American engaged to Canadian - Extensions, Status, Marriage - oh my!

[AllisonVSC]

Oh wow, I'm so glad you said that! Thanks a ton Allison!

Wish me luck guys, I will keep ya'll posted

Oh and sariss? World of Warcraft... :

A lot of forum members have met there spouses this way. There once was a thread called "how did you meet?" or something. WoW was a very popular answer.

 

[scylla]

A lot of forum members have met there spouses this way. There once was a thread called "how did you meet?" or something. WoW was a very popular answer.

So true! I remember that thread.

I think WoW is the new "we met in a bar".

 

[sariss]

I ask only cause that's how I met MY husband.

 

[Kiri]

Yeah, I really wasn't even thinking of dating anyone when we met. I was focused on my career (which I can live anywhere in the world and do that).. but one day I came back to WoW (had quit when wotlk came out, and started back when cata came out) and switched factions since it'd been a year since I played.. when I did a friend had me join their vent (voice chat) channel and come on a instance with them to heal... only to test out if I'd like to join their guild!! lol Well the tank was my future CL.. By the end of that instance there was this 'spark' where we just had to know who the other person was, and it went from there. The long distance thing was a bit intimidating at first, but there was just something between us where we just had to give it a shot, ya know? People don't always understand how you can meet someone that way and really know a person.. and while there are much you don't find out until later, if it's right, it's right and you know it. I've known several who've met that way and are married.

...whoops, went off on a tangent. >.> hehe but glad to know there are other WoW matches on here!

 

[mc1234]

great thread, thanks everyone for the info! My CL who is a Mexican citizen with a multiple entry visa stayed with me for 6 months. We are now back in Mexico but would like to return to Canada at the end of feb (if possible) We are submitting our paperwork in early April, and he has a return ticket back to Mexico for Mid July. We have been a bit worried about this, should we follow the same advice as the OP?

Thanks all! Looking forward to hearing some advice

 

[Victorfoxtrot]

I would suggest you use the latter date - 14th May, as the day your common-law living together began. Because this is the address you presumably have all the bills for? Sure you can describe in your application how your partner came to the US for 2 weeks prior to help you pack etc, but technically for those 2 weeks he was a visitor in your home, rather than the two of you living together in the US, if you see what I mean. By all means include this in the application to show the progression of the relationship, since it does demonstrate your relationship, but I think to play it safe you should use the May date when you moved into together in Canada as the beginning of your common-law. I know it is an additional 2 weeks, but a visitor visa extension can take 120+ days to grant, and in the meantime you will be allowed to stay in Canada on implied status. If they do refuse you, you'll have to return to the US, but you can try re-entry by explaining that you have a common-law application in process, and by the time you might have to try that, you will most likely have some kind of acknowledging paperwork from CPC-Missisauga to back up your story.

 

[sariss]

Yeah, I really wasn't even thinking of dating anyone when we met. I was focused on my career (which I can live anywhere in the world and do that).. but one day I came back to WoW (had quit when wotlk came out, and started back when cata came out) and switched factions since it'd been a year since I played.. when I did a friend had me join their vent (voice chat) channel and come on a instance with them to heal... only to test out if I'd like to join their guild!! lol Well the tank was my future CL.. By the end of that instance there was this 'spark' where we just had to know who the other person was, and it went from there. The long distance thing was a bit intimidating at first, but there was just something between us where we just had to give it a shot, ya know? People don't always understand how you can meet someone that way and really know a person.. and while there are much you don't find out until later, if it's right, it's right and you know it. I've known several who've met that way and are married.

...whoops, went off on a tangent. >.> hehe but glad to know there are other WoW matches on here!

Yeah everyone who I say we met online thinks it was a dating website. We didn't mean to get close or even ever meet each other, we just happened to be in the same guild and then ended up getting closer when we ran a guild together for about a year before we both quit playing. I figured we would stop talking as much after we quit, but it just made our relationship stronger. Meant to be!
Good luck on your application!

 

[AllisonVSC]

Kiri. South Carolina here, y'all!!! I guess you didn't have a pic up last time I posted in this thread.
I'm from Charleston but lived most of my life in Columbia. And you?

 

[Kiri]

Born and raised in southern Greenville.. was living in Simpsonville before I came to Canada.

 

[AllisonVSC]

Born and raised in southern Greenville.. was living in Simpsonville before I came to Canada.

Cool. And where are you now? Toronto??

 

[Kiri]

Cool. And where are you now? Toronto??

Hamilton. He goes to McMaster so we're here. We go up north though to his parents during summer since he works seasonally up there.


I wanted to ask a couple things while I was at it.

First, what is the longest I can ask for on the extension. Just worrying if I'd be able to get it through the whole PR processing.
Second, would it be a better idea to do civil and apply spousal and request extension to stay with my spouse during PR processing?
Third, if we decided to just do a wedding over the summer, what's the likelihood of being approved extension for that?

