Guide for Foreign Students Attending Wilfrid Laurier University

Presenter: Anna Done Choudhury

Allows qualifying international students to work for an employer off-campus while pursuing their studies, which will give the student the opportunity to participate in the community and to adjust to life in Canada.

Allows qualifying students to work off campus for up to 20 hours a week during school term and to work full time during breaks in the academic calendar.

Allows foreign students to gain valuable Canadian work experience which may assist them to obtain post-graduation employment in Canada and eventually Permanent Residence if desired.

Enables foreign students to supplement their income during the course of their study.

Allows students to change employers without advising CIC .

Laurier International 2009 Program Overview - Eligibility and Application Process 2

To be eligible for an Off-Campus Work Permit, you must:

have a valid study permit

be studying at WLU, which is a participating institution

have been a full-time student for at least six of the

12 months preceding the date of your work permit

application

be in satisfactory academic standing,

apply online for your Eligibility Verification Number

3Program Overview - Eligibility and Application ProcessLaurier International 2009

Participants in the following programs may not obtain an OCWP:◦ Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship Program funded by

Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT)

◦ Government of Canada Awards Program funded by DFAIT ◦ Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)

funded study◦ Equal Opportunity Scholarship Program, Canada-Chile ◦ Canada-China Scholars Exchanges/Organization of

American States Fellowships Program

Students attending WLU in either an English as a Second language or French as a Second Language program or as a visiting or exchange student.

4Program Overview - Eligibility and Application Process

Your OCWP and your study permit will have the same expiry date, which cannot extend past the expiration date of your passport.

If your OCWP is still valid but you no longer meet the criteria and you continue to work, you are in breach of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and disciplinary action may be taken by CIC.

If you have a OCWP , but no longer qualify, you must return your work permit to CIC, but you can then later apply for another.

You cannot apply for the OCWP until the requirements are met. You cannot apply in anticipation of meeting the requirements.

If you are from a country that requires an entry visa, your work permit or study permit does not give you permission to reenter Canada after an absence – you still need a valid entry visa.

The current processing time for the OCWP, is approximately 20 days, not including courier or mailing time.

5Program Overview - Eligibility and Application ProcessLaurier International 2009

The documents you need for the application as are follows:

CIC Forms (to be discussed later), completed in full and signed as required,

Photocopy of information page from your passport, as well as photocopy of entry stamp and any other pages which have been marked,

Photocopy of your valid study permit,Receipt for fee paid, either online or at bank,Fee for Work Permit is $150.00If you are applying online, you will need a scan of

your passport, further instructions to follow

6Program Overview - Eligibility and Application ProcessLaurier International 2009

In order to receive your Eligibility Verification Number, you must apply online at www.cic.gc.ca

. You will need an E-pass, which will require you to choose a username and password.

Once you have submitted your EVN request, CIC will send your request to Laurier International. It will be processed and you will receive a message when the EVN has been issued, this usually takes 2-3 days

You can then proceed to apply either online for your OCWP or print off the EVN and apply with a paper application.

7Program Overview - Eligibility and Application ProcessLaurier International 2009

If you are applying online, you will need to scan your passport information page, plus any entry stamps or visas in your passport. This must all be contained in one document with the scans being no higher than 100x100 DPI

If you are sending your application in paper format, make sure to send the application by Priority Post or courier to the correct address in Vegreville Alberta, or your OCWP will be delayed and you cannot work until it has been issued.

8Program Overview - Eligibility and Application ProcessLaurier International 2009

Refer to handouts.

9Program Overview - Eligibility and Application ProcessLaurier International 2009