Hi there
My boyfriend of 5 years has been accepted to do his PhD at Simon Fraser University, starting in September this year (2013).
I intend on joining him in October, as I can't leave my current job until the end of September and I initially have the option of going over on a one year work permit as a New Zealand citizen.
The information he has gathered from the university states that as his common-law partner, I am eligible to apply for an Open Work Permit for the same duration as his Student permit from within Canada. My main query is whether I can extend/change my one year work permit to an Open Work Permit, or whether I have to enter Canada as a visitor and then apply for an Open Work Permit.
I am concerned about the latter option as with the processing times, that will mean that we are having to pay rent and living costs with no extra income from myself (I will of course have the required money in the bank to prove I can support myself, but I'd rather not diminish my savings hugely in the first few months in a new country!)
Does anyone have any information on this situation and how easy/not easy it is to gain this Open Work Permit? I've been looking at the forms online and some of them are very confusing as to what to actually tick.
Any information anyone can provide would be very appreciated.
My boyfriend of 5 years has been accepted to do his PhD at Simon Fraser University, starting in September this year (2013).
I intend on joining him in October, as I can't leave my current job until the end of September and I initially have the option of going over on a one year work permit as a New Zealand citizen.
The information he has gathered from the university states that as his common-law partner, I am eligible to apply for an Open Work Permit for the same duration as his Student permit from within Canada. My main query is whether I can extend/change my one year work permit to an Open Work Permit, or whether I have to enter Canada as a visitor and then apply for an Open Work Permit.
I am concerned about the latter option as with the processing times, that will mean that we are having to pay rent and living costs with no extra income from myself (I will of course have the required money in the bank to prove I can support myself, but I'd rather not diminish my savings hugely in the first few months in a new country!)
Does anyone have any information on this situation and how easy/not easy it is to gain this Open Work Permit? I've been looking at the forms online and some of them are very confusing as to what to actually tick.
Any information anyone can provide would be very appreciated.