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DMR121991

Newbie
Apr 20, 2026
1
0
Hi all. I am a protected person in Canada. My spouse (a US citizen) and I married in March of 2023. I received my IRB decision in June of 2023. Prior to this, my spouse was living in the states and visiting me on his off weeks of work. In August 2023, my spouse got an LMIA work permit as a nurse good for 3 years, and moved in with me in Toronto. After that we applied for our PR together end of August 2023 as in Canada applicants.

During that time PR processing has greatly increased and now his work permit will be expiring August of this year. If our PR is not processed before that date, would my spouse have to leave Canada and wait outside Canada until our application processes? Or is there a way to stay in Canada and continue to work? We are unsure of what our options are so any advice would be appreciated! Getting another LMIA at his current job is not an option as the hospital has decreased funding for staff.
 
Hi all. I am a protected person in Canada. My spouse (a US citizen) and I married in March of 2023. I received my IRB decision in June of 2023. Prior to this, my spouse was living in the states and visiting me on his off weeks of work. In August 2023, my spouse got an LMIA work permit as a nurse good for 3 years, and moved in with me in Toronto. After that we applied for our PR together end of August 2023 as in Canada applicants.

During that time PR processing has greatly increased and now his work permit will be expiring August of this year. If our PR is not processed before that date, would my spouse have to leave Canada and wait outside Canada until our application processes? Or is there a way to stay in Canada and continue to work? We are unsure of what our options are so any advice would be appreciated! Getting another LMIA at his current job is not an option as the hospital has decreased funding for staff.
You don’t automatically lose status just because PR isn’t finalized before his work permit expires but you do need to act before that August expiry date to keep him in Canada legally and, ideally, working.

Because you’ve already applied for PR inside Canada, your spouse may be eligible for a Bridging Open Work Permit through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.