Canada has started issuing open work permits to spouses of Canadian Citizens and Residents as they await Permanent residence through spousal sponsorship program
The changes, which came into effect as of January 2015 as a pilot project for a period of one year , will allow the spouses and common-law partners of Canadian citizens and permanent residents who are urrently residing in Canada to benefit from expedited access to open work permits while their applications for permanent residence are being processed. Eligible applicants will now be able to apply for an open work ermit before the approval in principle decision is made on their application for permanent residence in Canada. Applicants whose permanent resident applications are received after December 22, 2014 will have heir application for an open work permit processed within four months of receipt of their work permit application. An open work permit allows applicants to work for any employer for a specified period of time hile their permanent residence applications are processed.