My fiance (Canadian born and raised in the Vancouver, BC area for 55 years) and I (American born and raised for 33 years) want to get married in Las Vegas next year, and I want to move to the Vancouver, BC area because he has a good job. I've scoured online sources and cannot find an answer to my question. When he flies to Vegas to get married, we want to go to Canada together - we both know I'm not a citizen or even a PR - to just be together as a newly married couple. We are going to be doing the spousal sponsorship, and the PR route (with hopes of one day me becoming a citizen), but I see I would need a Visitor Visa to stay for a long time (6 months plus). I have no issue getting one, could I get one while with him in Canada or would I have to be back in the states to apply for one?
Spousal Sponsorship Questions
- Thread starter RuthyB
- Start date
You don’t need to apply for a visa as an American. How long you can visit will be determined when you attempt to enter Canada. You can also apply to extend your visit via visitor record but won’t be able to get a 6+ month visit when you enter. Given your large age gap assume you have lots of in person dating time for proof of relationship.
Thank you for the prompt response!
So, when we buy my plane ticket to Canada (he would obviously have a round-trip ticket), could I just get an open ended ticket? Or go for three months (that's how long I was there back in July), obviously aware that I may need to go back? Would I still need ties to America to prove I'd go back if I was made to go back? Or are they good at allowing people, who obviously start the sponsorship and PR processes, to extend their stay?
We met online over 10 years ago on an art website. We were best friends - and loosely made plans to meet (I went to Vancouver, BC a lot when my father was alive and worked for Futureshop) but it never happened because to make a long story short, I got into a very bad marriage. But even with the threats he received about staying my friend, he stayed my friend and did all he could to make my life better. We talked just about every day. Once I was out of that relationship, I asked him out. I figured, we're long distance. I could deal with the ugly without having to worry about him in person but we still called, video called, and messaged every day. This past July when I met him, we both knew this was exactly what we wanted. We could be in the same house without driving each other nuts, I could handle him working nights, etc. He proposed to me in August.
Sorry if that was cryptic, but I don't wanna drag up old and ugly memories when they really have nothing to do with this lol
-Open-ended ticket probably fine.
-Don't show up with all your stuff, don't say you're completely moving permanently tomorrow. It's a visit for now.
-Tell the truth when asked about things, yep, you're married, yep, plan to do PR sponsorship, timing not yet certain, for now it's a visit.
-Yes, having ties and having to go back for stuff or whatever is a good reason to not say you're 'moving' right now.
-Then when in Canada, do the PR sponsorship, and apply to extend your visit when the time comes.
-Yes, they routinely grant these extensions when spousal sponsorship in process.
To put it bluntly, the border officers can sometimes be a bit sensitive about people showing up to move - permanently - without doing the proper paperwork. That's why it's better to make clear it's a visit for now and you plan to move later. If in the end, plans change and you don't go back during process, that's a change of plans. As long as you maintain status by extending.
[Side note: you'll see in procedures you can do a spouse-in-Canada process or family class; colloquially referred to 'inland' and 'outland.' Short form, probably do the family (outland), even if in Canada. There are no benefits of note to inland in your case, and some downsides (albeit mostly technical).]
Thank you for answering my question, and doing so, so thoroughly!
I don't think I could fly with all my stuff. Some of my make-up (liquid in larger than whatever is allowed to fly) would make it impossible! I know that's easily replaced, but I certainly cannot bring boxes and tubs on a flight on Air Canada.
Okay, so even married, I won't close out of my American bank. As for my job in America, I take care of my grandmother (hence why he's coming to America to marry me. She wants to be there, and flying is far too difficult for her) who has a whole slew of medical issues. Las Vegas is going to be difficult enough for her, so even driving to Canada is out of the question. My family is already understanding that I will be being sponsored and they are supportive of both myself and herself. Really helping out. But the boarder agents have never required a life story. Keep it short and simple.
That was actually going to be my next question! Thank you so much! I was so worried about breaking some law.
