Advice needed (UK to Canada)

[EnglishMike81]

Hello, I'm wondering if anyone would be so kind as to advise me on my current situation.

I met my girlfriend in 2015 in London, UK. (I am over 35 and she is under 30) Her work visa expired in the UK and she had to go back to Canada.

To cut a long story short I was in the process of a promotion/new role and we decided not to rush until things were clear with work and where we would plan to live in the UK. Unfortunately things haven't worked out as I had hoped and 6 months after she left I've been trying to transfer within the company to Canada with no success.

At the end of last year my company was kind enough to grant me a lengthy leave of absence and I'm currently on a Visiting Visa in Canada staying with her parents.

My Employment ends in Sept and my stay in Canada expires in Oct.

Ideally we've agreed we'd love nothing more to remain in Canada and get married but we are both extremely confused how I stay as the immigration policies I've been reading for me look pretty bleak.

Can anyone advise me what are the best steps to take if we are to get married and have a future in Canada.

From what I gather we'd need a sponsorship process followed by a work permit process can take a very long time, as in years? The thought of no stability with income scares me a lot and neither of us are keen on a return to the UK right now.

Any advise would be really appreciated!

 

[scylla]

Not sure where you are getting your information... Once you get married, she can sponsor you using the inland spousal sponsorship process and include an open work permit with the application. Provided you have valid status in Canada at the time you apply, the open work permit will be granted approximately four months after you submit the complete sponsorship package. Recommend you join the Family Sponsorship section of the forum and read through the posts there.

 

[zardoz]

How about this. It's not ideal but I think it may be a compromise option.

1) Marry immediately in Canada.
2) Submit an outland (Family Class) PR sponsorship application.
3) Stay in Canada together for as long as you can.
4) You return to the UK by yourself and carry on working.
5) Once PR is granted, often after only 6-8 months for a Brit, you return to Canada permanently.

 

[EnglishMike81]

Not sure where you are getting your information... Once you get married, she can sponsor you using the inland spousal sponsorship process and include an open work permit with the application. Provided you have valid status in Canada at the time you apply, the open work permit will be granted approximately four months after you submit the complete sponsorship package. Recommend you join the Family Sponsorship section of the forum and read through the posts there.

Oh wow, that sounds far more promising. This has been giving me some sleepless nights obviously.

I'd got the information from Google that said Length of the process is...

" The spouse or partner sponsorship process usually takes approximately one year to gain final approval."

I am 37 this year and the thought of taking more time out seems a bit risky.

 

[scylla]

Oh wow, that sounds far more promising. This has been giving me some sleepless nights obviously.

I'd got the information from Google that said Length of the process is...

" The spouse or partner sponsorship process usually takes approximately one year to gain final approval."

I am 37 this year and the thought of taking more time out seems a bit risky.

Yes - it does take around a year. But there are different ways to apply. As explained above, you could return home and apply outland - then return to Canada once your PR visa is approved. Processing should be less than a year since you are from the UK. Or you could remain in Canada and apply inland - in which case you can request an open work permit which will be granted in about four months after you apply.

Google is full of garbage. Read through the family sponsorship section of the forum and dedicate time to reading through the info on the CIC/IRCC site (official government site).

 

[EnglishMike81]

Yes - it does take around a year. But there are different ways to apply. As explained above, you could return home and apply outland - then return to Canada once your PR visa is approved. Processing should be less than a year since you are from the UK. Or you could remain in Canada and apply inland - in which case you can request an open work permit which will be granted in about four months after you apply.

Google is full of garbage. Read through the family sponsorship section of the forum and dedicate time to reading through the info on the CIC/IRCC site (official government site).

Yes, I'd seen that applying outland is quicker on the Govt site.

So correct me if I am wrong, just to be clear

Option 1.
Marriage and staying in Canada: This would take over a year to get a PR visa & Work Permit? How do I stay in the country beyond Oct if my visa expires but I am married?

Option 2.
We marry and we both go back to UK to apply, get a PR granted, come back to Canada and then we'd still need to do the WP process?

 

[scylla]

Yes, I'd seen that applying outland is quicker on the Govt site.

So correct me if I am wrong, just to be clear

Option 1.
Marriage and staying in Canada: This would take over a year to get a PR visa & Work Permit? How do I stay in the country beyond Oct if my visa expires but I am married?

Option 2.
We marry and we both go back to UK to apply, get a PR granted, come back to Canada and then we'd still need to do the WP process?

No - this isn't correct. Again, recommend you move over to the Family Sponsorship section of the forum and also re-read what you have been told in this thread.