A frequent situation: your visitor visa is approved while your inland spousal application is still pending. What members did:
- Enter on the visitor visa, then flagpole. 'Flagpoling' means going to a port of entry (the border) and immediately returning to be processed by immigration — several members obtained a Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP) this way, often within a single day.
- Understand what gets withdrawn. Flagpoling for the SOWP applies to the work permit portion; members cautioned about what happens to the existing inland application and advised confirming whether it's affected before you go.
- Check timing. There isn't necessarily a mandatory wait after landing on a visitor visa before pursuing the OWP, but confirm current border/flagpoling rules, which change.
- Keep your PR/spousal file updated to reflect the change in status where required.