OWP for inland applicants only

[Londo]

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/notices/2016-12-07.asp

Ottawa, December 7, 2016 — Family reunification is a core immigration priority for the Government of Canada. In addition to the changes made today to process spousal sponsorship applications faster, we are also extending the open work permit pilot program until December 21, 2017, to give spouses a chance to work while their application is being finalized.

To be eligible for an open work permit, you must be a spouse or common-law partner living in Canada who is being sponsored under the spouse or common-law partner in Canada (SCLPC) class. You must have valid temporary resident status (as a visitor, student or worker) and live at the same address as your sponsor.

If you have already submitted an application for permanent residence but have not yet received approval in principle under the SCLPC class or have not yet applied for an open work permit, you can complete the work permit application. Send your completed application, along with appropriate fee, to the Case Processing Centre in Vegreville at

CPC – Vegreville
WP – Unit 777
6212–55 Avenue
Vegreville, AB
T9C 1X6

If you have already received approval in principle on your permanent residence application—meaning you received a letter from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada stating you meet the permanent residence eligibility requirements but have not yet passed the medical, security and background checks for your family members or yourself—you may apply for an open work permit online.

If you were provided with a work permit under the initial pilot, you must apply for a work permit extension before it expires.

If you are submitting a new application, you may submit a work permit application at the same time as your sponsorship application, along with an application for permanent residence. You must include the appropriate fees, and send all completed applications together to the Case Processing Centre in Mississauga.

By mail:

In-Canada Sponsorship
CPC – Mississauga
PO Box 5040, Station B
Mississauga, ON
L5A 3A4

By courier service (no public drop-offs):

Case Processing Centre – Mississauga
2 Robert Speck Parkway, Suite 300
Mississauga, ON
L4Z 1H8

So the have Extended OWP for inland applicant for another year but no mention of outland applicant currently in Canada. So how will that work since the are scraping inland/outland. I cant help but wish I had waited till December to send our application. I think its unfair since we all getting same processing time now

 

[Londo]

Sorry for the misinformation it looks like the outlanders can too

 

[profiler]

Sorry for the misinformation it looks like the outlanders can too

There is no outlander/inlander anymore. If the person being sponsored is in Canada at their sponsor's address, and they have a sponsorship application submitted, they can apply for an OWP.

 

[CDNPR2014]

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/notices/2016-12-07.asp

Ottawa, December 7, 2016 — Family reunification is a core immigration priority for the Government of Canada. In addition to the changes made today to process spousal sponsorship applications faster, we are also extending the open work permit pilot program until December 21, 2017, to give spouses a chance to work while their application is being finalized.

To be eligible for an open work permit, you must be a spouse or common-law partner living in Canada who is being sponsored under the spouse or common-law partner in Canada (SCLPC) class. You must have valid temporary resident status (as a visitor, student or worker) and live at the same address as your sponsor.

If you have already submitted an application for permanent residence but have not yet received approval in principle under the SCLPC class or have not yet applied for an open work permit, you can complete the work permit application. Send your completed application, along with appropriate fee, to the Case Processing Centre in Vegreville at

CPC – Vegreville
WP – Unit 777
6212–55 Avenue
Vegreville, AB
T9C 1X6

If you have already received approval in principle on your permanent residence application—meaning you received a letter from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada stating you meet the permanent residence eligibility requirements but have not yet passed the medical, security and background checks for your family members or yourself—you may apply for an open work permit online.

If you were provided with a work permit under the initial pilot, you must apply for a work permit extension before it expires.

If you are submitting a new application, you may submit a work permit application at the same time as your sponsorship application, along with an application for permanent residence. You must include the appropriate fees, and send all completed applications together to the Case Processing Centre in Mississauga.

By mail:

In-Canada Sponsorship
CPC – Mississauga
PO Box 5040, Station B
Mississauga, ON
L5A 3A4

By courier service (no public drop-offs):

Case Processing Centre – Mississauga
2 Robert Speck Parkway, Suite 300
Mississauga, ON
L4Z 1H8

So the have Extended OWP for inland applicant for another year but no mention of outland applicant currently in Canada. So how will that work since the are scraping inland/outland. I cant help but wish I had waited till December to send our application. I think its unfair since we all getting same processing time now

this information has not been changed to reflect the new application that goes live on Dec. 15. I think it is important to wait until then to determine if these guidelines will change based on the new streamlined process. my assumption is, any applicant who can prove residence in canada will qualify. that means, outland applicants who are in canada as workers, students and visitors who can meet the criteria may be able to apply. it is unknown right now how this will work in the coming weeks/months, and it's not recommended to make assumptions of it being "unfair". all we know is that RIGHT NOW, only inland applicants can apply. What isn't clarified is how they will determine eligibility for the OWP with the new application. As of Dec. 15, it is assumed there will no longer be "in Canada (SCLPC) class", so this language is sure to change once the new application goes live.

