Hi, I am in full time international student stydying in Quebec for 2. 5 years with full state scholarship covering my tuition,insurance,living expenses and traveling. I came here alone now I want my husband joins me, I read he needs to apply for visitor visa or open work visa, I cannot find how he can appy for open work visa, beacse if he comes here with visitor visa anyway he needs later apply ofr open work visa, additionally, my concern is about his financial situation, they request for 10 000 per year, as he has a place to live, and my monthly living expences is 1400 CAD which is I think enough for 2 of us, is he still need to show 25 000 CAD for 2.5 years to get visa (if it is 10000 per year then he should show 25 000 for 2.5 years which is a big amount ). as he is going to work is it necessary to show such a big amount or if I include his application my scholarship letter and lease contract it can be dicreased, then how much ne needs to show for not to have refusal because of financial situation. thanks

Spouses of foreign students are automatically eligible to seek open work permits in Canada as a general rule. He would typically apply at a visa office responsible for his jurisdiction, although in some cases (depending on nationality), this can be processed at a port of entry as well.

In such a case, the financial requirements of a visitor visa would not generally apply.

I moved to Abbotsford BC in November 2010 with my husband. He opened an office for an Internet company he owns in Oregon. We both have work permits. Mine is a case type 20 open permit. I was issued the permit based on being married to him. It expires in November 2011. In this past month, we have decided to divorce.

So now the conditions of my permit may change. I want to stay in Abbotsford BC. I have just started a new job at Milestones Restaurant as a server. I am renting an apartment to live in. I have sold my business in Oregon so going back to Oregon to work that same business is not an option.

I called the Immigration call center number on the back of my permit. The woman said I would more than likely need an LMO from my employer as well as a letter of hire. I have received the letter of hire from my employer. My employer will now submit the application for the LMO. I have also filled out an application to change conditions, extend my stay. I have not sent it in yet.

My questions are...

1- How long does it take to get the LMO from HRSDC
2- Do I wait to receive that from my employer and then submit it along with the application for change and the job offer letter? Should they all be submitted at once together?
3- After that is there anything else I need to do for this process?
4- How long does it usually take to get an answer whether its been approved or not?
5- Is it likely that it will be approved based on the info I have provided?

Any advice you can give me to expedite this process would be greatly appreciated...