A member asked whether applying for a study permit alongside a spouse's open work permit and a child's visa, all at once, improves the odds of approval.
What the thread suggested:- Applying as a full family unit together may raise the chance of approval — but only if finances clearly support the whole family. The reasoning given was that a combined application signals a stable, well-supported household plan, provided the proof of funds actually covers everyone.
- For PhD applicants specifically, a member noted that a spouse's open work permit is comparatively easy to obtain when applied for alongside the study permit, since spousal work permits are more readily granted for PhD-level study compared with other program levels.
Practical takeaway: if you're planning to bring a spouse and children to Canada during your studies, applying together as a family can work in your favor, but only if your proof of funds is strong enough to cover the whole family's costs — not just your own. If your program is a PhD, expect the spousal open work permit portion of the family application to be relatively straightforward.