IRCC announced eligibility changes to Spousal Open Work Permits. This implies updates related to the eligibility requirements concerning the Spousal Open Work Permits.
On January 22 this year, IRCC launched multiple changes to the International Student Program. The immigration department further stated that the international students’ spouses who have taken up undergraduate and college programs wouldn’t qualify for SOWPs.
IRCC announced eligibility changes to Spousal Open Work Permits
From March 19 onwards, spouses and partners of international students qualify for a SOWP only if their sponsor takes admission in a master’s or doctoral degree program at a polytechnic institute or university in Canada.
There are a few exceptions with respect to the spouses or partners of undergraduate students. The undergraduate students’ partners in one of the following professional university degree programs can qualify for SOWP:
- Doctor of Dental Surgery;
- Pharmacy (PharmD, BS, BSc, and BPharm);
- Doctor of Medicine (MD);
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN, BNSc, and BSN);
- Doctor of Optometry;
- Doctor of Veterinary Medicine;
- Bachelor of Education (B.Ed)
Spouses or partners submitting an application for SOWP must demonstrate proof in the form of documents about the student. One document must also demonstrate their partner’s admission to a degree-granting study program. IRCC accepts the following as proof:
- A Designated Learning Institute’s valid Letter of Acceptance;
- An enrollment letter’s proof of the spouse or partner’s DLI;
- A spouse or partner’s transcripts from the current program.
What if a person has already applied for SOWP?
IRCC confirmed that individuals who have applied before March 19 will qualify based on the following conditions:
- If their partner possesses a valid study permit.
- In the case of their eligibility for a Post-Graduation Work Permit.
- If they hold a full-time status as a student at one of the schools, such as the following:
- A public post-secondary school, Quebec’s college or university, or CGEP;
- A private school in Quebec that is equivalent to a college level.
- A private school in Canada that is authorized to offer degrees through the provincial law. This could be a bachelor’s, doctoral, or master’s degree.
Please note: The above eligibility requirements also apply to present SOWP holders who seek an extension for their current permit.
What happens in the case of ineligibility?
Spouses or partners of international students who appear to be ineligible for a Spousal Open Work Permit can submit an application for a different type of visa or work permit. However, those who cannot come to Canada as visitors don’t have permission to work. A SOWP enables the holders to work for any employer in Canada. It happens to be a source of encouragement for IRCC’s mandate for making family reunification more prominent.
However, on February 28, the immigration minister confirmed that he was restricting SOWPs to partners or spouses of students enrolled in Master’s or Ph.D. Programs. This was an attempt on his part to target the enrollment and reliability challenge, as he confirmed this was an area that was being misused and inevitably acceptable. This was his response to the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration.
Do you have any general queries or concerns regarding Spousal Open Work Permit? Let our expert guides at Make Home Canada help you get all the answers. We are just a call away; stay connected at 1-800-979-0509 or simply email your concerns to [email protected].
