Already intimidated by process.Have lots of questions.

[Goosey]

First off,I'm really glad that this forum is here.I have a lot of questions and hopefully,some of you will be gracious enough to answer them for me.

I am currently in a long-distance relationship with my girlfriend.I live in Canada and she lives in England.We've been speaking for just over two months but we fell in love with each other quickly and we both desperately want to be together as we believe that we are the perfect match.We have already discussed such things as marriage,her coming to Canada,and me sponsoring her.I've tried doing the research on the CIC website and,quite frankly,the site sucks because it's so difficult to navigate.

I don't want to marry my girlfriend right away (if she comes to Canada) as I'm trying to respect her wishes to having her father walk her down the aisle.Plus,I'd rather her have a decent ceremony than one whereby we get married in front of a justice of the peace.I was thinking of going the common-law route,where we reside together for a year (this also giving her the time to decide if this is what she really wants) and then go about the process of sponsoring her once the year is up.How would I go about in having her here for a year? (I've read about visitor visas and extensions but I'm really friggin' confused!)

I have read and heard that people who are on disability (I am on ODSP) are eligible to sponsor.Is there anyone here that has successfully sponsored someone while being on disability? If so,any advice or experiences you've had that you'd like to relay to me would be greatly appreciated (especially if you've done an inland sponsorship).

I don't see why I wouldn't be eligible to sponsor her.I've read all of the grounds whereby one would be considered as ineligible (on the CIC site) and I don't meet any of them.However,I do have an outstanding student loan.Would that count against me in trying to sponsor her?

Do I have to have legal representation at all in the process of sponsorship? (Reason why I'm asking is that I'd like to be as cost-efficient as possible under the circumstances).

Does age difference matter at all in a sponsorship application? (I'm 34..she's 20).

I'm sure I'll have many more questions but I'd like to at least have an idea of what needs to be done so that we can put together a "game plan" of sorts before she gets here.I'd like to be prepared and know what I'm getting into.I just know that what we feel for each other is genuine and that we want to be together.

Thanks in advance!

 

[mdna]

First off,I'm really glad that this forum is here.I have a lot of questions and hopefully,some of you will be gracious enough to answer them for me.

I am currently in a long-distance relationship with my girlfriend.I live in Canada and she lives in England.We've been speaking for just over two months but we fell in love with each other quickly and we both desperately want to be together as we believe that we are the perfect match.We have already discussed such things as marriage,her coming to Canada,and me sponsoring her.I've tried doing the research on the CIC website and,quite frankly,the site sucks because it's so difficult to navigate.

You need to read the guide on the CIC website. As far as I know, applying as a conjugal partner is more complicated (when you guys are in a relationship, but live apart from each other for some reason. So as annoying as the website is, the best thing to do is read because you'll find most of your answers there.

I don't want to marry my girlfriend right away (if she comes to Canada) as I'm trying to respect her wishes to having her father walk her down the aisle.Plus,I'd rather her have a decent ceremony than one whereby we get married in front of a justice of the peace.I was thinking of going the common-law route,where we reside together for a year (this also giving her the time to decide if this is what she really wants) and then go about the process of sponsoring her once the year is up.How would I go about in having her here for a year? (I've read about visitor visas and extensions but I'm really friggin' confused!)

You mean she comes here to live with you for a year on a study or work visa? And then you'd marry her? To get the permanent visa then? It will be expensive and very stressful to request and extend visas and then apply for PR. Maybe you should consider marriage and a ceremony in a future date, as you both have planned.

I have read and heard that people who are on disability (I am on ODSP) are eligible to sponsor.Is there anyone here that has successfully sponsored someone while being on disability? If so,any advice or experiences you've had that you'd like to relay to me would be greatly appreciated (especially if you've done an inland sponsorship).
I don't see why I wouldn't be eligible to sponsor her.I've read all of the grounds whereby one would be considered as ineligible (on the CIC site) and I don't meet any of them.However,I do have an outstanding student loan.Would that count against me in trying to sponsor her?

Students loans will not make ineligible.

Do I have to have legal representation at all in the process of sponsorship? (Reason why I'm asking is that I'd like to be as cost-efficient as possible under the circumstances).

Not necessarily, but you will have to do all the work (and ready guides, yourself)

Does age difference matter at all in a sponsorship application? (I'm 34..she's 20).

No. Some people will briefly mention on the spouse questionnaire, that they are aware about their age differences, and your relationship is well despite that factor.

I'm sure I'll have many more questions but I'd like to at least have an idea of what needs to be done so that we can put together a "game plan" of sorts before she gets here.I'd like to be prepared and know what I'm getting into.I just know that what we feel for each other is genuine and that we want to be together.

it's an overwhelming process- but you will ge through it. just read the guides and good luck to you both.

MDNA

 

[Goosey]

Thanks for your response,mdna..

I just read through the explanation of what a conjugal partner is once more on the CIC site and I'm still perplexed.It's actually done more in the way of confusing me than it has in elucidating to me exactly what a conjugal partner is.

