Congratulations! You and your partner have determined to embark on the great Canadian adventure together. However, as you are busy dreaming about maple syrup, poutine, and the beautiful weather of Canada, there is a huge question: “Can we both get employed in Canada?”
However, the brief response is yes, but the extended response is that there are lots of stages, some surprises, and likely a little time where you wonder if you are omitting a piece. Do not be afraid; by the end of this article, you will be prepared to navigate the Canadian work visa maze as a unique duo without any of that confusion.
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Knowing The Canadian Work Visa Alternatives For Married Couples
Canada has to do with keeping partners together, even when it has to do with work visas. However, in the same way with any good Canadian struggles, it can become a little tricky to navigate. There are two primary methods you can make use of:
- Open Work Permit: This is your key to flexibility. It allows you to work for any employer in Canada without a specific job offer. It’s like freedom to choose your adventure with no strings attached.
- Employer-specific work permits are a little more like monogamous connections. You are bound to one employer and can only operate for them. Before applying for this permit, you require an employment offer to avoid having to sneak around with other employers.
This is excellent news. If one of the partners gets an employment offer and obtains an employer-specific work permit, the other partner might acquire an open work permit. This implies that you can roam without restriction in the employment market while your spouse holds it down with their particular gig.
Can Couples Apply For Work Visas Together In Canada?
By the time one partner makes an application for a work permit in Canada, the other partner may be qualified for an open work permit, given that specific requirements are satisfied. Below is the way it operates:
- Partner Of A Skilled Employee: If your partner is making an application for a work permit depending on skilled employment (categorized under National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill type 0, A, or B), you can make an application for an open work permit. This enables you to get employed in Canada while your partner is hired. Open Work Permit for the spouse of skilled employees.
- Partner Of A Student: If your partner is moving to Canada using a study permit, you can apply for an open work permit, which enables you to get employed full-time in Canada—an open work permit for the partner of a student.
Concurrent Application Presentations: How It Can Be Done
Making an application for a Canadian work visa and an open work permit for your spouse at the same time is easy if carried out accurately: below is how:
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- Obtain An Employment Offer: One partner requires an employment offer from a Canadian employer, which is essential for their work permit request.
- Assemble Documents: Acquire relevant documents such as certificate of marriage, employment offer letter, passports, and evidence of relationship.
- Create an online account here.
- Fill Out Applications: The hired partner applies for an employer-specific work permit, whereas the other partner applies for an open work permit or a spouse visa.
- Present Together: Connect and present the two applications concurrently online.
- Pay Fees: Reimburse the needed charges for the two applications at the same time and await authorizations.
This guideline ensures that the two applications are run simultaneously, enabling you and your partner to settle and get employed in Canada.
What Occurs After Authorization
You and your partner can go to Canada and begin working when authorized. The partner with the employer-specific work permit must comply with their permit requirements, such as working for a particular employer. In contrast, the partner with the open work permit finds pleasure in the adjustment of working for any employer.
If One Spouse Is Refused A Canadian Work Visa
If one partner’s application for an open work permit or any other kind of work visa is refused, there are still options. The denied partner can apply for a spouse/family visa to be with the working partner. This visa allows the non-working partner to stay in Canada legally, even though it doesn’t typically allow them to work. To apply for a spouse/family visa, the working partner must demonstrate financial sponsorship for the non-working partner.
- Qualification: The partner who hands the work permit is required to ascertain that they can financially sponsor the other partner during their stay in Canada.
- Application Procedure: During this period, the refused partner would be required to present a new request under the family sponsorship class, which concentrates on reuniting families.
- Term: This partner with the spouse/family visa can remain in Canada if the primary visa holder’s work permit is authentic.
- Changes To Work Permit: While on a spouse/family visa, the non-working partner can apply for an open work permit later if the case alters, which involves discovering jobs that make you eligible for a work permit.
In conclusion, applying for work permits together as a married couple offers numerous advantages. It allows both partners to work and contribute financially, smoother the transition to life in Canada. Even if one partner’s work visa is refused, there’s the option to apply for a spouse/family visa to ensure you can still be together in Canada, with the possibility of transitioning to a work permit later.
Relocating to Canada as a couple is an attractive experience, and being able to work together in your new home can make it more compensating. Using accurate preparation, you and your partner can get work permits and begin your Canadian experience on the right path.