Modifications To Canada's Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP) Program Have Drawn Criticism.
Recent Modifications To Canada's Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP) Program Have Drawn Criticism For The Country's Immigration System. Concerns Were Raised By Immigr…
Dailyreelsblog
February 05, 2025
Recent Modifications To Canada's Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP)
Program Have Drawn Criticism For The Country's Immigration System.
Concerns Were Raised By Immigration Attorneys Igor Kyryliuk And Mark Holthe Regarding
The New Restrictions, Which Took Effect In January 2025.
Families And Job Seekers Are Being Impacted By These Changes, According To Immigration
News Canada (INC), Which Has Led To Strong Criticism Of Immigration, Refugees And
Citizenship Canada's (IRCC) Policy.
The New Regulations State That Spouses Of International Students Are Only Eligible To Apply If The Student Is Enrolled In A Specific Program.
Spouses Of Foreign Workers Who Hold Professional Or Managerial Positions (Tier 0 Or 1), As Well As Some Tier 2 And 3 Employment Related To Government Objectives Or Labor Shortages, Are Eligible, This Is A Big Change From Earlier, More Inclusive Laws That Only Allowed A Select Few People To Apply For Spousal Work Permits.
According To Holthe, The Policy Adjustments Are A Component Of A Broader Immigration Plan To Reduce The Number Of Temporary Residents In Canada. Concerns Over The Processing Of Applications Were Also Voiced By Holthe, Who Noted That Some Spousal Open Work Permits Are Handled Before To Or Soon After The Lead Applicant's Post-Graduate Work Permit, Which Commonly Leads To Rejections.
Changes To The Regulation Of
Spousal Open Work Permits Will Directly Affect Families. Holthe Shares The
Experiences Of Couples Where One Spouse—Typically The Primary Provider—Lost
Their Ability To Work After Their Application For A Spousal Work Visa Was
Denied. Financial Strain Has Come From This, Jeopardizing Housing Stability And
Basic Necessities.
According To Kyryliuk, Many Families Have Had To Reconsider Their Plans For Canada As A Result Of These Changes. Some Are Either Facing An Unclear Future In Canada Or Have Been Compelled To Return Home.
Both Attorneys Recounted Instances Where Applicants Were Unable To Modify Their
Approach Because Of Rejections That Occurred Concurrently With The Introduction
Of Stricter Standards.
According To Holthe, This Pattern Is A "Sharp
Practice" That Is Part Of Minister Miller's Larger Immigration Policy
Objective And Is Meant To Lower The Number Of Temporary Residents In Canada.
In The Past, Canada Has Expanded The Eligibility For Open Work Permits In An
Effort To Promote Economic Integration And Family Unity. The New Limitations,
However, Show A Shift In Favor Of Restricting Eligibility To Particular Groups.
According To Kyryliuk, These Changes Are Consistent With Larger Government
Objectives To Address Issues Like Labor Market Alignment, Housing Shortages,
And Population Growth.
Additionally, The New Policy Is Perceived As A Component Of Initiatives To
Decrease The Number Of International Students And Complicate The Process Of
Obtaining Permanent Residency.
According To Holthe And Kyryliuk, Changes In Policy Have
Been Impacted By How The General Public Views Immigration. Tougher Enforcement
Tactics Have Resulted From The Government Feeling Pressured To Appear Stricter
As Immigration Becomes A Political Issue.
Kyryliuk advises applicants to keep abreast of changes to the list of
authorized professions and, if necessary, obtain legal counsel. He highlights
the complexity of the process, which calls for painstaking attention to detail
and knowledge of the nuances of evolving policy.
Since the laws have become more complicated and restrictive, both attorneys
think that getting legal advice is essential for navigating the present system.
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