An applicant (applying from Pakistan, resident in the UAE) asked whether a study permit, spousal open work permit, and child visitor visa can be filed together, and what happens to fees if the spouse is refused. A member who had done a full family application shared their experience:
- Yes — the whole family can apply together. The member applied along with spouse and children in a single go, and their sister's family did the same. Filing together is a normal, accepted approach rather than a risk in itself.
- Expect a longer timeline for family files. Their family application took a bit over four months to complete — plan intake dates accordingly.
- Declare residency in the forms, not necessarily the SOP. Living in a third country (UAE/Saudi residency, applying as a non-citizen), the member did not discuss the residency in the SOP but did declare it in the IMM forms. Residence history is factual-form territory; hiding it anywhere would be misrepresentation, but it doesn't need SOP narrative unless it strengthens your case.
- Unanswered in the thread: the refund question (whether study-permit fees come back if only the spouse's SOWP is refused) and approval odds for a separately-filed SOWP from Pakistan drew no informed reply — treat those as open questions for IRCC guidance or a licensed consultant.