Split-year Exchange - Cant get off campus work for whole summer?! :(

[deanoss]

Hi Guys,

I am on a year-long exchange from Australia at UBC in Vancouver.
I started UBC in January-April, whereby Ill live in Vancouver over the summer, then start UBC again in September-december.

It has astounded me that for the 4 month summer break, I seemingly am not allowed to get an Off-campus work permit.
This almost seems ridiculous that I cant work over this lengthy summer holidays just because I am on a exchange.

I'm a little bit stressed out. Jobs on-campus at my uni are running dry and I'm pretty much looking at a very stringent and non-eventful summer here.

Any tips or recommendations would be greatly appreciated, I am pretty stumped on what to do right now.

Even the sad prospect of going home to the Aussie winter might have to do.

Thanks in advance,

Dean.

 

[zardoz]

It's looking even stricter from now on... http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/notices/2014-02-12.asp
The rules for off-campus work permits are tied to the course outcome...

 

[deanoss]

I know. I just can't believe that there is no other option than just working on campus (should I find a job there) for 4 months.

So stumped on what to do, all students must leave residence in two weeks.

I literally thinking of just packing my bags and going to mexico because they have 4 months no visa required for a warm and cheap summer.

Any other lurkers out there have any other ideas??! Any US working holiday visa options?!

 

[itstime]

You might be able to work off campus as of june 1st. No one knows yet how the new rules will affect students currently in Canada.

However, the fact that you have to have STUDIED for 6 months before you can apply for an OCWP is nothing new. It is even clearly posted on the cic website.