Full-time international students can apply for an Off Campus Work Permit if they have been registered full-time for at least 6 months out of the last 12 months and have maintained good academic standings. To continue to be eligible to hold an off campus work permit, you must maintain academic eligibility. However, in your final term (eg. Winter term) of studies you may be registered part-time and continue to use your Off Campus Work Permit.
You cannot apply for the Off Campus Work Permit if you are:
- participating in a Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship Program funded by Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT)
- participating in a Government of Canada Awards Program funded by DFAIT
- receiving funding from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
- participating in the Equal Opportunity Scholarship Program, Canada-Chile
- participating in the Canada-China Scholars Exchanges Program
- participating in the Organization of American States Fellowships Program
- registered in either an English as a Second Language or French as a Second Language program or
- a visiting or exchange student.
You don’t need to have a job offer before applying for the Off Campus Work Permit. You cannot begin work off campus until you receive your OCWP. The Off Campus Work Permit does not guarantee you a job. It is your responsibility to find a position. If you work, it is important to remember that your studies is the main reason why you are in Canada.
What does full-time mean?
An undergraduate student Is considered full-time if they are enrolled in 9 or more credits per term (eg. Fall term). If a student has taken a 6 credit course (usually year long) it would be considered to be two 3.0 credit courses, one taken in each of the semesters.
A graduate student is considered full time if they are registered as Full-time/Active with the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
How to apply for OCWP online
- Read the ”Applying for a Work Permit- student instruction” guide carefully.
- Create a MYCIC account (if you don’t currently have one). It will ask you for a Client ID-this eight digit number is on the top right of your study permit.
- Place an “Eligibility Verification Number (EVN) Request” through MyCIC.
- Email the OCWP supplementary form to York International. Email: ocwp@yorku.ca
NOTE: To ensure faster processing times please complete steps #3 and #4 on the same day.
- Once this EVN request has been put in within 2 weeks York University will contact you to determine if you meet the eligibility requirements for the Off Campus Work Permit. If you are eligible, you will be able to log into MYCIC and proceed with your application. There is a $150 fee for the application. You will also need to scan in the marked pages in your passport (including photo page) and scan your study permit.
- Check the current processing times
If you have any questions about the Off Campus Work Permit please email ocwp@yorku.ca or attend one of the following information sessions:
Keele Sessions
Dates Time Location Wednesday, January 09, 2013 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm 280A York Lanes Tuesday, January 22, 2013 11:00 am – 12:00 pm 280A York Lanes Thursday, February 07, 2013 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm 242 York Lanes Wednesday, February 20, 2013 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm 280A York Lanes Wednesday, March 06, 2013 11:00 am – 12:00 pm 280A York Lanes Friday, March 22, 2013 10:00 am – 11:00 am 280A York Lanes Tuesday, April 02, 2013 10:00 am – 11:00 am 280A York Lanes
Career Centre Sessions for International Students
Dates Time Location Cover Letter and Resume Writing February 22, 2013 10:30 am - 12:30 pm to be determined
Glendon Session
Dates Time Location To be determined
Osgoode IBL Students Session
Dates Time Location Monday, February 11, 2013 11:00am - 12:00pm Osgoode Professional School (1 Dundas St. West, Suite 2602)
Surrendering your OCWP
If you are no longer a full-time student or do not maintain satisfactory academic results, you must return your work permit to a local Citizenship and Immigration Canada office. See how to surrender your OCWP for more information.
