Open Work Permit Program - Extension to 2018?

[aK24]

Hi All,

This forum is very helpful

I'm planing to sponser my spouse (US citizen) for PR via the inland process in the next few months. I was wondering, does anyone know if the open work permit pilot program (Work permit for spouses and common-law partners applying for permanent residence from within Canada) is going to be renewed again this December. Or is there a plan to make this program into the standard? The last notice about this program was issued on Dec 7, 2016 and says the program ends on Dec 21, 2017.

Thanks

 

[kcward7]

Hi All,

This forum is very helpful

I'm planing to sponser my spouse (US citizen) for PR via the inland process in the next few months. I was wondering, does anyone know if the open work permit pilot program (Work permit for spouses and common-law partners applying for permanent residence from within Canada) is going to be renewed again this December. Or is there a plan to make this program into the standard? The last notice about this program was issued on Dec 7, 2016 and says the program ends on Dec 21, 2017.

Thanks

They have not announced yet to my knowledge.

 

[chinesecanadian87]

They have not announced yet to my knowledge.

does it mean as long as you have submitted your application before this you should still qualify? ie if we submit an application and it is received on December 20th you would still qualify?

 

[kcward7]

does it mean as long as you have submitted your application before this you should still qualify? ie if we submit an application and it is received on December 20th you would still qualify?

I assume yes but I do not know the answer for sure.

The day they receive versus the day they enter it in their system are also completely different things and I do not know whether that would be a factor

 

[Oldmacwright]

So do you think it will be worth sending in an OWP application for my (out of status) wife before the deadline. We have an inland spousal app in progress in very early stages (aor last week and Schedule A and PCC sent in). I was told here once we get AIP she is eligble for an OWP but obviously if the pilot programme isnt extended we will miss that boat if we dont have an app in.

 

[kcward7]

So do you think it will be worth sending in an OWP application for my (out of status) wife before the deadline. We have an inland spousal app in progress in very early stages (aor last week and Schedule A and PCC sent in). I was told here once we get AIP she is eligble for an OWP but obviously if the pilot programme isnt extended we will miss that boat if we dont have an app in.

Huh?

Unless I am missing something about your situation, people generally submit OWP app with the spousal app...

 

[Oldmacwright]

Huh?

Unless I am missing something about your situation, people generally submit OWP app with the spousal app...

We never did cause she is out of status and not eligible for an OWP, only since reading the forum here that we find she may me eligible in the future...though still not 100% sure how we stand on the matter?

 

[kcward7]

We never did cause she is out of status and not eligible for an OWP, only since reading the forum here that we find she may me eligible in the future...though still not 100% sure how we stand on the matter?

Right, sorry, I have no clue about the AIP portion, I overlooked your comment on being out of status. Sorry!

 

[Oldmacwright]

Right, sorry, I have no clue about the AIP portion, I overlooked your comment on being out of status. Sorry!

Yah not sure how it works, someone said once we get AIP she can then get an OWP, but will still be out of status until she officially has the landing interview, so almost contradictory to me.

 

[aK24]

Any news on this topic? I havent seen any releases from CIC, but last year they announced the extension on Dec 7th...

 

[KBH]

@aK24 Unfortunately I do not have an actual citation to share, because this was posted by an individual in a Facebook group I am in. But a few weeks ago, this person was advised by CIC that the pilot program will be discontinued because moving forward, the OWP program will now become a regular part of the process that will no longer be renewed from year to year.

 

[gabrielasqs]

@aK24 Unfortunately I do not have an actual citation to share, because this was posted by an individual in a Facebook group I am in. But a few weeks ago, this person was advised by CIC that the pilot program will be discontinued because moving forward, the OWP program will now become a regular part of the process that will no longer be renewed from year to year.

I have read that too in one of the Facebook groups

 

[aK24]

That's good to hear! Any indication if this new standard will start as soon as the current pilot program extension ends (i.e. Dec 22, 17)?

 

[louisstilling]

@aK24 Unfortunately I do not have an actual citation to share, because this was posted by an individual in a Facebook group I am in. But a few weeks ago, this person was advised by CIC that the pilot program will be discontinued because moving forward, the OWP program will now become a regular part of the process that will no longer be renewed from year to year.

Fingers crossed, we just sent our application for sponsorship along with the OWP, hoping for this to still be active.

By the way, have any of you experienced not getting stamped at the airport? I have had a major issue with this because the officer who received me did not stamp my passport - making it quite a headache to prove your legal status..

 

[KBH]

That's good to hear! Any indication if this new standard will start as soon as the current pilot program extension ends (i.e. Dec 22, 17)?

That seemed to be the implication