As far as her living here for a year,I don't know if she would be able to study here because then she would have to apply for a student loan.It would be nice to go that route because then she could have an educational opportunity and we can be together as she does it (and then apply as common-law after a year).I'm not sure how work visas go but wouldn't a person need to have a job pretty much lined up here (or guaranteed) in order to do that? I thought about a civil union style marriage (one in front of a justice of the peace),then applying as a married couple for sponsorship and having some kind of "real" ceremony down the road.But I want to respect her wishes as much as I can and seek out a happy medium.I figured that a common-law type of relationship would achieve just that.

I'm confused about visas as well.Because she's from the UK,I thought that British citizens are exempt from having to get a visa to come here.Like,I have no idea how this works.

 

[harryiswaiting]

Since she is under 30, she can apply for a working holiday visa for Canada. It's valid for 1 year, but can be renewed for an additional 1 year. It takes only a few days/weeks to get, but there is a limited supply per year. Since you are from the uk and canada, odds are you won't qualify for a conjugal relationship as you can live together relatively easily if you want.

 

[Isometry]

First off,I'm really glad that this forum is here.I have a lot of questions and hopefully,some of you will be gracious enough to answer them for me.

I am currently in a long-distance relationship with my girlfriend.I live in Canada and she lives in England.We've been speaking for just over two months but we fell in love with each other quickly and we both desperately want to be together as we believe that we are the perfect match.We have already discussed such things as marriage,her coming to Canada,and me sponsoring her.I've tried doing the research on the CIC website and,quite frankly,the site sucks because it's so difficult to navigate.

I don't want to marry my girlfriend right away (if she comes to Canada) as I'm trying to respect her wishes to having her father walk her down the aisle.Plus,I'd rather her have a decent ceremony than one whereby we get married in front of a justice of the peace.I was thinking of going the common-law route,where we reside together for a year (this also giving her the time to decide if this is what she really wants) and then go about the process of sponsoring her once the year is up.How would I go about in having her here for a year? (I've read about visitor visas and extensions but I'm really friggin' confused!)

I'd like to second the idea for a working holiday visa, especially since you've only known each other for 2 months. Have you visited in person yet? Getting her a work visa would give you a chance to live together and get to know each other a bit better, before committing to marriage.

I have read and heard that people who are on disability (I am on ODSP) are eligible to sponsor.Is there anyone here that has successfully sponsored someone while being on disability? If so,any advice or experiences you've had that you'd like to relay to me would be greatly appreciated (especially if you've done an inland sponsorship).

I don't see why I wouldn't be eligible to sponsor her.I've read all of the grounds whereby one would be considered as ineligible (on the CIC site) and I don't meet any of them.However,I do have an outstanding student loan.Would that count against me in trying to sponsor her?

No, you should be fine to sponsor her even with a student loan.

Do I have to have legal representation at all in the process of sponsorship? (Reason why I'm asking is that I'd like to be as cost-efficient as possible under the circumstances).

No, you do not need legal representation, and most of us don't use it, though it's recommended if you have a really complicated case. From what you've written, you should be okay without it.

Does age difference matter at all in a sponsorship application? (I'm 34..she's 20).

Kind of. You'll need to show that your relationship is genuine to a skeptical stranger, and a big age difference can be a red flag. You'll want to show why that age difference is not an issue for you.

I just read through the explanation of what a conjugal partner is once more on the CIC site and I'm still perplexed.It's actually done more in the way of confusing me than it has in elucidating to me exactly what a conjugal partner is.

A conjugal partnership exists when the couple has been in a marriage-like relationship for at least a year, and has combined their affairs to the extent possible and presents themselves as a couple the same way a married couple would, BUT is prevented from actually getting married or living together by circumstances outside their control.

As far as her living here for a year,I don't know if she would be able to study here because then she would have to apply for a student loan. It would be nice to go that route because then she could have an educational opportunity and we can be together as she does it (and then apply as common-law after a year). I'm not sure how work visas go but wouldn't a person need to have a job pretty much lined up here (or guaranteed) in order to do that? I thought about a civil union style marriage (one in front of a justice of the peace),then applying as a married couple for sponsorship and having some kind of "real" ceremony down the road.But I want to respect her wishes as much as I can and seek out a happy medium.I figured that a common-law type of relationship would achieve just that.

Different types of work visas have different requirements. One of them does, in fact, require a solid job offer. However, this is the one I think would work for you. It's closed for this year, but it should open again to UK citizens in a couple months.

Keep in mind that while many people do have a civil marriage followed by the actual wedding ceremony some months later, it may be difficult to prove your relationship is genuine when it's so quick.

I'm confused about visas as well.Because she's from the UK,I thought that British citizens are exempt from having to get a visa to come here.Like,I have no idea how this works.

She does not need a visa to visit Canada. She does need one to work, or go to school, or to stay longer than 6 months.