BRINGING FAMILY TO CANADA WHILE YOU STUDYBRINGING FAMILY TO CANADA WHILE YOU STUDY

Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP)

You may be able to bring your spouse, common law partner, dependent children to Canada to live with you while you study or work inside Canada. Your spouse or common-law partner can receive an Open Work Permit for the duration of your studies or your employment while in Canada. The Open work permit will allow your spouse to work for any employer in Canada. If you are an international student, bringing your spouse or partner with you to Canada is very much possible, they are eligible for this same open work permit that will allow them to work on or off campus full-time while you study. An open work permit is a work permit that is not EMPLOYER OR JOB SPECIFIC. It enables your spouse or common-law partner to accept any job with any employer. If your spouse or partner gets an open work permit, it is normally valid for the same period as your study permits. In most cases, your spouse or common-law partner will need a medical exam. Who is eligible? If you are an international student studying full-time and are a full-time student at a: o public post-secondary school, such as a college or university, or CEGEP in Quebec o private college-level school in Quebec or o Canadian private school that can legally award degrees under provincial law (for example, Bachelors, Masters or Doctorate degree) and • have a valid study permit. your spouse or common-law partner can apply for an open work permit. Your spouse/partner will not require a job offer to apply, and his/her permit will be valid for the same period as your study permit. When should you apply? Your spouse/partner can apply for a work permit before or after they arrive in Canada. The work permit will usually be issued for the same length of time as your study permit. Your spouse/partner does not need a job offer to apply for a work permit. In some cases, Canadian visa offices abroad will process spouse/partner work permit applications at the same time as study permit applications. In this case, you will need to include the additional fee for the work permit and complete the work permit application for your spouse/partner, available from the website of the consulate. Most spouse/partners come to Canada as visitors first and apply for a work permit after they are in Canada. If your spouse or partner does not require a TRV, they may be able to apply for a work permit at the border or airport where they enter Canada. This is also an excellent way for your spouse or your common-law partner to connect with the local community, gain valuable work experience and earn extra money in Canada while you study. Your spouse or your common-law partner can apply for a work permit after you arrive to Canada. It is also possible to apply for the spouse/common-law partner work permit at the same time as applying for your initial study permit outside of Canada. Your minor child/children may also study without a study permit at the preschool, primary, or secondary level. If interested please contact us today via our inbox or at arborwayimmigration@gmail.com