Conjugal Sponsorship, but I have TRV

[mystiqued]

Hi I need advice on family sponsorship. My boyfriend and I have known each other since 2014 (met online) as good friends and we just fell for each other and have been a couple for 2 years + now. I have a Temporary Resident Visa for Canada valid until 2021 and I use this to visit him from time to time but not usually long (max 3 weeks) since I need to go home for work. He is Canadian and I am from the Philippines. I have a long travel record to various countries and I never overstay in each one of them. We don't want to get married yet but it is definitely a plan in the future so we want to rule out Spousal Sponsorship.

I have came across Conjugal Sponsorship and Common In Law as options but it says for common law that we need to be living together for at least a year. So far he has made a 5-week stay with me while I was in the United States, and so far only made one 3-week visit to him in Canada recently.

So my question is, what is our best option for sponsorship?

If I give up my job/business in the Philippines to live with him using my TRV (6 months max I read, but some stated to request for extension but what if I'm not granted it) I won't be able to work and help him out. Which is fine with him but I personally don't want him doing all the work, I would like to do something to at least help him out.

or

Do we qualify for conjugal sponsorship, indicating that I only have 6 months max as TRV anyways? And If I do get granted a conjugal sponsorship, will I be able to work once I get to Canada to at least help him out?

All replies are greatly appreciated! Thank you.

 

[kcward7]

Hi I need advice on family sponsorship. My boyfriend and I have known each other since 2014 (met online) as good friends and we just fell for each other and have been a couple for 2 years + now. I have a Temporary Resident Visa for Canada valid until 2021 and I use this to visit him from time to time but not usually long (max 3 weeks) since I need to go home for work. He is Canadian and I am from the Philippines. I have a long travel record to various countries and I never overstay in each one of them. We don't want to get married yet but it is definitely a plan in the future so we want to rule out Spousal Sponsorship.

I have came across Conjugal Sponsorship and Common In Law as options but it says for common law that we need to be living together for at least a year. So far he has made a 5-week stay with me while I was in the United States, and so far only made one 3-week visit to him in Canada recently.

So my question is, what is our best option for sponsorship?

If I give up my job/business in the Philippines to live with him using my TRV (6 months max I read, but some stated to request for extension but what if I'm not granted it) I won't be able to work and help him out. Which is fine with him but I personally don't want him doing all the work, I would like to do something to at least help him out.

or

Do we qualify for conjugal sponsorship, indicating that I only have 6 months max as TRV anyways? And If I do get granted a conjugal sponsorship, will I be able to work once I get to Canada to at least help him out?

All replies are greatly appreciated! Thank you.

You don't qualify for conjugal as you have no real immigration or legal barriers to qualifying for common law or marrying given that you have a TRV.

 

[np08]

You do not qualify for conjugal with a TRV.

There's nothing stopping you from getting married or going for common law (financial issues, inability to work, family disapproval, etc are not considered actual barriers). If you decide to get married, you'd avoid all the issues with having to live together for a year and all that.

Again, pursuing conjugal with a TRV is a waste of time and money.

 

[monkeys89]

With a TRV, no chance for conjugal unless you enjoy collecting rejection letters . Get married. Get commonlaw status.

 

[mystiqued]

You do not qualify for conjugal with a TRV.

There's nothing stopping you from getting married or going for common law (financial issues, inability to work, family disapproval, etc are not considered actual barriers). If you decide to get married, you'd avoid all the issues with having to live together for a year and all that.

Again, pursuing conjugal with a TRV is a waste of time and money.

With a TRV, no chance for conjugal unless you enjoy collecting rejection letters . Get married. Get commonlaw status.

What’s the best way to get common law status with a TRV? I am only limited to 6 months in Canada. Thanks I appreciate your replies and advice.

 

[monkeys89]

Extending your TRV near the end of your initial admission by applying and requesting a six-month extension so that you can establish common-law for a PR application.

 

[monkeys89]

Alternatively, and I know you may not want to get married for any number of reasons, but get married and apply for PR as soon as you have the marriage certificate in hand.

