Hi,

My wife and I are moving to Toronto to start our new adventure. We both have job offers in Toronto. My wife, a Chinese National, is transferring within an international firm to their Toronto office, she just obtained her work permit approval letter along with her entrance visa (says W-1 category on it). On the other hand, there was some delays with my LMO application and I am still waiting for my LMO, but I need to start work soon.

Would I be eligible to obtain a "spouse open work permit" and start working while still waiting for my own LMO? I am a New Zealand National, from other posts from this very useful forum indicate that I maybe obtain the open work permit at the point of entry, is this correct? We plan to drive up together and cross the border at lewiston bridge. What documents would we need? Do I need an application form?

Thanks much for any advice you may have.

Your eligibility for an open work permit will depend on the skill classification of your spouse's work permit. The likelihood is that you would be eligible and, as a citizen of New Zealand, the case for such could then be processed at the port of entry as your arrive in Canada.

There are no application forms used for port of entry applications at present; the supporting documentation of the case generally constitutes the application. Advice on specific documentation is outside of the scope of this forum.