 

[profiler]

this information has not been changed to reflect the new application that goes live on Dec. 15. I think it is important to wait until then to determine if these guidelines will change based on the new streamlined process. my assumption is, any applicant who can prove residence in canada will qualify. that means, outland applicants who are in canada as workers, students and visitors who can meet the criteria may be able to apply. it is unknown right now how this will work in the coming weeks/months, and it's not recommended to make assumptions of it being "unfair". all we know is that RIGHT NOW, only inland applicants can apply. What isn't clarified is how they will determine eligibility for the OWP with the new application. As of Dec. 15, it is assumed there will no longer be "in Canada (SCLPC) class", so this language is sure to change once the new application goes live.

There is no concept of inland/outland anymore. If you noticed, there is tiny little nuances changed in the OWP announcement that signals that anyone who has valid status, a spousal sponsorship application in play, and is in Canada at the sponsor's address can apply.

So, for those 'outlanders' who are at their sponsor's address *could* apply. It may not be worth it, given that it takes 4 months to get it, but that is a choice the couple needs to make.

 

[CaroM8]

Wait, let me make sure I am getting this right!

Does this apply for people who have already applied for PR via outland route?

We applied in September 2016, via outland for my husband who is from Guatemala. He already has a TRV valid until 2018. Does that mean we could technically move to Canada before his PR is approved, and he could apply for a OWP?

 

[profiler]

Wait, let me make sure I am getting this right!

Does this apply for people who have already applied for PR via outland route?

We applied in September 2016, via outland for my husband who is from Guatemala. He already has a TRV valid until 2018. Does that mean we could technically move to Canada before his PR is approved, and he could apply for a OWP?

The way it reads, if he is in Canada, at your address, then yes he should be able to apply. Would it be worth it? That's a choice you have to make.

Though CDNPR2014 does make a valid point about the specific class that they are citing. It will depend on what IRCC does with SCLPC.

 

[CaroM8]

Is the 4 month processing time for the OWP pretty accurate, or usually processed faster?

 

[profiler]

Is the 4 month processing time for the OWP pretty accurate, or usually processed faster?

It's pretty close. But again, it will depend on what IRCC does with SCLPC. I would check next week's release of the application package first.

 

[CaroM8]

It's pretty close. But again, it will depend on what IRCC does with SCLPC. I would check next week's release of the application package first.

Thanks for the info! I'll keep an eye on what's gonna happen next..

 

[CDNPR2014]

There is no concept of inland/outland anymore. If you noticed, there is tiny little nuances changed in the OWP announcement that signals that anyone who has valid status, a spousal sponsorship application in play, and is in Canada at the sponsor's address can apply.

So, for those 'outlanders' who are at their sponsor's address *could* apply. It may not be worth it, given that it takes 4 months to get it, but that is a choice the couple needs to make.

yes, but at the same time, it still references "in canada class" and/or requiring AIP. as you point out, we don't know if that is going to be changed on dec. 15, so it can't be assumed current outland applicants are eligible, since they can't prove AIP or technically have an "in canada class" application submitted. we have to wait to see how the language is updated on the 15th and how the stream is referenced then.

 

[profiler]

yes, but at the same time, it still references "in canada class" and/or requiring AIP. as you point out, we don't know if that is going to be changed on dec. 15, so it can't be assumed current outland applicants are eligible, since they can't prove AIP or technically have an "in canada class" application submitted. we have to wait to see how the language is updated on the 15th and how the stream is referenced then.

I agree that we should all wait for December 15 to check for language. The problem here is, the minister stated very clearly there is no geographical division any longer. That would mean, the OWP should be available to those who are waiting "in Canada" -- no? After all, that's the very essence of the changes. In terms of AIP, if you read what was pasted and posted, that's only describing what the previous applicants of 'in Canada' class need to apply. Remember, there are Public Policy cases out there that require AIP to be eligible for OWP.

 

[CDNPR2014]

I agree that we should all wait for December 15 to check for language. The problem here is, the minister stated very clearly there is no geographical division any longer. That would mean, the OWP should be available to those who are waiting "in Canada" -- no? After all, that's the very essence of the changes. In terms of AIP, if you read what was pasted and posted, that's only describing what the previous applicants of 'in Canada' class need to apply. Remember, there are Public Policy cases out there that require AIP to be eligible for OWP.

as i read it, it means as of Dec. 15 with the NEW application, those who would have been considered "outland" with the old application would become eligible. this doesn't necessarily mean old "outside" canada applications already submitted would all of a sudden become eligible. i would imagine the eligiblity rules are going to change with the new application, not necessarily with old applications already submitted. again, we can only assume and won't know for sure. it may be worth it for some "old" application outlanders to apply for the OWP after Dec. 15 and see what happens. we really won't know until people in the old streams apply for it and get a response from CIC.