@canadianimmlawyer: You can live and work in Canada while applying for spousal sponsorship. There's no reason to stay separated from your spouse. It works like this: Step 1: Submit the sponsorship and wait for the AOR. The AOR is the official acknowledgment of receipt, which means the file has been accepted and assigned for officer review. Step 2: Apply for the open work permit. You need to be inside Canada as a visitor, student, or worker and living with your spouse. Once you submit the work permit application, your immigration status is locked in, meaning you can stay in Canada until a decision is made on the work permit, not matter how long it takes. It's a 2 year work permit, which gives you enough time to have the sponsorship finalized. This means you can stay together with your spouse, work and become a PR, without ever leaving the country. This strategy applies whether you applied under the inland or outland category.

Paul 🇨🇦 Immigration Lawyer

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Thursday 06 August 2026 14:32:32 GMT