SOWP Restoration + Work permit Extension

[selinaa07]

Thank you so much for your advice!

I have not yet received approval for my PGWP. Should I wait for it to be approved before helping my husband restore his status, or should we proceed with the restoration application now? I’m also unsure how long IRCC will take to process my PGWP, which adds to the uncertainty.

Currently, I’ve just received a job offer and expect to receive the official employment letter by the end of this month. For my husband’s SOWP application, would the employment letter alone be sufficient, or do I also need to include pay stubs?

May I ask if you submitted the status restoration and SOWP application together in one submission?

I truly appreciate you sharing your experience and hope you receive good news soon.

You have 90 days to apply for restoration so i would suggest you to wait until your application got approved, but if not approved within 90 days, you have to apply.
Employment letter and Paystubs both are necessary. You can include your job offer too.
And yes, i have applied for status restoration and SOWP application together in one submission. You will find options for the applications as you go on the IRCC website. If you're not confident, please ask lawyer for help. Do not take chance.
Thank you for your kind words.

 

[TL2022]

You have 90 days to apply for restoration so i would suggest you to wait until your application got approved, but if not approved within 90 days, you have to apply.
Employment letter and Paystubs both are necessary. You can include your job offer too.
And yes, i have applied for status restoration and SOWP application together in one submission. You will find options for the applications as you go on the IRCC website. If you're not confident, please ask lawyer for help. Do not take chance.
Thank you for your kind words.

May I ask one more question? After you have submitted the status restoration and SOWP application, did you receive any update from IRCC? So, at this stage, what is the status of your spouse?
Many thanks!

 

[selinaa07]

May I ask one more question? After you have submitted the status restoration and SOWP application, did you receive any update from IRCC? So, at this stage, what is the status of your spouse?
Many thanks!

No i haven't received any update other than submission confirmation.
He is considered to be "Out of Worker Status" right now, that's why you need to apply for Restoration of Status.
If your spouse has Visitors visa, he is considered as a Visitors status right now. If not, he is out of status.
And as a reason, he cannot work until the approval.

 

[jimit1806]

sorry to hear about your sowp refusal. Did letter mentioned what kind of teer job you should have to have for the sowp extension.

Additionally, I find the process confusing and challenging. After graduation, it is nearly impossible to secure a job immediately, especially without an approved PGWP.
-100% agree with your point. Getting a job in this market scenario is not easy at all. My wife is also graduated few days back and she doesn't have a full time jpb as she is yet to receiver the completion letter on 13th Jan. My Visa is expiring on15th april,2024. i am not sure what should i do. like apply for sowp + pwgp together or wait till 10th of April. Plus that new rule of sowp coming to an effect limiting eligibility to TEER 0 and 1 from next month onwards.

I had a similar experience. I submitted my PGWP application along with my husband’s SOWP extension application in August 2024. On January 3, 2025, IRCC informed me that my husband’s SOWP application was refused because I did not provide job support at the time of submission.

I would like to clarify the following:

1. Employment Letter Requirement: Is it necessary to include my employment letter (proof of a valid job in a skilled position) to help restore my husband’s work status and support his SOWP application?
2. Bundled Applications: Is restoring his worker status and reapplying for the SOWP done as a single, combined application, or are these two separate processes?

Additionally, I find the process confusing and challenging. After graduation, it is nearly impossible to secure a job immediately, especially without an approved PGWP. I got some employers hesitate to hire me as my work permit is still under processing. It takes months to receive the PGWP, and by then, my husband’s original SOWP has already expired. How can I effectively handle this situation to ensure his SOWP can be extended without these timing issues?

Thank you very much, everyone.

 

[TL2022]

No i haven't received any update other than submission confirmation.
He is considered to be "Out of Worker Status" right now, that's why you need to apply for Restoration of Status.
If your spouse has Visitors visa, he is considered as a Visitors status right now. If not, he is out of status.
And as a reason, he cannot work until the approval.

Thank you so much! I truly hope he receives his SOWP very soon. It would be encouraging.

