Applicant from PhD program after 5 Nov, 2011 connect here to get status

[ASG]

Dear all,

I have the following case which may be useful to you and may help me if any of you have the same situation:
I have applied for the permanent resident under the PhD stream and I've got the PER. Now, unfortunately, after I have graduated I applied for the post graduate work permit for me , an extension for my wife open work permit as well as an extension for my child temporary visitor permit. The cic approved my PGWP and my child visitor extension but they refused my wife extension and the reason is that I dont have a job offer yet. Before their final decision on her application, they sent me a letter requesting about my job offer which I dont have. I wrote a clarification letter that she is working and included her contract as well as the email of the PER that I received. But they refused her application. I called the cic (call centre) and they mentioned that my wife can apply for an open work permit as you have approved in principle for permanent resident i.e. the PER. When I asked them why the application got refused as I included the PER letter, they told me that she should apply under her name and for open work permit and support her application by showing any evidence that you are her spouse (for example marriage certificate). I looked for any information in cic website related to that but I could not find any. I am really confused and dont know what to do? Any help or someone has similar case and would like to share I highly appreciated.
Thanks

I hope I can help you with this, as the exact same thing happened to us:
I graduated and applied for the PGWP; at the same time we asked for an extension of my husband's work permit (he had been working full time). Under MY name, his extension was refused because I did not have a work contract when I applied for the PGWV.

However, Canada DOES NOT SEPARATE FAMILIES. Meaning that although you paid 150 dollars fo your wife that you will never be able to get back, she has to apply for an extension on her own by proving that she's accompanying you. If she is working, she needs to provide a letter of employment for herself, add a copy of your Visa as a supporting document, and she will likely get the extension until your visa expires.

That's what we ended up doing and it worked. To be fair, this is completely stupid, because she will have to provide the exact same documents you guys did, the only difference is that she will be the main applicant for her extension, you won't be the one "sponsoring" her extension. It's the idiocy of administration. In short, you'll have to do exactly what they said on the phone. We had also called them after the refusal, and got the same answer you did.

I think that both our experiences may help others on this forum as well: make sure that the spouses apply for their own extension! If you do not have a job offer when you do, it will be refused - and result in high stress levels as it makes people think that the spouse may have to leave Canada, which is not the case. It's simply who is the main applicant on the extension that matters.

 

[ubc2010]

I hope I can help you with this, as the exact same thing happened to us:
I graduated and applied for the PGWP; at the same time we asked for an extension of my husband's work permit (he had been working full time). Under MY name, his extension was refused because I did not have a work contract when I applied for the PGWV.

However, Canada DOES NOT SEPARATE FAMILIES. Meaning that although you paid 150 dollars fo your wife that you will never be able to get back, she has to apply for an extension on her own by proving that she's accompanying you. If she is working, she needs to provide a letter of employment for herself, add a copy of your Visa as a supporting document, and she will likely get the extension until your visa expires.

That's what we ended up doing and it worked. To be fair, this is completely stupid, because she will have to provide the exact same documents you guys did, the only difference is that she will be the main applicant for her extension, you won't be the one "sponsoring" her extension. It's the idiocy of administration. In short, you'll have to do exactly what they said on the phone. We had also called them after the refusal, and got the same answer you did.

I think that both our experiences may help others on this forum as well: make sure that the spouses apply for their own extension! If you do not have a job offer when you do, it will be refused - and result in high stress levels as it makes people think that the spouse may have to leave Canada, which is not the case. It's simply who is the main applicant on the extension that matters.

Thank you so much! you save my life.
That mean she has to apply online using the same documents I already have provided them?

 

[ubc2010]

I hope I can help you with this, as the exact same thing happened to us:
I graduated and applied for the PGWP; at the same time we asked for an extension of my husband's work permit (he had been working full time). Under MY name, his extension was refused because I did not have a work contract when I applied for the PGWV.

However, Canada DOES NOT SEPARATE FAMILIES. Meaning that although you paid 150 dollars fo your wife that you will never be able to get back, she has to apply for an extension on her own by proving that she's accompanying you. If she is working, she needs to provide a letter of employment for herself, add a copy of your Visa as a supporting document, and she will likely get the extension until your visa expires.

That's what we ended up doing and it worked. To be fair, this is completely stupid, because she will have to provide the exact same documents you guys did, the only difference is that she will be the main applicant for her extension, you won't be the one "sponsoring" her extension. It's the idiocy of administration. In short, you'll have to do exactly what they said on the phone. We had also called them after the refusal, and got the same answer you did.

I think that both our experiences may help others on this forum as well: make sure that the spouses apply for their own extension! If you do not have a job offer when you do, it will be refused - and result in high stress levels as it makes people think that the spouse may have to leave Canada, which is not the case. It's simply who is the main applicant on the extension that matters.

