Flagpoling to get Open Work Permit as a Spouse of an International Student in Vancouver, best border to do it? tips?

[Robellido]

Hi All,
My wife will be studying an MBA on September in Vancouver, we a re a family of 4. We applied together as a family but sadly my OWP was refused due to the fact she is taking a Univesity Access Program of 3 months before the MBA starts, since that is basically english learning then I was refused on that ground and the refusal letter said that until she has completed that course I will not be eligible for an OWP. My wife and kids application was approved but she is going first so we can cut costs of living since I will not be working there until I get an OWP.
We were thinking about waiting till she finishes and starts the MBA so I could apply from my country again but then learnt about the option of flagpoling. That was kind of a relieve since being apart so many months would cause her emotional stress specially considering our 4 year old daughter as well. So I'm thinking of applying for a visitor's visa in July, my wife will already be in Vancouver so I could get an invitation letter from her to further solidify my application. I will disclose my intentions of traveling to see her, take the kids there and also help her with the kids during her studies, as well as my intention of applying for an OWP when she finishes her preparatory course since I would be eligible for one and meet all the requirements. Of course, applying online is not a good option since it would take many months as well and our finances might not last that is why falgpoling could be a faster way of getting the OWP.
Do you have any tips or pointers to prepare myself to do the flagpoling for an OWP? What is the best border crossing to do it near Vancouver? I've read bad reviews about Point Roberts but what about Peach Arch or Pacific Highway? Do you say to the Canadian Officers that you are flagpoling before heading to the US or just on the way back? how much money should I take with me?

 

[canuck78]

Hi All,
My wife will be studying an MBA on September in Vancouver, we a re a family of 4. We applied together as a family but sadly my OWP was refused due to the fact she is taking a Univesity Access Program of 3 months before the MBA starts, since that is basically english learning then I was refused on that ground and the refusal letter said that until she has completed that course I will not be eligible for an OWP. My wife and kids application was approved but she is going first so we can cut costs of living since I will not be working there until I get an OWP.
We were thinking about waiting till she finishes and starts the MBA so I could apply from my country again but then learnt about the option of flagpoling. That was kind of a relieve since being apart so many months would cause her emotional stress specially considering our 4 year old daughter as well. So I'm thinking of applying for a visitor's visa in July, my wife will already be in Vancouver so I could get an invitation letter from her to further solidify my application. I will disclose my intentions of traveling to see her, take the kids there and also help her with the kids during her studies, as well as my intention of applying for an OWP when she finishes her preparatory course since I would be eligible for one and meet all the requirements. Of course, applying online is not a good option since it would take many months as well and our finances might not last that is why falgpoling could be a faster way of getting the OWP.
Do you have any tips or pointers to prepare myself to do the flagpoling for an OWP? What is the best border crossing to do it near Vancouver? I've read bad reviews about Point Roberts but what about Peach Arch or Pacific Highway? Do you say to the Canadian Officers that you are flagpoling before heading to the US or just on the way back? how much money should I take with me?

You can be refused an OWP at the border. You’ll still need to show that you have the extra finances to support your family if you don’t find work when you land at the airport and at the border. If applying for a TRV you’ll need to show strong ties to your home country like proof of employment, housing, etc.

 

[Robellido]

You can be refused an OWP at the border. You’ll still need to show that you have the extra finances to support your family if you don’t find work when you land at the airport and at the border. If applying for a TRV you’ll need to show strong ties to your home country like proof of employment, housing, etc.

My wife will be studying so the finances will be primarily aimed at covering the two years of her study, and yes we have some money to survive but with inflation soaring and no income it will be really hard to keep it up for many months if it takes more than 4 months to process my OWP online that is why I want to apply at the border since I will have all the requisites at the time of flagpoling for it.
We have a house and all my family and her family is in our country so it might be a quicker way to reunite with her I know she will have a hard time when separated so long from her family so at least having us( our children and me) together there will make it easier for her to succeed in her studies.

 

[Robellido]

Which is a good border crossing for flagpoling in the Vancouver area? Peace Arch or Point Roberts?

 

[Naturgrl]

My wife will be studying so the finances will be primarily aimed at covering the two years of her study, and yes we have some money to survive but with inflation soaring and no income it will be really hard to keep it up for many months if it takes more than 4 months to process my OWP online that is why I want to apply at the border since I will have all the requisites at the time of flagpoling for it.
We have a house and all my family and her family is in our country so it might be a quicker way to reunite with her I know she will have a hard time when separated so long from her family so at least having us( our children and me) together there will make it easier for her to succeed in her studies.

