Hi, I am going to study masters at UBC , winter session. I applied online and got visa with my husband and son as dependents. Their visa is visit visa (V-1 - multiple) for duration same as my study visa . I would like to know if they can stay for the entire duration of my study or only 6 months at a stretch?
Dependent visa for student
- Thread starter Jananigs
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Did they apply independently or as part of your application? I’m curious because what’s the point in applying together if your family can only stay with you for less than six months?
Anybody who already have actual experience comment and share?
Anybody who already have actual experience comment and share?
From the CIC website it looks like visit visas are limited to 6 months per visit.
Multiple entry visa
While valid, a multiple entry visa will let you travel to Canada for six months at a time as many times as you want. It will be valid for up to 10 years or one month before your passport expires, whichever is shorter. You must arrive in Canada on or before the expiry date on your visa.
Technically they could make a trip out of Canada and come back. When I had a residence visa in the UAE and I was studying in India I had a similar limitation that I could not be out of the UAE for more than 180 days ( roughly 6 months ). So I used to take a trip to the UAE and stay for a day and fly back the next day.
Looks like OP did not get spousal open work permit which would have let them stay in Canada with OP without this restriction.
Source: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=417&top=16
TRVs are often extended to coincide with the end of your studies so they don't need to renew. Look at their passports and see what CBSA has written as their end date for their TRV.
Isn’t SOWP issued at the port of entry? Also, what is the visa category of international student’s dependents?
You can actually be given a 2 year TRV without need for extension. Children of international students are granted a TRV that coincides with the length of their parent's study permit. Sometimes you do need to request it. SOWP is definitely the preferred permit for accompanying spouses. It all depends on what CBSA writes in their passport regarding the TRV expiry date.
Just clarifying that you can't apply for SOWP at PoE. You need to apply from home country of within Canada if you have a TRV. It can take multiple months to get approved.
Yes, I know, but is the SOWP “issued” before arriving in Canada or at port of entry? Also, what is the visa category for international student’s dependents?
Not sure I understand what you are asking. The spouse of an international student can have an open work permit. The applicant would also need an ETA or TRV which are both transit visas to enter the country. Which one depends on whether you are visa exempt or not.
OP mentioned that he got a visit visa and not a SOWP. OP would have to apply for a SOWP not a visit visa.
I would not recommend doing so while it is technically possible. My case was that I was an Indian citizen and on a UAE resident visa so I could freely travel within both countries without question. This is obviously different when you have a visit visa and must have a valid purpose of travel.
The visa is what’s needed to enter Canada, right? And permits are what allows you to do things in Canada (study permit for students and work permit for workers). Visas are stamped in our passports before we go to Canada. Study permits t s only issued at the point of entry upon arrival, not before. So, is SOWP issued before arrival in Canada or only at PoE?
Student’s TRV have “Student S1 or SW1” listed in the category part of the visa. How about for dependents? What’s listed under the categoryof their visas?