Chances of study permit and SOWP approval

[am571]

Hi everyone,

My common law partner will be applying for her study permit and she will also be including me in the application as an accompanying family member (SOWP).
So I need some advice from experts and from those who were in a similar situation and got approved for their study permit.

We have already been refused once last year in December and the reason for refusal was that the Officer was not convinced that I will leave Canada at the end of my stay.

We also ordered GCMS notes and found out the exact reason of refusal which is given below,

“I have considered the positive factors outlined by the applicant, including statements or other evidence.
On balance, the PA has failed to satisfy me that the course of study is reasonable given the high cost of International study in Canada when weighed against the potential career/employment benefits, natural progression of studies, the local options available for similar studies, and the PA`s personal circumstances.

Weighing the factors in this application, I am not satisfied that the applicant will depart Canada at the end of the period authorized for their stay.

For the reasons above, I have refused this application.”

So my question is what can we do better this time to convince the visa officer that we will leave Canada at the end of our authorized stay..
I don’t have any property on my name in my home country or anything like that shows strong home ties.

Any help on this is really appreciated.

 

[Naturgrl]

Have you changed the program? How does your spouse show career progression? Why spend thousands in Canada for limited job opportunities. These were the reasons.

 

[am571]

Yes, last time she applied for a 1 year Graduate Certificate program in Project Management. This time its a 2 year Masters program in Projects Management.
No career progression in 6 months since the refusal. Things have slowed down a lot for us here in India due to Covid.. Not sure if this will be considered by the Visa officer for not showing career progression in 6 months.

We are both currently not working so is it better to have a job and then apply for a study permit ? Is it going to increase our chances of approval at all ?

 

[Naturgrl]

Yes, last time she applied for a 1 year Graduate Certificate program in Project Management. This time its a 2 year Masters program in Projects Management.
No career progression in 6 months since the refusal. Things have slowed down a lot for us here in India due to Covid.. Not sure if this will be considered by the Visa officer for not showing career progression in 6 months.

We are both currently not working so is it better to have a job and then apply for a study permit ? Is it going to increase our chances of approval at all ?

You need to show why coming to Canada and spending thousands of dollars will help your career. If you aren’t working then that is a red flag because it shows there are few opportunties. Also project management is a program that can be taken anywhere in the world, and even online. There are most likely PM programs in your country. Is it a private university because if so that is another issue.

 

[am571]

I agree with you that our current employment status could be a red flag, but we can try to explain this for sure.

Yes, this program can definitely be done in my home country. But I think most of the programs that an applicant chooses to pursue in Canada can be completed in their home country at a much lower cost. Studying in a culturally diverse environment and receiving a quality education that is highly recognized is why people chose to study in a country like Canada.

I am just trying to think from a VO`s perspective about how can I improve my SOP that will convince the VO that I will leave Canada immediately at the end of my authorized stay.
I was just wondering that I have already declared my travel history, can`t the VO already see that I came back from the US at the end of my authorized stay. Does it not simply mean that I won`t stay unauthorized in Canada?

Thanks for all your replies.. It really helps..

 

[sqfit]

I agree with you that our current employment status could be a red flag, but we can try to explain this for sure.

Yes, this program can definitely be done in my home country. But I think most of the programs that an applicant chooses to pursue in Canada can be completed in their home country at a much lower cost. Studying in a culturally diverse environment and receiving a quality education that is highly recognized is why people chose to study in a country like Canada.

I am just trying to think from a VO`s perspective about how can I improve my SOP that will convince the VO that I will leave Canada immediately at the end of my authorized stay.
I was just wondering that I have already declared my travel history, can`t the VO already see that I came back from the US at the end of my authorized stay. Does it not simply mean that I won`t stay unauthorized in Canada?

Thanks for all your replies.. It really helps..

Not having any employment (even between the two of you) can decrease your chances. My husband is permanently employed yet they suspect job loss and reject mentioning what’s the point to do a PGC in a foreign country at high cost. My case was that I applied from a country other than my own.
For SOWP there needs to be a job in the home country claiming you aren’t unemployed hence will be coming back.
Apply alone by making the applicants file strong.

 

[sqfit]

I agree with you that our current employment status could be a red flag, but we can try to explain this for sure.

Yes, this program can definitely be done in my home country. But I think most of the programs that an applicant chooses to pursue in Canada can be completed in their home country at a much lower cost. Studying in a culturally diverse environment and receiving a quality education that is highly recognized is why people chose to study in a country like Canada.

I am just trying to think from a VO`s perspective about how can I improve my SOP that will convince the VO that I will leave Canada immediately at the end of my authorized stay.
I was just wondering that I have already declared my travel history, can`t the VO already see that I came back from the US at the end of my authorized stay. Does it not simply mean that I won`t stay unauthorized in Canada?

Thanks for all your replies.. It really helps..

This scenario is the classic case for getting the refusal reason, “Limited employment prospects in home country”. Don’t take any part of the requisites lightly. The VO will remove reasons which you won’t even realize were there in your application.

 

[Naturgrl]

I agree with you that our current employment status could be a red flag, but we can try to explain this for sure.

Yes, this program can definitely be done in my home country. But I think most of the programs that an applicant chooses to pursue in Canada can be completed in their home country at a much lower cost. Studying in a culturally diverse environment and receiving a quality education that is highly recognized is why people chose to study in a country like Canada.

I am just trying to think from a VO`s perspective about how can I improve my SOP that will convince the VO that I will leave Canada immediately at the end of my authorized stay.
I was just wondering that I have already declared my travel history, can`t the VO already see that I came back from the US at the end of my authorized stay. Does it not simply mean that I won`t stay unauthorized in Canada?

Thanks for all your replies.. It really helps..

If you are both unemployed, apply alone for just the study permit. You need to show strong ties and a spouse staying behind is a tie. They don’t think you will leave at the end of your studies because you don’t have strong career prospects. Is this a private university because this will be a factor too.

 

[am571]

This scenario is the classic case for getting the refusal reason, “Limited employment prospects in home country”. Don’t take any part of the requisites lightly. The VO will remove reasons which you won’t even realize were there in your application.

Thanks a lot for your advice..

 

[am571]

If you are both unemployed, apply alone for just the study permit. You need to show strong ties and a spouse staying behind is a tie. They don’t think you will leave at the end of your studies because you don’t have strong career prospects. Is this a private university because this will be a factor too.

It is a public university, and yes I think applying alone would be a better option.

 

[Naturgrl]

It is a public university, and yes I think applying alone would be a better option.

May I ask which public university offers a Masters in Project Management?

 

[am571]

Northeastern University, Toronto Campus

 

[Naturgrl]

Northeastern University, Toronto Campus

That is what I thought. That is not a public university. It is a college mill in an office building run for-profit and caters to international students. Apply to a public university for a better chance since you have one refusal with acceptance to a public college. Now you have acceptance to a private university which everyone can get admitted to.

 

[am571]

My bad.. Northeastern is a private uni.
I could hardly find a public university offering Masters in Project Management.
Most of the public universities are only offering 1 year graduate certification and diploma programs.
We already got refused last time and may be I am wrong here but I thought choosing a 1 year graduate certificate program was one of the reasons for refusal.

 

[Naturgrl]

My bad.. Northeastern is a private uni.
I could hardly find a public university offering Masters in Project Management.
Most of the public universities are only offering 1 year graduate certification and diploma programs.
We already got refused last time and may be I am wrong here but I thought choosing a 1 year graduate certificate program was one of the reasons for refusal.

There are no public universities that offer a masters because it really is a PG program. Your chance of refusal is higher because you are going from a public to a private institution. Anyone can get acceptance to a private school.