Spousal Open Work Permit- (Visitor Visa application under process)

[daveaish]

Hi All,

I hold a Canadian post-graduate work permit. I got engaged to my girlfriend last year, with whom I was in a relationship of 6 years. I had my convocation in June and I applied for her visitor visa from the new portal in April. I had shown proof of our relationship (6-year photos, texts, emails) in the application and wrote a letter of invitation inviting her to be at my convocation.
There has been no update on her visitor visa application and my convocation is already over. I am now thinking of going back to my country and getting us registered as a married couple so that I can start her Spousal Work Permit. One of my friends suggested I raise GCMS notes on her visitor visa application before applying for the spousal work permit. She also suggested not to apply right after we get married.
Please help me out. Share your experiences and guide me through this.

 

[ryvinson]

An April submission is not a long wait considering the huge TRV backlog. Check IRCC web on the processing time for your country.
Btw, your love story deserves a visa for your future wife.

 

[daveaish]

An April submission is not a long wait considering the huge TRV backlog. Check IRCC web on the processing time for your country.
Btw, your love story deserves a visa for your future wife.

It's 3 months of processing time in my country and it's almost three months now. I had heard the new portal was faster. Any suggestions while applying for the SOWP? I don't know what else to show apart from our photos, chats, email exchanges, and our bachelor's degrees to prove our relationship.

 

[ryvinson]

What is being taken into consideration is the strength of your gf application: the usual stuff like homeland links, sufficient funds for trip etc to prove she will not overstay. The relationship will matter little if at all, and your work permit is conditional.
She can follow up with a webform. In as much that won’t speed up the processing, it could ensure that her application hasn’t been overlooked in one way or another. That should give the both of you some comfort.
Wait time sucks, but that’s how the visa process is currently.
Long story, but I won’t suggest marriage just to satisfy the SOWP.

 

[daveaish]

What is being taken into consideration is the strength of your gf application: the usual stuff like homeland links, sufficient funds for trip etc to prove she will not overstay. The relationship will matter little if at all, and your work permit is conditional.
She can follow up with a webform. In as much that won’t speed up the processing, it could ensure that her application hasn’t been overlooked in one way or another. That should give the both of you some comfort.
Wait time sucks, but that’s how the visa process is currently.
Long story, but I won’t suggest marriage just to satisfy the SOWP.

Thank you for your suggestions. Means a lot. Curious.. why shouldn't I get married for SOWP? I need a certificate as proof of my application.

 

[ryvinson]

Thank you for your suggestions. Means a lot. Curious.. why shouldn't I get married for SOWP? I need a certificate as proof of my application.

Lol. The SOWP shouldn't be the deciding factor for marriage. Am very sure this doesn't apply to you, but some people marry to access residence or citizenship.

 

[daveaish]

Lol. The SOWP shouldn't be the deciding factor for marriage. Am very sure this doesn't apply to you, but some people marry to access residence or citizenship.

Oh I see. I guess it does apply. To use the SOWP she has to be my wife or a legal partner and I have no such document to prove the latter.

 

[ryvinson]

Understand. What I try not to say is love should be the deciding factor for marriage not the SOWP, or anything else.

 

[BA101]

Thank you for your suggestions. Means a lot. Curious.. why shouldn't I get married for SOWP? I need a certificate as proof of my application.

This may directly lead to an interview to justify the relationship etc. i would not do that

 

[daveaish]

Understand. What I try not to say is love should be the deciding factor for marriage not the SOWP, or anything else.

agreed. and we are marrying because of our love. just speeding up the process to get the SOWP thing started. the processing time for applying it from my country is 41 weeks.

 

[daveaish]

This may directly lead to an interview to justify the relationship etc. i would not do that

I see, we can justify our relationship. But there is no legal document to show that we are together, and that's why we want to generate a marriage certificate. What would you suggest otherwise? She is not my spouse right now.

 

[BA101]

I see, we can justify our relationship. But there is no legal document to show that we are together, and that's why we want to generate a marriage certificate. What would you suggest otherwise? She is not my spouse right now.

you can try but it needs a lot of luck to pull this off

 

[daveaish]

you can try but it needs a lot of luck to pull this off

Oh, what's the other way to do it?

 

[BA101]

Oh, what's the other way to do it?

you can wait on the outcome of her VV

How long is your study permit valid for?

SOWP has conditions when you are studying to once you finish studying. So given the processing times, it is possible that you finish studying and the SOWP file is still pending. So you need to find a qualifying job etc to be eligible for SOWP

Wait on the VV and then take a call.

 

[daveaish]

you can wait on the outcome of her VV

How long is your study permit valid for?

SOWP has conditions when you are studying to once you finish studying. So given the processing times, it is possible that you finish studying and the SOWP file is still pending. So you need to find a qualifying job etc to be eligible for SOWP

Wait on the VV and then take a call.

I'm on a post-graduate work permit. valid till 2025!