Study permit to common law open work permit

[sgomezs]

Hi all,

I came this year to Canada with my common law partner. Both of us came as students so we applied to our study permits separately. However I'm having second thoughts about my program and I would like to know if I could quit my studies and apply for an open work permit given that my common law partner is an international student.
I haven't found anything that describes this situation.

Also, as a little experiment I tried opening a work permit application but when answering the questions if say I'm a student they only enable the work permit application if I have a job offer. If I say that I'm a visitor I don't see this problem and they enable the option to apply for an open work permit through my common law partner.

Thank you in advance

 

[Naturgrl]

Hi all,

I came this year to Canada with my common law partner. Both of us came as students so we applied to our study permits separately. However I'm having second thoughts about my program and I would like to know if I could quit my studies and apply for an open work permit given that my common law partner is an international student.
I haven't found anything that describes this situation.

Also, as a little experiment I tried opening a work permit application but when answering the questions if say I'm a student they only enable the work permit application if I have a job offer. If I say that I'm a visitor I don't see this problem and they enable the option to apply for an open work permit through my common law partner.

Thank you in advance

So you both entered Canada at the same time as students, and both declared on your applications that you were married/common law? When does your spouse‘s program finish?

You can try applying as a visitor for a SOWP and see if approved. Don’t quit your studies until approved.

 

[Simba112]

Hi all,

I came this year to Canada with my common law partner. Both of us came as students so we applied to our study permits separately. However I'm having second thoughts about my program and I would like to know if I could quit my studies and apply for an open work permit given that my common law partner is an international student.
I haven't found anything that describes this situation.

Also, as a little experiment I tried opening a work permit application but when answering the questions if say I'm a student they only enable the work permit application if I have a job offer. If I say that I'm a visitor I don't see this problem and they enable the option to apply for an open work permit through my common law partner.

Thank you in advance

If i may ask, does your "second thought" is purely based on the program of studies or unforeseen circumstance that classify you as "destitute student"?

 

[sgomezs]

So you both entered Canada at the same time as students, and both declared on your applications that you were married/common law? When does your spouse‘s program finish?

You can try applying as a visitor for a SOWP and see if approved. Don’t quit your studies until approved.

Yes, we entered at the same time both as students. We didn't declare common law union because we had been living together less than a year by the time we applied. Thank you very much for your reply.

 

[Naturgrl]

Yes, we entered at the same time both as students. We didn't declare common law union because we had been living together less than a year by the time we applied. Thank you very much for your reply.

So you have been living together continuously for one year and can prove common law - joint bank accounts, leases, utilities for at least a year. Given you entered as single students and say you are now common law will be an issue. Have you changed the status on your current files?

 

[sgomezs]

If i may ask, does your "second thought" is purely based on the program of studies or unforeseen circumstance that clarify you as "destitute student"?

Yes, I realized a PhD is not for me. The thing is I can't afford any other program.

 

[sgomezs]

So you have been living together continuously for one year and can prove common law - joint bank accounts, leases, utilities for at least a year. Given you entered as single students and say you are now common law will be an issue. Have you changed the status on your current files?

Yes, we have a lease together and a joint bank account. How do we change our marital status on our file?

 

[Naturgrl]

Yes, we have a lease together and a joint bank account. How do we change our marital status on our file?

So your bank accounts and lease are over one year? You need to show ID that shows a joint address - driver’s license, health card. How long is your partner’s program? Log in to your GCKey and update.

https://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=347&top=14

 

[sgomezs]

So your bank accounts and lease are over one year? You need to show ID that shows a joint address - driver’s license, health card. How long is your partner’s program? Log in to your GCKey and update.

https://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=347&top=14

Our lease started in April but we were living together before that. The joint account is more recent. Her program ends in 2026. Thank you very much for the link!

 

[Naturgrl]

Our lease started in April but we were living together before that. The joint account is more recent. Her program ends in 2026. Thank you very much for the link!

So you can’t prove common law. Your bank accounts and lease needs to be at least a year old. Do you have a lease from before April? One lease doesn’t prove common law.

 

[sgomezs]

So you can’t prove common law. Your bank accounts and lease needs to be at least a year old. Do you have a lease from before April? One lease doesn’t prove common law.

I understand. We don't have a lease before that because we were living in her property in our country. I was wondering what would happen if we got married then? Thank you

 

[Simba112]

I understand. We don't have a lease before that because we were living in her property in our country. I was wondering what would happen if we got married then? Thank you

You may overcome that, but you need to work to overcome element of "convenience" before VO.

 

[Naturgrl]

I understand. We don't have a lease before that because we were living in her property in our country. I was wondering what would happen if we got married then? Thank you

Sure you can get married. You will want to show a long-term relationship and not just that you got married so you could drop out of your program and apply for a SOWP.