Are you planning to join your partner or spouse on Spouse Open Work Permit then this Canada spouse visa news is just for you?
As of March 19, spouses and partners of international students are only qualified for a SOWP if their sponsor is enrolled in a master’s or doctorate program at a Canadian university or polytechnic.
The department had already announced on January 22, 2024, several changes to Canada’s overseas student program. The fact that SOWPs will no longer be available to the spouses of international students enrolled in undergraduate or graduate programs is one notable change.
According to Canada spouse visa news, there are a few exceptions for undergraduate students’ spouses or companions. Spouses of undergraduate students enrolled in the following professional degree programs at institutions are eligible to apply for a SOWP:
- Bachelor of Law or Juris Doctor (LLB, BCL)
- Bachelor of Education (B. Ed.)
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN, BNSc, BSN)
- Bachelor of Engineering (B. Eng., BE, BASc)
- Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS, DMD)
- Doctor of Optometry (OD)
- Doctor of Medicine (MD)
- Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)
- Pharmacy (PharmD, BS, BSc, BPharm)
Spouses and partners need to present two documents when applying for a SOWP:
- one showing their relationship with the student and
- the other proving their partner’s attendance in a degree-granting program. As acknowledged by the IRCC:
- A current Letter of Acceptance (LOA) from a designated educational institution (DLI)
- a letter from their spouse or partner’s DLI proving their enrollment
- transcripts from the current program of their partner or spouse
If you are an applicant who has applied before:
The IRCC states that those who submitted a SOWP application before to March 19 are still qualified if their partner:
- has a current study permission.
- Full-time attendance at one of the following types of schools:
- a private college-level school in Quebec;
- A public higher education establishment, like a college, university, or CEGEP
- A private Canadian school authorized by provincial legislation to confer degrees (such as bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degrees)
- Must be qualified for work permit post-graduation (PGWP)
These conditions remain the same for holders of SOWPs who wish to apply to extend their current permit.
What happens if you are not granted a Spouse Open Work Permit?
Spouses and partners of international students who are no longer eligible for a work permit can apply for a tourist visa (TRV) or another type of work permit. Conversely, foreigners who come to Canada for tourism are not allowed to work in Canada.
An SOWP is a tool to help the IRCC achieve its goal of promoting family reunions and allows workers to work for almost any employer in Canada.
As per the Canada spouse visa latest news on Canada spouse visas, Immigration Minister Marc Miller said in a statement to the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration (CIMM) on February 28 that he was limiting SOWPs to master’s and PhD students’ partners and spouses to “attack a volume challenge but also integrity challenges with what we believe was an area that was being exploited and not necessarily legitimate.”
Please note that Canadian spouse sponsorship requirements or criteria keep changing from time to time, so it’s essential to check the most recent information with a qualified immigration professional at750-383-2132/ 928 928 9006/ 928 928 9007 for the latest details on eligibility criteria for a spouse visa in Canada.
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