*HELP! Getting an Open Work Permit for my wife in Canada

[RDF300]

Hello Everyone!

I have a few questions that I was hoping someone could help me answer.

I am a Canadian citizen and I met my wife while she was in Canada on a work permit. We got married last year (December) in Canada. She still has a valid work permit but it is set to expire soon. Her work is applying to extend this for her as a skilled worker. The issue is she does not want to work for this company and wants to pursue other opportunities.

How can we get her an open work permit? How long will it take?

If her work permit expires does she have to get a travelers visa to stay in Canada? Can she stay in Canada and just not work since we are married?

If we have applied for me to sponsor her does she keep assumed status until we hear back on the permit?

Help with this is greatly appreciated. I have not seen anyone else with this issue although I am sure many people have experienced it.

Thank you for your help!

 

[scylla]

The only way your wife can qualify for an open work permit is if you apply to sponsor her "inland". If you apply to sponsor her "inland" she will be approved for an open work permit approximately 11 months after you submit the sponsorship application (once she receives first stage approval). In many cases it's actually better to apply "outland". The outland process will not give you wife access to an open work permit. However depending on what country she is from, the processing time may be quite a bit shorter than the 11 month wait for inland stage 1.

Being married to you does not automatically give you wife any status in Canada.

 

[RobsLuv]

Also, if you submit the inland PR application TOGETHER WITH an extension application for an open work permit and they're received by CPC-Vegreville before her current work permit expires, she can continue to work for her current employer under "implied status". I know she doesn't want to continue to work for that employer - and she can't work for another employer - but her current work permit would still continue to be her temporary status. Then, once she was approved after first stage assessment (11 months), she would automatically be issued an open work permit and then she could apply for a new job.