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Open Work Permit for a Spouse of an International Student

WolfgangT

WolfgangT

Newbie
Mar 3, 2019
2
0
Hi all!

I looked for an answer to my question in the forums, unfortunately, I could not find.

My girlfriend and I are planning to get married in June. I am currently studying in Canada, and my study permit expires in December 2019. However, I will extend it, as I already got confirmation from the university that I will extend my studies here for one more year.

We want to apply for an open work permit for my girlfriend once we get married. However, by June, there will be 6 months left until the expiration of my study permit. Would this be a problem for the application for OWP?
If so, is it possible to apply for an extension of study permit even 7-8 months before its expiration?

I would be very glad if anybody could help me with this issue. Thanks in advance!
 
U

UD Chigal

Full Member
Aug 20, 2018
35
0
Hi Dear,
I have confusion. I am international student from last one year and studies almost finished in next 3 months and I am going to apply my work permit in July. But the thing is that I am married and pregnant now. Does my work permit has any affect from this? I am working full time now on my co up work permit. Is it possible to get employment insurance and maternity leave? Is it expensive to having baby now?

Thanks
 
C

canuck78

VIP Member
Jun 18, 2017
55,605
13,529
WolfgangT said:
Hi all!

I looked for an answer to my question in the forums, unfortunately, I could not find.

My girlfriend and I are planning to get married in June. I am currently studying in Canada, and my study permit expires in December 2019. However, I will extend it, as I already got confirmation from the university that I will extend my studies here for one more year.

We want to apply for an open work permit for my girlfriend once we get married. However, by June, there will be 6 months left until the expiration of my study permit. Would this be a problem for the application for OWP?
If so, is it possible to apply for an extension of study permit even 7-8 months before its expiration?

I would be very glad if anybody could help me with this issue. Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Spouses of international students are not guaranteed SOWP. A longer time before your study permit ends will help but it also depends on other things including your financial situation.
 
U

UD Chigal

Full Member
Aug 20, 2018
35
0
canuck78 said:
Do you have a job after your studies/co-op end? How pregnant are you? How long was your co-op?
Click to expand...
Yeah I have at the same place where I am doing now. Its just under one month my pregnancy status. Everything will be expired in July viza, study permit and co-up.
But my co up will finished in May.
 
C

canuck78

VIP Member
Jun 18, 2017
55,605
13,529
UD Chigal said:
Yeah I have at the same place where I am doing now. Its just under one month my pregnancy status. Everything will be expired in July viza, study permit and co-up.
But my co up will finished in May.
Click to expand...
Very confused your post in November said you were pregnant how can you be less than 4 weeks pregnant.
 
canuck_in_uk

canuck_in_uk

VIP Member
May 4, 2012
31,553
7,205
Visa Office......
London
App. Filed.......
06/12
UD Chigal said:
Hi Dear,
I have confusion. I am international student from last one year and studies almost finished in next 3 months and I am going to apply my work permit in July. But the thing is that I am married and pregnant now. Does my work permit has any affect from this? I am working full time now on my co up work permit. Is it possible to get employment insurance and maternity leave? Is it expensive to having baby now?

Thanks
Click to expand...
The pregnancy will not affect your PGWP.

You will need to do your own research on whether you qualify for EI and maternity.

Depends on whether you have provincial health coverage or not.
 
C

canuck78

VIP Member
Jun 18, 2017
55,605
13,529
Not sure if Co-op employment hours will count towards mat leave. Technically it is considered education. Not really ideal to be starting a job midway through your pregnancy. Employers don't usually rush to offer employees a contract if they know you could be off at any time. Also your husband's work permit depends on you being employed and getting your PGWP. He will already have to stop working from July 2019 until you get PGWP, have 3 pay stubs and are employed. If other women are reading this please consider family planning if you have so much at stake and you have already spent so much money going to school in Canada.
 
canuck_in_uk

canuck_in_uk

VIP Member
May 4, 2012
31,553
7,205
Visa Office......
London
App. Filed.......
06/12
canuck78 said:
Not sure if Co-op employment hours will count towards mat leave. Technically it is considered education. Not really ideal to be starting a job midway through your pregnancy. Employers don't usually rush to offer employees a contract if they know you could be off at any time. Also your husband's work permit depends on you being employed and getting your PGWP. He will already have to stop working from July 2019 until you get PGWP, have 3 pay stubs and are employed. If other women are reading this please consider family planning if you have so much at stake and you have already spent so much money going to school in Canada.
Click to expand...
Unless OP is considered a contractor on their co-op, which is extremely unlikely, EI is being deducted and therefore she will qualify if she meets the hours requirement.

If OP's current job is skilled and she is kept on after her co-op, she can apply for her husband's OWP at the same time as her PGWP.

Given OP thought she was pregnant a few months ago, there is a good chance that this is a planned pregnancy. Taking a jab at her by implying she didn't consider family planning is pretty rude.
 
canuck_in_uk

canuck_in_uk

VIP Member
May 4, 2012
31,553
7,205
Visa Office......
London
App. Filed.......
06/12
andy.keeling said:
OP should have researched what they are trying to find out now earlier if they had it planned.
Click to expand...
Agreed that she should have looked into all of this first. And I don't shy away when telling people that they should have used more common sense about getting pregnant; it is an all too common scenario on the forum to see a couple where the woman is pregnant and there is pretty no chance of the sponsorship app being approved in time for them to be together for the birth. They often expect the pregnancy to speed up their app.

However, I don't agree with comments that judge a pregnant woman's ability to work or imply that a woman cannot make the decision to get pregnant while also in school/looking for work/etc.
 
WolfgangT

WolfgangT

Newbie
Mar 3, 2019
2
0
canuck78 said:
Spouses of international students are not guaranteed SOWP. A longer time before your study permit ends will help but it also depends on other things including your financial situation.
Click to expand...
Thanks for your reply! I am aware that the spouses of international students are not guaranteed SOWP. I just wanted to ask if there is a certain requirement regarding the length of the study permit to apply for SOWP. And if there is, is it possible to extend the study permit 6-7 months before its expiration? Or, is it only possible to extend it once the student is enrolled for the next semester?
 
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