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Purpose of travel for common law spouse exemption

canadajapanconnection

Full Member
Apr 29, 2020
26
3
I'm a Canadian citizen and my common-law partner is to travel to Canada soon. We have prepared all the documents for him to satisfy the common-law spousal travel exemption.

I'm just wondering what should he put for his purpose of travel; we plan to marry and live in Canada and in turn apply for his PR but I'm not sure he should say he plans to do that.

The exemption is that if we are common-law spouses (which we are) and his trip is longer than 15 days he can come in but should we not say he intends to stay in Canada longer than his visa would allow (6 months) or just that he plans to stay temporarily?

Thank you so much!
 

ryester

Champion Member
Oct 11, 2018
1,150
675
I'm a Canadian citizen and my common-law partner is to travel to Canada soon. We have prepared all the documents for him to satisfy the common-law spousal travel exemption.

I'm just wondering what should he put for his purpose of travel; we plan to marry and live in Canada and in turn apply for his PR but I'm not sure he should say he plans to do that.

The exemption is that if we are common-law spouses (which we are) and his trip is longer than 15 days he can come in but should we not say he intends to stay in Canada longer than his visa would allow (6 months) or just that he plans to stay temporarily?

Thank you so much!
You don't want to mention unless being asked. Longer stay (and prospective PR applicant) violates the purpose of his visa.
 

canadajapanconnection

Full Member
Apr 29, 2020
26
3
So the combination of ETA and proof of common law is what you need. Unfortunately some people have falsely assumed that all spouses and common law can travel to Canada. You still need the ETA or TRV. Many are being denied a TRV because they aren’t visitors.
Okay thank you. I'm just wondering what he can say his purpose is. The only options right now on the declaration are: personal (visit, attending a meeting or conference) , study (academic or professional), work/employment (paid or unpaid), immigrate. As his travel is qualified under the exemption should he put personal or immigrate? And if it is personal should he not state that we plan to live here permanently?
 

canuck78

VIP Member
Jun 18, 2017
55,696
13,553
Okay thank you. I'm just wondering what he can say his purpose is. The only options right now on the declaration are: personal (visit, attending a meeting or conference) , study (academic or professional), work/employment (paid or unpaid), immigrate. As his travel is qualified under the exemption should he put personal or immigrate? And if it is personal should he not state that we plan to live here permanently?
His travel is personal. He can’t immigrate at the moment unless he has a COPR. He shouldn’t appear like he has his life’s belongings. He is coming to visit you simple as that.