Can husband work while application is being processed?

[laysan]

Hi Everyone

Thanks in advance for your help. I am a Canadian Citizen and will be sponsoring my British husband to Canada (we have a daughter together in case that's relevant). Would he be allowed to work in Canada while the application is being processed? If so, how long would that take, and would it be better to apply from inside or outside Canada? If we apply from outside Canada would he be able to travel to Canada as a visitor while his application is being processed? That's so much!! I'm so confused by the red tape!

Feeling hopeful,
Laysan

[Stumpedmom]

Your husband is British, I would truly recommend that you apply outland, it would take approximately 9 months for 1st stage approval and the open work permit.  London office I believe is processing applications on average 4 to 6 months.  Once you get the PR for him, he can apply for a SIN and start working right away if he has a job.  The other option that you may have, is if he can get an employer here to do a labour market opinion and offer him a work visa then he could work while waiting....

[laysan]

Thank you! That is helpful. I didn't realise London office had faster application times than the rest of UK.

[Stumpedmom]

Most of the UK is processed through the London office.  The timelines posted on the CIC website is for 80% of cases are processed in that time frame.  Check out the London visa office thread and check out the timelines....now because of the separation, you may find that your file will get a little more scrutiny then most...so you may be closer to the longer times, but it is still going to be much faster than the 18 months or so for an inland application....

[laysan]

Thanks. Can he still travel to Canada as a visitor while his application is being processed?

[canadianwoman]

Your husband is British, I would truly recommend that you apply outland, it would take approximately 9 months for 1st stage approval and the open work permit.  London office I believe is processing applications on average 4 to 6 months. 

This means if you apply inland, it will take about 9 months before he gets first-stage approval and a work permit; whereas if he applies outland, he will get his PR in about 6 months.
The 'London office' means the Canadian High Commission in London, where all applications from the UK are processed.
When you apply inland, the sponsor and applicant both have to be in Canada for the duration of the processing, and the applications are sent to Vegreville (in Canada).
When you apply outland, a sponsor who is a Canadian citizen can be living anywhere, in Canada or not.
The applicant can also be in Canada or in his/her home country: 'inland' and 'outland' refer to where the application is processed, not where the applicant is. The applications are sent to Mississauga (in Canada), which processes the sponsor's application and then sends everything to the visa office you select (in your case, London).
Your husband can come visit you in Canada while the application is being processed. Citizens of the UK do not need a visa to visit, so he should have no trouble coming in for a visit or vacation.