You bigger issue is not flagpoling as you should be applying for an SOWP rather than a visitor visa on she starts her MBA studies. For a visitor visa, you need to show that you are only visiting so you need to show your own funds, travel history, ties to home country (job with leave, children staying behind etc). VOs know that you will not be staying if your kids are travelling and that you will apply for SOWP on landing. So if your visitor visa is refused then apply for SOWP from home country. Her letter of invitation will only solidify that you have no intention of just visiting.

 

[Robellido]

You bigger issue is not flagpoling as you should be applying for an SOWP rather than a visitor visa on she starts her MBA studies. For a visitor visa, you need to show that you are only visiting so you need to show your own funds, travel history, ties to home country (job with leave, children staying behind etc). VOs know that you will not be staying if your kids are travelling and that you will apply for SOWP on landing. So if your visitor visa is refused then apply for SOWP from home country. Her letter of invitation will only solidify that you have no intention of just visiting.

Of course I have no intention on just visiting, I will especify that since I will be eligible for an OWP when she finishes her course. It is the emotional stress the main reason for me travelling with our kids. I will especify that it is our intention to stay with her until she finishes her studies, the same way I already did when applying for an OWP the first time but got refused because of her 3 month english course before the MBA. I got my own finances, travel history and ties in my country since only my wife will be in Canada but my parents and entire family is here, and we have a house here as well. There was no issue with that matter on my previous application. I do not intent to lie at all in my application for a visitor visa. I will be applying for a visitor visa because it will take at least 3 months for an OWP to process after she finishes her 3month course and that will not be good emotionally on my wife and kids. I plan to travel there in september if everything goes right, that is 1 month before she finishes her english course. Our kids already have their visas, they were accepted to travel so that was not an issue at all. They are not travelling with her because she will not be able to take care of them on her own and studying at the same time. Especially with a 4 year old and a special needs kid ( who was still accepted for a study visa even considering his mild autism). I believe there are enough reasons for allowing me to travel with them and helping my wife with the kids there. If by any chance it gets refuse then I will have no choice but applying when she finishes her course but I will not know until I try.

 

[canuck78]

Of course I have no intention on just visiting, I will especify that since I will be eligible for an OWP when she finishes her course. It is the emotional stress the main reason for me travelling with our kids. I will especify that it is our intention to stay with her until she finishes her studies, the same way I already did when applying for an OWP the first time but got refused because of her 3 month english course before the MBA. I got my own finances, travel history and ties in my country since only my wife will be in Canada but my parents and entire family is here, and we have a house here as well. There was no issue with that matter on my previous application. I do not intent to lie at all in my application for a visitor visa. I will be applying for a visitor visa because it will take at least 3 months for an OWP to process after she finishes her 3month course and that will not be good emotionally on my wife and kids. I plan to travel there in september if everything goes right, that is 1 month before she finishes her english course. Our kids already have their visas, they were accepted to travel so that was not an issue at all. They are not travelling with her because she will not be able to take care of them on her own and studying at the same time. Especially with a 4 year old and a special needs kid ( who was still accepted for a study visa even considering his mild autism). I believe there are enough reasons for allowing me to travel with them and helping my wife with the kids there. If by any chance it gets refuse then I will have no choice but applying when she finishes her course but I will not know until I try.

Unfortunately I see a lot of potential reasons for the TRV refusal. Admitting that your plans are to remain in Canada longterm and apply for an OWP is admitting that you are not travelling as a visitor. The fact that you applied for an OWP also indicates you are unlikely a true visitor. You can certainly try but approval is far from guaranteed so would have a plan B. If your children are attending public school many schools are starting to demand study permits and so is IRCC if children are above 5. Not sure if they have TRVs or study permits.

 

[Robellido]

the oldest has Study permit and the youngest is 4 so she won't be attending school until she has 5 so she has a visitor visa for the entire lenght of my wife's study. I said I will be staying with them for the time my wife is studying and that is not more than 2 years. I will be visiting my wife but also have to disclose my intentions of getting an OWP latter since that was always the intention since the beggining. The visitor visa is to allow my children and me to reunite with my wife once she is there. A Spousal OWP is always linked to the study permit of the main applicant so that has not changed. why would it be any different if it is done inside or outside Canada?