[requester]

Record

Archived: June 2, 2025 10:33:39 AM From: Immigration Representatives / Représentants immigration (RCC) Sent: [requester] To: Ce: hnmigration Representatives / Représentants immigration RCC) Subject: [requester] Importance: Normal Sensitivity: None Good day, Thank you for contacting the Immigration Representatives Mailbox Please note that this mailbox is intended for general guidance and does not provide responses to case-specific inquiries but have provided the following information as guidance. If you have case specific questions about a file, you are encouraged to submit the RCC Web form. Please see our response to your question. Question: Hope this helps find you well. We noticed that the IRCC webpage (“Webpage”; Link: https://www.canada,ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/start-visa/work- permits/eligibility.htm) regarding spousal work permits for Start-up Visa (SUV) applicants was updated on January 22, 2025. To ensure we have a clear understanding of the impact of this change, we would like to clarify whether spouses of workers under the SUV program will only be eligible for an open work permit if the workers have at least 16 months remaining on their work permits at the time their spouses apply for the open work permit. We noted this requirement mentioned in the linked webpages (see below links) associated with the recent update. However, one of the links also states that spouses of workers “transitioning to permanent residence will not be impacted by these changes.” Given that workers under the SUV program are applicants for permanent residency and that the work permits serve as a precursor to permanent residence, we would greatly appreciate your clarification on whether this new requirement applies to spouses of workers under the SUV program. Thank you and we look forward to hearing from you. https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/permit/temporary/open-work permit-spouses-dependent-children,html#high-skilled hnttps://wwww.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news /notices /changes-open-work-permits-family- members-temporary-residents.htrnl Response: Spouses of workers who have already applied for PR or who hold/are approved for a work permit related to a PR program — even if they have not yet submitted a PR application — will be exempt from the restrictions that came effect on January 21, 2025. In the latter scenario, the PR programs include: © *the Provincial Nominee Program; 000708