Immigration Advising

Students with immigration related questions may call the CIC toll free line at 1-888-242-2100 or email question@cic.gc.ca. We also invite you to visit the website of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). Links have been provided below in order to help students and staff find more information about common questions.

 Common Immigration Topics

Study Permit

Working in Canada

Other

Working Off Campus – new rules as of June 2014

Here is what you need to know about authorization to work and obtaining a Social Insurance Number, (SIN):

As of June 1, 2014 the Off Campus Work Permit Program no longer exists.  New regulations allow international students to work off campus provided they hold a valid study permit and meet the eligibility requirements.

To be eligible, students must be registered full time during regular school semesters, (fall and winter), and be in satisfactory academic standing.  Students are still limited to 20 hours of work per week during the fall and winter terms and may still work full time during the summer months, regardless of whether they are taking summer courses.  Students may also work full time during any regularly scheduled school breaks. Students are no longer required to complete 6 months of full time study before they are eligible to work.

Carleton’s DLI number:  O19332687812 (the first letter is a capital letter O)

During the transition phase of these new regulations, students wanting to work off campus will fall into one of three categories.

  1. Students who already have a valid OCWP.
  2. Students who have a valid study permit issued prior to June 1, 2014 and who DO NOT have an OCWP.
  3. Students who receive a new study permit / or extension of their study permit, issued on or after June 1, 2014.

1. Students who already have a valid OCWP.

These students will continue to use their OCWP for work authorization and to obtain a SIN (unchanged). When their study permit and OCWP expire, and they receive a new study permit, they will fall in to category 3.

2. Students who have a valid study permit issued prior to June 1, 2014 and who DO NOT have an OCWP.

Students are now authorized to take off campus employment using their study permit as authorization to work.  In order for these students to obtain a SIN, you must apply for an amendment to your study permit if you wish to have the work authorization printed on your study permit. There is no fee for this amendment. Complete the application form at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/forms/IMM1436E.pdf and submit by postal mail (no online applications accepted).

There is no fee for this document. Students must include a current certificate of enrollment with your request.

In order to obtain a SIN they will need to take the following documents to Service Canada:

  • Study permit with amendment
  • Passport
  • Certificate of Enrollment (requested on Carleton Central under ‘Online applications’)

3. Students who receive a new study permit / or extension of their study permit, issued on or after June 1, 2014.

These students should  have a condition clearly printed on their study permit which indicates that the permit authorizes them to take off campus work.  These students must take their study permit, passport and Certificate of Enrollment to Service Canada to obtain a SIN.

Please note that there are no changes to the Co-op work permit program or the Post Graduate Work Permit Program.  Co-op students must still obtain a Co-op work permit to be authorized to work full time during their co-op terms.

Inquiries?

Call the CIC toll free line at 1-888-242-2100 or email question@cic.gc.ca.   Any TRV inquiries should be directed to cpp-ctp-ottawa-trv-vrt@cic.gc.ca