Just one more question, what do you mean by a visa here, do you mean the PGWP I have?

 

[ASG]

Just one more question, what do you mean by a visa here, do you mean the PGWP I have?

Yes, I mean your PGWP.

As a sidenote, I wonder if the PGWP is not considered a "student visa" as well because when my husband got his extension, it was indicated "spouse on a student visa until same date" (and I'm on a PGWP).

 

[ASG]

Thank you so much! you save my life.
That mean she has to apply online using the same documents I already have provided them?

Most likely. I know it's extremely frustrating...
We pretty much provided the exact same things (copy of both of our VISAs, letter of employment if applicable) just with my husband as the main applicant for his extension, and it was done really fast.

 

[ubc2010]

Yes, I mean your PGWP.

As a sidenote, I wonder if the PGWP is not considered a "student visa" as well because when my husband got his extension, it was indicated "spouse on a student visa until same date" (and I'm on a PGWP).

No. I asked CIC about that and they told me you have to apply for temporary visa if you plan to leave Canada and come back.
Much Thanks

 

[ASG]

No. I asked CIC about that and they told me you have to apply for temporary visa if you plan to leave Canada and come back.
Much Thanks

You're welcome ;-)

 

[ubc2010]

You're welcome ;-)

would you mind to help me more?

Did you apply to extend the work permit for your spouse or apply for an open work permit? As both options are available on MYCIC, however, the first option (extension of the work permit) seems to be confusing on the other hand the second one (open work permit) is easier but ,as you know, my spouse has a valid work permit.

The confusing part of the first option comes from one of the questions that asks the applicant (which is my wife) about my current situation. The answers of this questions lead to the same situation that I face when I applied for my wife under my name. Now, I think I have to choose the open work permit? Am I right?

There are also a couple of confusing questions, for example

Have you been told by a Citizenship and Immigration Canada office that you are approved in principle for permanent residence in Canada?
what she should answer here as I am the applicant.

Have you submitted a permanent resident application in Canada?
I have submitted a PR application and have added her to my application. So should she answer 'yes" here.

Thank you very much. I know this may seems silly but now and after paying more than 7-8000$ applications fees to CIC. I have to be very careful
Thank you again.

 

[ASG]

would you mind to help me more?

Did you apply to extend the work permit for your spouse or apply for an open work permit? As both options are available on MYCIC, however, the first option (extension of the work permit) seems to be confusing on the other hand the second one (open work permit) is easier but ,as you know, my spouse has a valid work permit.

The confusing part of the first option comes from one of the questions that asks the applicant (which is my wife) about my current situation. The answers of this questions lead to the same situation that I face when I applied for my wife under my name. Now, I think I have to choose the open work permit? Am I right?

There are also a couple of confusing questions, for example

Have you been told by a Citizenship and Immigration Canada office that you are approved in principle for permanent residence in Canada?
what she should answer here as I am the applicant.

Have you submitted a permanent resident application in Canada?
I have submitted a PR application and have added her to my application. So should she answer 'yes" here.

Thank you very much. I know this may seems silly but now and after paying more than 7-8000$ applications fees to CIC. I have to be very careful
Thank you again.

For the questions from CIC, I think she should answer "yes" - thing is, you have the option to provide CIC with a letter of explanation in addition to your other documents. I think you should do that and explain the situation (that she works, that you have a PGWP, etc...).

For my husband, he asked for an extension of his open work permit (he already had one because he had it while I was a PhD student).
Depending on what your wife's VISA is, extending her "work permit" might already mean "extending an open work permit" if that's what she already has.
On the website, you should have 4 options: work permit / extension of work permit / open work permit / extension of open work permit

I am not entirely certain that if she does not already have an open work permit, they would allow her to get one if you don't have a job already. I would definitely call CIC and check that one.

Good luck (let us know how it goes)!

 

[ubc2010]

For the questions from CIC, I think she should answer "yes" - thing is, you have the option to provide CIC with a letter of explanation in addition to your other documents. I think you should do that and explain the situation (that she works, that you have a PGWP, etc...).

For my husband, he asked for an extension of his open work permit (he already had one because he had it while I was a PhD student).
Depending on what your wife's VISA is, extending her "work permit" might already mean "extending an open work permit" if that's what she already has.
On the website, you should have 4 options: work permit / extension of work permit / open work permit / extension of open work permit

I am not entirely certain that if she does not already have an open work permit, they would allow her to get one if you don't have a job already. I would definitely call CIC and check that one.

Good luck (let us know how it goes)!

Thank you,
I only have two options, work permit or open work permit. My wife has an open work permit. The problem is that when we choose the work permit option the follwing question appeared which has some options to choose from:
Which situation best describes your work situation? with options to choose from. The only option that MAY best describe my situation is
I'm the spouse or common low-partner of a foreign student or skilled worker.

