Leaving Korea in 3 months, how can I bring my wife?

[bradburyjason]

I am a Canadian citizen living in South Korea and I am married to a Korean woman. A couple of days ago, I got accepted to a graduate school in Canada to do an MBA. The program starts in 3 months. What should we do? I would like to be able to move back together and it would be great if she were allowed to work.

 

[zardoz]

I live in South Korea and I am married to a Korean woman. A couple of days ago, I got accepted to a graduate school in Canada to do an MBA. The program starts in 3 months. What should we do? I would like to be able to move back together and it would be great if she were allowed to work.

If you are a Canadian citizen or a PR, your spouse will not be able to obtain a work permit based on your study. As a South Korean, she should be visa-exempt and therefore able to accompany you as a visitor.

You need to provide more information about your status in Canada.

 

[bradburyjason]

Yeah, I forgot to mention that I am Canadian.

 

[zardoz]

Yeah, I forgot to mention that I am Canadian.

Then, I stand by my assessment. If your spouse wants to work, she will have to go down the "Foreign Worker" path to get a work permit in the near term. In the longer term, sponsorship is the logical choice...

 

[bartjones]

You might want to join us over in the Korea thread here http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/sponsoring-my-korean-wife-for-permanent-residency-t137874.0.html

 

[Rob_TO]

Ya someone just asked this same question in Korean thread. Here was my response.

Basically there are only 2 ways she can work
1. Get the Korean equivalent of the working holiday visa (IEC program only available to people under 30, and usually spots are filled up super quick), see here: http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/korea-coree/experience_canada_experience/index.aspx )
2. Find an employer willing to go through LMO process successfully, after which she could apply for closed-work permit to work for that company. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/employers/lmo-basics.asp

As zardoz said, there is no other way she can legally work. She would need to apply for her PR, and then after 10-12 months she could most likely work, but not before that.

 

[bradburyjason]

Could my wife get an open work permit? And could we apply for that online, instead of going through the visa office in Manila?

 

[screech339]

Could my wife get an open work permit? And could we apply for that online, instead of going through the visa office in Manila?

Open work permit is only available to those who applied inland spousal PR process.

Screech339

 

[zardoz]

Could my wife get an open work permit? And could we apply for that online, instead of going through the visa office in Manila?

No, she would not be eligible.

 

[bradburyjason]

Thanks for all the replies so far.

3 months from now, when I return to Canada, could my wife join me on a tourist visa and then once inside the country apply for the permanent residence visa?

 

[screech339]

Thanks for all the replies so far.

3 months from now, when I return to Canada, could my wife join me on a tourist visa and then once inside the country apply for the permanent residence visa?

Once your wife joins you as a tourist, you can proceed with the PR sponsorship via "outland" or "inland". Each approach has it pros and cons. You can make a decision on which way you want to go.

Screech339