It is quite common to see families of a temporary foreign worker split in Canada due to their inability to support the expenses or high standard of living that the country demands. Canada immigration department has thereby taken the initiative to ensure integrated families to issue open work permits to working-aged dependents of these temporary foreign workers.

These dependents can now also contribute to the earnings of the family along with their parents as they are permitted to work in Canada and that too without the need of having a job offer beforehand. Dependent children who are sure to qualify through the selection criteria can apply for open work permit under the two distinct pilot projects that the province of Ontario and Alberta have on offer.

Eligibility of dependent children to apply for thee open work permits is decided on the basis of given conditions:

The temporary foreign skilled worker or the primary applicant must be:

  • Eligible for or already a holder of employer-specific work permit
  • Must have the intention to work in Ontario or Alberta
  • Work in an “A”, “O”, or “B” skill levels of occupation, according to National Occupation Classification given by HRSDC.

Also, the dependent must qualify the legal age factor of the individual provinces, in which they intend to work. While in Alberta, this age bar is a minimum of 18 years, in Ontario, it is 14-18 years, according to the occupation. However, for Canadian immigration, dependent status of children is accepted only if they are below 22 years and if they are unmarried or is not involved in any common-law relationship. Those above 22 years are also accepted as dependents as long as they are full time students while their age is 22 years and continue to be full time students and dependents on their parents.

The period for which pilot projects are operational, extends from July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010. So, eligible dependents of temporary foreign workers, who are currently working in or are headed to Alberta or Ontario, can apply for open work permits during this time. It is important to not that there is no automatic issuance provided for these permits and one must apply for them. However, these children have the choice if they wish to apply after they are in Canada or along with their primary applicants.

These open work permits are usually valid for an equivalent stretch of time as the work permit of the primary applicant. In case of extension of the work permit of the primary applicant, open work permit of dependent children may also be extended.

Previously, apart from a prior job offer from a Canadian employer or a Labour Market Opinion (LMO) from HRSDC, the Canadian employer also has to undergo several formalities, before they issue a work permit to a foreign worker. Open work permits are however an easy escape from this cumbersome process that will encourage more people to come and settle in Ontario and Alberta happily, with their families.

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