However, if I have to choose this option then I have to provide them with a job offer.

On the other hand, if I choose the open work permit, no such question appears and things go smoothly. But the problem is that she has a work permit and this option for new open work permit I think.

If you would like to comment on that I highly appreciate your opinion.

Thank you again for your extremely helpful comments.

 

[canadian-13]

Congrats to every member that has got the PR, for those of us aspiring, let us be encouraged, everything is possible to him that believes. No matter how tough and challenging, we will get the PR! Bon chance a tous!

 

[ubc2010]

For the questions from CIC, I think she should answer "yes" - thing is, you have the option to provide CIC with a letter of explanation in addition to your other documents. I think you should do that and explain the situation (that she works, that you have a PGWP, etc...).

For my husband, he asked for an extension of his open work permit (he already had one because he had it while I was a PhD student).
Depending on what your wife's VISA is, extending her "work permit" might already mean "extending an open work permit" if that's what she already has.
On the website, you should have 4 options: work permit / extension of work permit / open work permit / extension of open work permit

I am not entirely certain that if she does not already have an open work permit, they would allow her to get one if you don't have a job already. I would definitely call CIC and check that one.

Good luck (let us know how it goes)!

Hi ASG,
I found the following information
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/apply-who.asp
Do you think they changed the regulation? I am confused and don't know what to do, too much stress (hopeless)
If you get any new information please let me know.

Best

 

[ASG]

Hi ASG,
I found the following information
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/apply-who.asp
Do you think they changed the regulation? I am confused and don't know what to do, too much stress (hopeless)
If you get any new information please let me know.

Best

So, what I noticed was
"Note: If you have a post-graduation work permit, your spouse must attach a copy of your work permit to their application for an open work permit, as well as a:
letter from your current employer that confirms you work there, or a copy of your employment offer or contract, and
copy of one of your pay slips."

Since your wife has an open work permit, that's what she needs to be extending.
Since you don't have a work contract, she can try to write a letter stating that YOU do not have a job offer but that SHE does, and attach a letter from her employer (my husband was in the process of doing the Labor Market Opinion when he asked for the extension - they took forever, and we had not heard back from them when CIC extended his open work permit). Honestly, I'm not an expert, so I would advise you to call CIC again to clarify all this, as I don't want to misdirect you.

All I know is that for us, I had a PGWP but no job offer - he was working under an open work permit already (since I had started my PhD), and had an employment letter stating he was employed and was important to the company.
That was enough for them to issue the extension. When he applied under my name, with the exact same situation, he did not get the extension. It's very tricky.
However, when he received the Visa, it was indicated "spouse under study permit until the same date" which is why I think they kind of consider the PGWP as a work permit that is linked to the studies we've conducted before. Because I am certainly not under a study permit anymore.

 

[ravenous071]

hi guys,

I sent my FSW application in late November, just got credit card charged for $550. But I received no (AOR/PER) by email. what should I expect next?


cheers.

 

[Gill2014]

Hello everyone,

I have some questions regarding my rejected application under PhD stream. I submitted my application on Nov 10, 2013 and I received my application materials with rejection letter on Jan 15, 2014. To explain my situation I am a PhD student of applied mathematics and I have two years work experience in a company. Moreover, I have two years TA/RA work experience with one semester teaching experience (instructor) in my PhD period. In my documents, I just put my work reference letter with description of my duties, hours,.... Unfortunately, I made a mistake and I wrote wrong immigration office in my generic form(Sydney instead of Ottawa). This is the officer reasons to reject of me:

" You have identified NOC classification code: 2161-Applied mathematics (Actuary) as primary occupation to be assessed. All supporting documentation provided regarding this work experience history was taken into consideration. The employment letter from ..... company does not provide sufficient evidence that you performed the actions described in the lead statement for the occupation or that you performed a substantial number of the main duties of the occupation as set out in the occupational description of the NOC, including all of the essential duties.

Therefore, I am not stratified there is sufficient evidence that you performed the actions described in the lead statement for the occupation or that you performed a substantial number of the main duties of the occupation as described of the NOC 2161-Mathematics, statisticians and actuaries.

Note: any reference to work experience in a NOC code other than the primary occupation identified on your application has not been assessed pursuant to R(10) of IRPA.

As your application does not meet the requirement of R(10) of IRPA, it is considered incomplete and is being returned to you for this reason."

Now my questions are:
1) Can I apply again?
2) For work experience, what sort of documents should I put to satisfy the officer?
3) I thought my work experience will be accepted so I didn't even mention any part time work experience that I had in my country. Now I was wondering that can I add my part time work experiences to my application?
4) Generally, with this respond of CIC, what should I do to persuade them about my work experience?