 

[np08]

What’s the best way to get common law status with a TRV? I am only limited to 6 months in Canada. Thanks I appreciate your replies and advice.

As @monkeys89 said, by getting a six month extension near the end of the original six month visitor status. That way you can cohabit for 12 months.

Do note that, if taking this route, the applicant will not be able to work as a visitor during these 12 months and that you will have to be able to prove this cohabitation for the full 12 months through things like landlord letters, joint lease (if you can get it, most landlords won't let visitors sign one), shared utilities, and any other shared address proof you can come up with. So you should plan with that and prepare in advance.

The easier option is to get married. If applying inland, you can also apply for an open work permit and the applicant would get it 3-4 months after applying, allowing them to work while waiting for the PR as well as other things the work permit allows (healthcare, bank accounts, etc - your mileage may vary based on province).

EDIT: applying inland as common law also makes it possible for the applicant to get an OWP and all that. It's just that applying as common law delays the whole process by at least a year, since you have to wait until the common law status is established.

 

[mystiqued]

As @monkeys89 said, by getting a six month extension near the end of the original six month visitor status. That way you can cohabit for 12 months.

Do note that, if taking this route, the applicant will not be able to work as a visitor during these 12 months and that you will have to be able to prove this cohabitation for the full 12 months through things like landlord letters, joint lease (if you can get it, most landlords won't let visitors sign one), shared utilities, and any other shared address proof you can come up with. So you should plan with that and prepare in advance.

The easier option is to get married. If applying inland, you can also apply for an open work permit and the applicant would get it 3-4 months after applying, allowing them to work while waiting for the PR as well as other things the work permit allows (healthcare, bank accounts, etc - your mileage may vary based on province).

EDIT: applying inland as common law also makes it possible for the applicant to get an OWP and all that. It's just that applying as common law delays the whole process by at least a year, since you have to wait until the common law status is established.

We plan on staying/living together with his parents since he lives currently with them. As a visitor in Canada, what are things I can get a hold of using their address? Thank you for your reply it is very informative.

 

[np08]

We plan on staying/living together with his parents since he lives currently with them. As a visitor in Canada, what are things I can get a hold of using their address? Thank you for your reply it is very informative.

In that case, make sure the parents write you a letter where they declare that you lived there for 12 months when the time comes. That would be your equivalent of a landlord's letter, let's say.

Since it's the parents' house, I'm guessing you can't get added to normal utilities, but you could get added to your boyfriend's phone plan, for example. You can't open an account of your own as a visitor, but you can get added to a family plan. If his phone bill is emailed to him, he can change it so it's mailed normally to his address during the 12 months while indicating both your names. That would be one thing.

In most banks you won't be able to open a bank account as a visitor, but he can add you as an authorized user to his. In this case, the bank will mail you your supplementary card and pin. It will have your name on it and it will be sent to your common address, and it's from a bank so it's more or less official. So you can use that as an example, as well.

Not sure what you'll do for healthcare during the 12 months, but if you decide to get covered through a private Canadian company, also save any correspondence they send you as that can be useful as well.

Basically, during those 12 months, whatever kind of service you get, make sure that things are always mailed to you at that address, either you alone or you guys together (as I'm sure he won't have trouble proving he lives there). And make sure that at least some of those things cover the whole 12 months (so you wouldn't just send one phone bill, send all the monthly bills that cover the whole period, for example).

 

[Aiesline]

In most banks you won't be able to open a bank account as a visitor, but he can add you as an authorized user to his. In this case, the bank will mail you your supplementary card and pin. It will have your name on it and it will be sent to your common address, and it's from a bank so it's more or less official. So you can use that as an example, as well.

TD allowed me to open a joint account with my spouse as a visitor. Just a FYI

 

[np08]

TD allowed me to open a joint account with my spouse as a visitor. Just a FYI

I know some do allow it, that's why I said "most" - none of the ones we use did so we just got a supplementary instead and it does work as proof in the absence of the joint account, so people shouldn't get discouraged if they can't get a full on joint account.