[requester]

Record

Immigration Representatives Mailbox —_ : De:

Envoyé: [requester]

A: Immigration Representatives / Représentants immigration (IRCC) <[requester email]>

Objet: [requester]

Dear [requester],

UBC is seeking clarification on the recent policy change as outlined in the IRCC notice, specifically regarding the statement: “Spouses of workers covered by free-trade agreements and those transitioning to permanent residence will not be impacted by these changes.”

From the information provided, we understand that the IRCC LIIA-Exemption Code website page [under R204(a) Canada- international exemption codes] specifies which FTAs explicitly cover work permits for spouses and common-law partners of workers, and that other FTAs, such as CUSMA does not include such coverage

Could you please clarify:

1. 1.FTA Spouses: Does this exemption refer exclusively to the spouses of workers who are specifically covered under FTAs that allow spousal work permits (e.g., Colombia 125, Korea F36, CETA T45, CPTPP T53), or does it also apply to the spouses of any worker who holds a work permit under a free-trade agreement, regardless of any FTA’s spousal provisions (i.e. CUSMA)?

2. 2. Eligibility for Spousal Open Work Permits: In particular, if the primary worker is covered by an FTA that does not explicitly have a provision for spouses, such as CUSMA 736 University Teacher (NOC 41200) and the primary worker holds a LMIA-Exempt [R204(a) ~T36] work permit valid for 12 months, does this mean the spouse remains eligible for a spousal open work permit and will not be impacted by these changes?

To summarize, we would appreciate clarification on what free-trade agreements IRC is referring to. Is it all free trade agreements or just the ones with spouses specifically included in the free trade agreements wording? Specifically, if a primary worker held a LMIA-exempt work permit under [R204(a) -T36] valid for 12-months at the time of the spousal open work permit application, would their spouse be impacted by the policy? We would appreciate any guidance or clarification on these points to ensure we fully understand the scope. Thank you for your time and assistance. [NAME REDACTED]