Canada has extended its popular pilot program for a year that permits spouses of permanent residents and citizens of Canada to work while waiting for their status of permanent residency.
The announcement was made by CIC on 11th December 2015, regarding the extension of this program for a year. This program permits spouse to gain all important work experience of Canada while waiting for the status of permanent residency.
News of this program extension would affect those spouses who come under the SCLPC class of the Canadian immigration. The open work permit holder could work for the Canadian employer without having the confirmed employment offer.
Applicants who had submitted an application for the PR under the SCLPC but had not yet applied for the open work permit could submit the complete application regarding work permit along with the fee. Applicants who had got the approval on the application for the PR and had got the letter saying that they meet the eligibility criteria but had not passed the security, medical and background checks for their family or themselves, might apply for the online open work permit.
Applicants who were offered a work permit under the first pilot program which initially started on 25th December 2015 and seek to apply for the extension of the work permit should do so before the expiry of the work permit. Applicants who are submitting latest application under SCLPC might submit the application for the work permit at the similar time as the application for the sponsorship. The fee and all the applications must be sent altogether.
The officers would grant the work permits to the applicant under the SCLPC class if they meet the following criteria.
The permanent residence of Canada has been submitted under the SCLPC class, the citizen of Canada or the PR spouse has presented a sponsorship application on their behalf. The applicant under the SCLPC class resides at the same address as the sponsor and the applicant under the SCLPC class has a valid resident status.