Just wanted to check into other options as well as I was going over some of what we'd use as evidence. He's not a big photo guy so I probably have about ... 50-65ish photos over the past year. As far as shared housing, we'll have a statement of me being at his parents for the summer, but living officially, and the lease from the landlord in Hamilton starting in September. We've just added me to the power though because we wasn't sure if we COULD do that yet until I was PR. Our bank accounts are separate since I have one in America and his is here. We will have letters from his family, and our friends from the game who introduced us, but as for MY family... I think I'm only going to be able to get one from my dad and sister-in-law. Dunno about my brother or grandmother yet. My mother, no.. we don't have the best... relationship. We do have photos of gifts (necklace from christmas, bracelet from 6 month anniversary (lol cheesy but we actually went on the Segwun in Gravenhurst to celebrate), and I can show screenshots of status updates on my end, even where friends and family say things about pictures and stuff.

So I'm really not sure if that's enough, ya know? I'm just super scared. I don't want to have to go back to the states in perfect honesty.. and if I had to, I don't know how long it would be before I'd be allowed back. But if I can do it, I want to get the extension and be able to stay here through the whole process. I'm stressed out over this, so bad.

Oh, I know I need to have the FBI clearance stuff before I submit an application -- but what of medical? I've been reading, but I'm not sure.

 

[AllisonVSC]

I can't answer all your questions, but hopefully others can add to what I know...

I have little experience with extensions. I did apply for one after I sent my PR app, but I got my PR before they ever starting processing the extension app. I do have a spousal app american friend who has been in process 20 months now. I will see tomorrow, and I will ask her about what she put as the reason and the length of her extensions.

Remind me again...You'll be common law in September and need to apply for an extension of your temp status when?

As far as evidence...
1. I wouldn't worry too much about the number of photos (I only submitted 9 or so, others submit 100s). I think you should focus on variety, passage of time, and photos that include either of you with friends or family at events in which you both participated. If you need to fill in the gaps for those types of photos, do it NOW!

2. Lease and shared utilities is good. You can get a CAN bank account (we got a joint account from RBC before I was a PR without any problems), and I recommend you do because it demonstrates a combining of financial affairs (see back to the OP 2 manual section 5.26 about mutual commitment to a shared life and those 4 interdependencies they look for in an app).

3. Letters from both sides of the family are great (don't sweat it if not everybody is willing to do it for you). You will need two that are notarized and you can include more (notarized or not) if you want. I sent 8-9. I will send you a private message with the letter I wrote to friends and family when I requested that they do this for us.

4. Evidence of gifts, anniversary celebrations (however small and "cheesy") and trips are excellent pieces of evidence as are any cards, letters, email, chat, state updates, phone records (of course).

5. Actually, it would be ok to send your app without the FBI clearance letter, but since you are months away from submitting I suggest you just try to time the request based on the FBI's current processing times to get the letter just before you submit. But the MEDICAL EXAM MUST BE DONE BEFORE SUBMITTING, and you will have to include a receipt of sorts to prove it. Otherwise, you are likely to get your app sent back to you because it is incomplete. They seem to be lenient on the FBI letter because of the processing time, but NOT lenient about the medical.

Being scared is a completely normal feeling. This process is hard, confusing, intimidating, etc and so much depends on how we put things together in the PR application. I know that doesn't make it any better, but it is the truth and A LOT of people feel exactly the same way you do. Try not to worry. I will send you a private message suggesting how to organize your application. It is only meant to be helpful; take from it what you will.

Ok, lastly, there are some great resources for American's in our area (Hamilton is not that far from where I live in Mississauga) and I even have one American female friend who lives in Hamilton. I can get you two connected if you want. One resource is the American Women's Club of Oakville. I just connected with this group myself as I have found it hard to make friends here and these are warm supportive outgoing people who plan lots of events. Also, there is a Meetup group (www.meetup.com has lots of groups of ALL sorts) called the Toronto Expat Americans who do events monthly. Meetup and my library card were lifesavers to me when I was here waiting out the process. There are also Facebook groups you can request to join. I recommend "Americans in Canada" as they are very supportive and talk about immigration is frequent.

So, that is enough for know, eh? Let me know if I can help in any way.

Allison

 

[Kiri]

May 14th was the day I came to Canada and began "living" with him.. but at his parents. September was the date we got on his apartment lease in Hamilton together.. but his parents can attest to the May date.

I'm glad about the photos, and all that. We'll add me to his bank. I also wanna check into the meetup thing, definitely. If you find out anything from your friend, I'd love to know what she says.

You got PR while waiting on extension? Wow... how fast was that? Were you married or CL? I can't remember if you told me or not.

 

[AllisonVSC]

Yeah, I got my PR back in the days when B'lo was faster. I think the published processing time after sponsorship was 6 months and I was through start to finish (including sponsorship) in less than 3 months. We applied in the conjugal partner class.

I actually was given a bit of a hard time by the officer when I landed because I had an expired visitor record in my passport. She told I was supposed to turn it in when I left Canada and I had to explain that I hadn't left Canada until that very day. I also mentioned that I had applied for an extension to my visitor status, but my PR was processed before they even started processing my extension.

Did you get two private messages from me today? Just checking because there is only one in my outbox. Here is a link to the meetup group. http://www.meetup.com/The-Toronto-Expat-American-Meetup-Group/
Most meetups are downtown TO, but there are members living out this way too.

 

[Kiri]

Oh wow. Wish it was still that way.

Yup, I got them and replied.. but that was just within the last 10-20mins. Might take a bit?

Thanks for the link