Is it risky to ask for a year long visitors visa extension? Spousal sponsorships take that long.

[Dellace]

Back story: I've applied for 6 visa with 6 month long extensions. Nearly 3 years in total (I've come to realize risky this is!) My status expires next month. Now that we've fully committed to staying together, he wants to sponsor me for PR status.

We plan to put forward the spousal sponsorship+PR first so that it gets process first and my visa after indicating my need for 12 months instead of 6 months is for the application. Are requests for year long visitors visa, on the basis of needing time for PR application processing a bad idea? As in, are they more eager to reject it? I am hoping to be prepared for any application returns part way through the month or any such issue and not having to worry about my status or need to re-file would ease the tension.

Thanks so much to the helpful people who have already cleared up a lot things for me already.

Also, side question. I'm asked to write "N/A" next to items that don't apply to me. For example, in the checklist "3. Additional information about child(ren): Provide the following additional documentation for your children, if applicable. (White N/A next to each item which does not apply)". I/we don't have children and It's all check boxes. How do i proceed? Do i check the box? Do i not? How am i supposed to indicate "N/A" with nowhere to write?

2nd side question: We are not a "Selfie" type of couple! They want us to provide physical photos us photos of us together. This seems like a bizarre request for us. Especially since we only have camera phones. The best we can *maybe* hope for is our friends sneaking photos of us. And even then, we try and hide our faces. I'm at a loss as i search our various phones and SD cards.

 

[scylla]

Back story: I've applied for 6 visa with 6 month long extensions. Nearly 3 years in total (I've come to realize risky this is!) My status expires next month. Now that we've fully committed to staying together, he wants to sponsor me for PR status.

We plan to put forward the spousal sponsorship+PR first so that it gets process first and my visa after indicating my need for 12 months instead of 6 months is for the application. Are requests for year long visitors visa, on the basis of needing time for PR application processing a bad idea? As in, are they more eager to reject it? I am hoping to be prepared for any application returns part way through the month or any such issue and not having to worry about my status or need to re-file would ease the tension.

Thanks so much to the helpful people who have already cleared up a lot things for me already.

Also, side question. I'm asked to write "N/A" next to items that don't apply to me. For example, in the checklist "3. Additional information about child(ren): Provide the following additional documentation for your children, if applicable. (White N/A next to each item which does not apply)". I/we don't have children and It's all check boxes. How do i proceed? Do i check the box? Do i not? How am i supposed to indicate "N/A" with nowhere to write?

2nd side question: We are not a "Selfie" type of couple! They want us to provide physical photos us photos of us together. This seems like a bizarre request for us. Especially since we only have camera phones. The best we can *maybe* hope for is our friends sneaking photos of us. And even then, we try and hide our faces. I'm at a loss as i search our various phones and SD cards.

Sure - you can ask for a 12 month extension. I assume that you have looked into the PR application process and understand there is an inland and outland option. Since you are in Canada - you can apply through either. If you go with the inland option and include an open work permit with the application - you will have implied status in Canada once the application is accepted as complete by IRCC - meaning you can remain in Canada without having to extend your visitor status until a decision in the application is made. You will also receive an open work permit approximately four months after the application is received.

If there's a check box and it doesn't apply to you - then don't check the box.

Pretty much everyone has photos of themselves as a couple - and this is an important piece of evidence to prove your relationship is genuine. Even if you aren't into selfies (many aren't) - pretty much everyone has photos of the two of them (either alone or with family or friend) from various events, or trips or nights out. I would say it's extremely unusual / not normal for a couple not to have photos of themselves together. Given you are pretty thin on evidence to prove common law (your partner has been filing his taxes as single, doesn't sound like you have joint bank accounts or credits cards, no joint lease or property ownership) - it's pretty critical you find photos to show your relationship. IMO having zero photos is going to be a problem for your application.

 

[Dellace]

Sure - you can ask for a 12 month extension. I assume that you have looked into the PR application process and understand there is an inland and outland option. Since you are in Canada - you can apply through either. If you go with the inland option and include an open work permit with the application - you will have implied status in Canada once the application is accepted as complete by IRCC - meaning you can remain in Canada without having to extend your visitor status until a decision in the application is made. You will also receive an open work permit approximately four months after the application is received.

If there's a check box and it doesn't apply to you - then don't check the box.

Pretty much everyone has photos of themselves as a couple - and this is an important piece of evidence to prove your relationship is genuine. Even if you aren't into selfies (many aren't) - pretty much everyone has photos of the two of them (either alone or with family or friend) from various events, or trips or nights out. I would say it's extremely unusual / not normal for a couple not to have photos of themselves together. Given you are pretty thin on evidence to prove common law (your partner has been filing his taxes as single, doesn't sound like you have joint bank accounts or credits cards, no joint lease or property ownership) - it's pretty critical you find photos to show your relationship. IMO having zero photos is going to be a problem for your application.

The peace of mind your answer gives is invaluable. We have a lot of the basics covered. I have a bank card connect to his account. Lease shouldn't be a problem since we live on his fathers property. The tax filing error is being amended. But we can only hope that is acceptable. And as luck would have it, one of our best friend snuck photos of us together! One where we're seated next to each other with a birthday candle cake. Another of us close together playing billiards! We don't display affect publicly. But we're *always together* essentially. So im hoping they just want proof of that and not proof that we mouth kiss and drape arms around each other in photos.

 

[scylla]

The peace of mind your answer gives is invaluable. We have a lot of the basics covered. I have a bank card connect to his account. Lease shouldn't be a problem since we live on his fathers property. And as luck would have it, one of our best friend snuck photos of us together! One where we're seated next to each other with a birthday candle cake. Another of us together playing billiards! We don't display affect publicly. But we're *always together* essentially. So im hoping they just want proof of that and not proof that we mouth kiss and drape arms around each other in photos.

Good.

Note that saying you live on his father's property doesn't replace a formal lease as proof. Ideally you want to provide an affidavit from his father confirming you both live there as a couple and have been living there as a couple for x period of time.