93 percent among applicants who have already been processed using these new tools.

Open work permits now available for spousal applicants and their dependent children

Canada has made open work permits accessible to spousal applicants and their dependent children who reside with their sponsors in the country and possess temporary resident status.

Under the new regulations, spouses, partners, and dependents can apply for and receive an open work permit as soon as they submit a complete permanent residence application under the spouse or common-law partner in Canada class (SPCLC) or other family class programs.

Minister Fraser also announced that spousal applicants, as well as other open work permit holders, whose permits expire between August 1 and the end of 2023, will be eligible to extend their work permits for an additional 18 months. This extension option mirrors a recent offering to individuals with expiring post-graduation work permits.

Enhancing client services and expediting application processing

Canada has been actively working to improve client services and accelerate application processing times. In 2022 alone, the IRCC finalized over 5.2 million applications across various sectors, ensuring timely decisions for millions of people.

Since July 2022, new spousal sponsorship applicants can expect their applications to be processed within a service standard of 12 months for 80 percent of cases (non-Quebec applications).

Eligibility criteria for open work permit extensions

Foreign nationals may be granted open work permits under various circumstances, although not all will qualify for an extension under this expedited processing mechanism.

The extension option will only be available to permanent residence applicants awaiting decisions on their applications, their spouses who have been sponsored under the family class, spouses and common-law partners of most work permit holders, as well as spouses and common-law partners of study permit holders.

Promoting economic growth through increased work permits

In 2022, Canada issued an impressive number of over 1,075,000 work permits and work permit extensions. This demonstrates the country’s commitment to supporting economic growth while also prioritizing family reunification.

Canada’s latest measures, including the introduction of an open work permit for family class and spousal applicants, highlight the government’s dedication to simplifying immigration processes and ensuring families can be together sooner.

By addressing labor shortages and expediting visa processing, Canada continues to demonstrate its commitment to welcoming immigrants and strengthening its diverse communities.