 

[TL2022]

sorry to hear about your sowp refusal. Did letter mentioned what kind of teer job you should have to have for the sowp extension.

Additionally, I find the process confusing and challenging. After graduation, it is nearly impossible to secure a job immediately, especially without an approved PGWP.
-100% agree with your point. Getting a job in this market scenario is not easy at all. My wife is also graduated few days back and she doesn't have a full time jpb as she is yet to receiver the completion letter on 13th Jan. My Visa is expiring on15th april,2024. i am not sure what should i do. like apply for sowp + pwgp together or wait till 10th of April. Plus that new rule of sowp coming to an effect limiting eligibility to TEER 0 and 1 from next month onwards.

The letter mentioned:

"After considering all the circumstances of your case, it has been determined that you are not a person whose employment will create or maintain significant employment, benefits or opportunities for Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
You have not provided sufficient evidence to prove that your spouse is employed in an occupation that falls within the required TEER category for an open work permit. You may be eligible to re-apply for a work permit if you are able to provide proof of your spouse’s occupation in Canada, which may include a letter from your spouse’s employer, stating their job title, duties, and salary. If you cannot prove that your spouse belongs to one of the required TEER categories, your application for a work permit cannot be approved without a Labour Market Impact Assessment from Employment and Social Development Canada."

As far as I know, if the principal applicant does not have a full-time job offer, the spouse will not get the SOWP approval. That is really sad.....I just feel like a dead loop.

 

[jimit1806]

The letter mentioned:

"After considering all the circumstances of your case, it has been determined that you are not a person whose employment will create or maintain significant employment, benefits or opportunities for Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
You have not provided sufficient evidence to prove that your spouse is employed in an occupation that falls within the required TEER category for an open work permit. You may be eligible to re-apply for a work permit if you are able to provide proof of your spouse’s occupation in Canada, which may include a letter from your spouse’s employer, stating their job title, duties, and salary. If you cannot prove that your spouse belongs to one of the required TEER categories, your application for a work permit cannot be approved without a Labour Market Impact Assessment from Employment and Social Development Canada."

As far as I know, if the principal applicant does not have a full-time job offer, the spouse will not get the SOWP approval. That is really sad.....I just feel like a dead loop.

It is a really a dead loop. How are we supposed to live like that. Canada is simply saying that do not come to canada. I feel like we have wasted time and resources in the hope having a better life in canada. I will file for SOWP with wife's Part time job and meanwhile once she will have a full time job will raise change of employment via webform as i do not have any choice and want to apply before the new rules will come in to the picture.

 

[Naturgrl]

Thank you so much for your advice!

I have not yet received approval for my PGWP. Should I wait for it to be approved before helping my husband restore his status, or should we proceed with the restoration application now? I’m also unsure how long IRCC will take to process my PGWP, which adds to the uncertainty.

Currently, I’ve just received a job offer and expect to receive the official employment letter by the end of this month. For my husband’s SOWP application, would the employment letter alone be sufficient, or do I also need to include pay stubs?

May I ask if you submitted the status restoration and SOWP application together in one submission?

I truly appreciate you sharing your experience and hope you receive good news soon.

You need paystubs. You restore status and SOWP together. Did his permit expire so he stopped working.

 

[TL2022]

I have just got the PGWP approved today.

Regarding this information: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/permit/temporary/open-work-permit-spouses-dependent-children/apply.html (Updated Dec 05, 2024)

I'm unsure if it's the most up-to-date or if my understanding is accurate. Does it mean the requirement for 3 pay stubs is no longer necessary?

 

[Naturgrl]

I have just got the PGWP approved today.

Regarding this information: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/permit/temporary/open-work-permit-spouses-dependent-children/apply.html (Updated Dec 05, 2024)

I'm unsure if it's the most up-to-date or if my understanding is accurate. Does it mean the requirement for 3 pay stubs is no longer necessary?

You can try. Did you click on the changes announced in September that were to be implemented by end of 2024?