student visa with spouse in europe
Are you a student and need to do a student visa in Europe with your spouse? The procedures are very different depending on which country you’re applying in, so it’s best to have all the information you need.
Do you have a love for the freedom that Europe provides? Are you used to travel? Do you have a family and wants to live in Europe with-out the economical restrictions of studying only. A Individual Schengen Visa is what you are looking for, it kind of visa would allow you to live and study in Europe along with your spouse.
A student visa with your spouse in Europe or working together while being here. One of the themes of this blog is to explain step-by-step what you need to know, how to do it, and how to make decisions which are right for you. This is why I am always trying to share my experience as a Spanish citizen who has done everything so that a Russian woman can obtain a residence permit in Spain.
If you are a student and your spouse is European, you may be able to apply for a student visa together. This means that both of you will be able to study in Europe without being separated.
It’s important to know that this does not apply to everyone. Each country has a list of countries whose citizens are eligible for student visas with spouses in Europe. If your country is not on this list, it’s possible that neither of you will be able to study in Europe together.
If your country is on the list, it may take some time for your application to be approved by both countries’ embassies. You should also know that if one person’s application is denied, both applications will be denied automatically.
If you’re a student visa holder studying in Europe, you may be wondering if your spouse can get a visa as well. This can be an important question to consider, since it’s not always easy for people who are married to find work in Europe.
If your spouse is not a European Union citizen, they will need to apply for their own visa. The process is similar to that of applying for a student visa, but there are some extra steps involved.
First, you will need to apply for an entry visa at the embassy of the country where they will be staying during their stay. This application must include proof of marriage and residency documents from both partners. You will also need to provide proof that they have enough money to support themselves while they live there—this can be done by showing bank statements or other financial records.
Once this application has been submitted and approved, you can then apply for a residence permit for them at your local immigration office. This application must include copies of all documents that were submitted with the first application (such as marriage certificate), along with proof of income from both partners (such as pay stubs).
International Students studying full time at VIU may be able to bring their spouses and children to Canada. A Spouse may be eligible for an open work permit and children under the age of majority (19 years old in BC) may attend pre-school, elementary or high school without paying international fees. Spouses of international students enrolled full time at VIU may apply for an open work permit, however, issuance of the permit is at the discretion of the Immigration Officer. There is no guarantee that an applicant will be granted permission to come to or to work in Canada. If the spouse of a student is granted an open work permit, they can work for any Employer anywhere in Canada. Also, an open work permit may restrict the holder from work in certain occupations where public health protection is essential. Such jobs (e.g. daycare, schools, elder care, and food sector) may require that the applicant go through a medical examination with an IRCC appointed Panel Physician.
Children of international students
Children under the age of 19 are considered to be minors in British Columbia. A minor children of the student who is already in Canada and “accompanying a parent who is permitted to study or work”, may study in Canada without a study permit at the pre-school, primary and secondary levels”.
If an international student is intending to bring his/her school age child(ren) to study at a Canadian school he/she must to apply for a study permit for his/her child(ren) before entering Canada. “Minor children who are accompanying a family member who has applied and been approved for a work or study permit before entering Canada do not need to provide a letter of acceptance from an educational institution” Refer to the IRCC web-site for more details.
If a student is already in Canada with his/her minor children (dependents) who are on visitor record or visa (stamp in their passport), the children does not require a study permit for the pre-school, primary or secondary level.
IMPORTANT: If the parent loses status (no longer a full time student) their children and spouse automatically lose their status. Children of international students at VIU who are attending college or university (19 or older) must have a Study Permit and pay international tuition fees.
As long as one parent holds valid status in Canada e.g. study/work permit, permanent resident or Canadian citizen, their children are permitted to study at the pre-school, primary or secondary school levels without paying international fees.
Application process for relatives to join international students in Canada
There are two options for submitting an application to invite immediate family (immediate, meaning spouse and children of principal applicant).
First option, the student accepted by VIU submits the application for his accompanying immediate family from outside Canada at the same time as their study permit application.
Second option, VIU student applies for a Study Permit and provides full information about his/her immediate family who plan to join him/her at a later date.
Documents required for family member to apply for visa or spousal open work permit are as follows:
- Student provides proof of enrollment letter from VIU, it can be obtained via email from study@viu.ca (if you are undergraduate student), masters@via.ca (if graduate student) or inquire in Building 255 front desk.
- A letter of invitation to the relative. More details about the letter of invitation are available online at IRCC website
- Copy of valid Study Permit
- Proof of a relationship to the international student such as a marriage certificate, statutory declaration of common-law union or a birth certificate (for their child(ren)) as appropriate.
In both cases the relative must be able to demonstrate sufficient available funds to support their living in Canada. The procedure of application for Temporary Resident Visa (Visa) and study permit application is slightly different for visa required countries. Students from visa exempt countries also need Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). It is important in either case to have a Visitor Record or Study permit for the children if they plan to attend school in Canada.
Extending Immigration documents for immediate family
To extend your spouse and/or children’s status documents such as visas, visitor records or open spousal work permits, apply at least 2-3 months before these documents expire. Visitor visas could appear as a stamp in your child’s or spouse’s passport with or without a date (without a date by default is considered a six-month visa) for those who are coming from visa exempt countries. In addition, visitors must apply for an eTA before traveling to Canada. For their children student should ask for a visitor record at Port of Entry (airport, land, marine) to confirm that they have been granted entry for longer than six months.
The Principal Applicant (student) from visa required countries will have a sticker in their passport provided by the Canadian Visa Office abroad and a letter of approval for their Study Permit. A Study Permit will be issued at the port of entry (airport, land, marine) and if their family is with them, they will be issued a Visitor Record. Please note, the duration of your family’s stay will be determined by an Immigration Officer.
Work Permit for Spouses
Your spouse is eligible to work while you are studying full time. Before beginning any type of work, he/she must apply for a spousal work permit in Canada. Only after approval, your spouse can apply for a Social Insurance Number (SIN). Your spouse’s work permit duration will be the same as your valid study permit. For more information, please visit IRCC web-site.
Documents required:
- Letter of enrollment: please request letter via email study@viu.ca (undergraduate) masters@viu.ca (graduate)
- Student’s valid Study Permit
- Spouse’s passport
- Marriage License or Certificate
Conclusion
There are many options when it comes to finding a work remote contract and travel the world. You may have heard about AirTreks.com, which is a mechanism for booking airline tickets at discounted rates to cross over different destinations in South East Asia. I would like to introduce another option which I believe is more suited for longer term stays – Touriago.com. They are similar to AirTreks – they arrange everything you need such as flights, accommodation and language courses.
The foriegn students and their spouse are allowed to take a backpacking tour to many European countries due to the abolition of visa and passport control within the territory of Schengen countries. Nowadays, no one needs a visa or a tourist guide if they want to travel in Europe while they are on a valid student visa and their spouse is on the same family member’s visa.