Visa for family members

[ethanf]

(Had a previous post with a few major mistakes so I'm re-posting)
Hi everyone,
I am a Canadian citizen (not living currently in Canada) and I am starting postdoc position soon in Toronto, and I wish to move with my wife and son (both not Canadian citizens).

We do not wish to apply for a permanent residence, as we are not planning to immigrate to Canada and it is a problem (from what I understand) if you stop the process in the middle. Under what status can my wife reside and work in Canada? If a tourist visa the only other option? Can she get a work permit with a tourist visa?

 

[scylla]

Since you are a Canadian citizen - different rules apply than they would if you were an international (foreign) student.

Your wife can apply to visit you temporarily on a tourist visa. There is no visa available to her that will allow her to live in Canada while you study. (Only obtaining PR will allow her to do this.)

Your wife does not qualify for a work permit based on your studies in Canada. If she wants to obtain a work permit, she would need to first secure a full time job offer in Canada and that employer would need to secure an approved LMIA.