American Girl and Canadian Boy. Help with conjugal partnership and school permit

[TeddyBearsPrincess]

9 years ago, I met my (now) fiance on Gaia Online. We talked a bit online, then talked on the phone. A while later, we decided to date. We talked several times daily as friends and as a couple. After graduating high school (07) , my fiance decided to join the Canadian military. In May 09, he visited me for NYC Fleet Week. That was our first visit and an amazing memory for us.

The new years holiday of 2012 (Dec 29 - Jan 15), I visited him in Canada (St Johns, NB) to spend the holidays with him, meet his family, and attend his military graduation. We continued talking and always mentioning living together. September 2012, I moved from NYC to Victoria, BC to live with him. I was allowed six months (September 22, 2012 - March 21, 2013). We took care of his apartment together, spent our days happily together, going on dates together, going out with friends. The month before my visa was up, I assisted him with moving into a 3 bed room house on military property and I lived there with him.

We talked about getting married, purchasing an engagement ring during the 6 months. 6 days before my six months was up, I moved to Edmonds, WA and reside here currently. June 28th - July 2, he visited me here in Washington. And then July 22nd - Aug 2nd, I visited him in Victoria to attend a wedding and spent time together. August 1st, 2013, he proposed to me.

It's looking like our engagement will be long at the request of his grandmother which I am alright with. I am hoping to get home (For I consider Victoria, BC and being with him as home) ASAP. He had the idea of applying as conjugal partners. While some of our first emails and gaia messages are gone, I have years worth of gifts, postcards, letters, some emails, videos, and pictures of us together. Friends and family will attest to our closeness and love for each other. I want to marry him but if our wedding is set for end of next year currently, I do not want to spend that time apart. I'd like any and all help on the idea of applying as conjugal partners. Thank you.

P.S: If conjugal partners aren't possible. I am hoping to attend Camosun College for culinary. It's my dream to start a food truck in Canada and he plans to help me. Thank you.

 

[Sweden]

Conjugal partners is for people that can not live together, and can not marry. In your case, there is no legal barrier preventing you from getting married, and no barrier preventing you for living together for 12 months to qualify as Common law. So - conjugal wont' work. If he wants to sponsor you, you either have to get married, and he can sponsor you right away, OR you go and live with him for 12 months to qualify as Common-law : on a tourist visa, you can extend before the 6 months are up, or take a trip to Port Angeles and back, or if you can get a study visa to go to Camosun.

once you qualify (either because you get married or because you live together 12 months) he can sponsor you. Keep all the proofs, it will come in handy when you fill out the forms and put together the application.

Good luck,
Sweden

 

[scylla]

Agreed with Sweden. You don't qualify for conjugal. There are no barriers preventing you from getting married or living together. Proof of this is the fact you're already engaged.

 

[TeddyBearsPrincess]

Thank you so much for the help guys. I'm going to go for a tourist visa. Is it possible to renew it from inside Canada? Is it very likely to be approved?

 

[amikety]

Thank you so much for the help guys. I'm going to go for a tourist visa. Is it possible to renew it from inside Canada? Is it very likely to be approved?

I got mine renewed 3 times.

If you're American, you don't need a visa to enter Canada. You can enter on your passport alone. You will get a stamp in your passport. If they write a date in the stamp, your stay is valid until that date. If not, you get 180 days (6 months) automatically.

You should try to renew your stay 30 days before hand if you apply by mail or online. I always did online. It was easy, fast, and guaranteed receipt by CIC (so I always had Implied Status as a visitor).

Two big points CIC will care about:

1) Purpose of your stay. I may be nuts (and several people said I am) but I told CIC were waiting to qualify for Common-Law or save enough money to get married. You can say whatever you want as long as it makes sense. Since you're American, I don't see the harm in admitting you want to qualify as common-law as long as #2 is accounted for. Make sure to use plural pronouns when discussing why you want to stay in your application. "We want to qualify as common-law."

2) Financial Support. You need to show CIC you have enough money to stay without working illegally. The easiest way is to include copies of your partner's paystubs with your application. If he doesn't make a lot, you can also include bank statements showing your savings and/or support letters from family. Example - if his parents will let the two of you live at their home rent free, they can write a letter stating this. CIC will take it into consideration.

From what you've posted, you have a pretty strong case as far as immigration goes in general. (About the only way to make it stronger would be to live together.) When you submit your extension, you can also offer proof of your relationship, although it's not needed for a visitor's extension (and there isn't room to include it if you apply online).

So go as a visitor. You can't work, but you can attend online courses either with a US college or a Canadian college/university without a study permit. Obviously that doesn't help with cooking, but it will help with boredom.

You can also try to find a job (which is easier if you qualify for NAFTA) but don't get your hopes up.

 

[TeddyBearsPrincess]

I already got six months with my passport. I got in September and then I moved to Edmonds, WA six days before it expired in March. They'll really let me? We're saving up to get married. He already made it clear that we're not an "I" anymore so that should be easy enough. I really do appreciate all the help I've gotten from everyone.

The military knows that I'd be living there since he made it clear before they even gave him the house. Good idea about the online course, it'll be something I can do while I'm there.

 

[scylla]

1) Purpose of your stay. I may be nuts (and several people said I am) but I told CIC were waiting to qualify for Common-Law or save enough money to get married. You can say whatever you want as long as it makes sense. Since you're American, I don't see the harm in admitting you want to qualify as common-law as long as #2 is accounted for. Make sure to use plural pronouns when discussing why you want to stay in your application. "We want to qualify as common-law."

I've seen a number of people here do exactly this and CIC seems to be good with it. I think it's good advice.

 

[amikety]

I already got six months with my passport. I got in September and then I moved to Edmonds, WA six days before it expired in March. They'll really let me? We're saving up to get married. He already made it clear that we're not an "I" anymore so that should be easy enough. I really do appreciate all the help I've gotten from everyone.

The military knows that I'd be living there since he made it clear before they even gave him the house. Good idea about the online course, it'll be something I can do while I'm there.

So you already visited for six months, but you're back in the USA now?

You'll get another stamp good for another six months. Stamps are a one-time use deal. If you leave, you need to get a new one.

You can renew your visitor status by going to get new passport stamps every 6 months, although then you risk leaving Canada. It's usually okay, but there is a rare case of the American being denied re-entry. If you decide to do that, make sure to take the items I suggested. It's best if you can take him but if you can't because he's deployed, then take a letter from him.

This slipped my mind earlier but - will you be living with him? Or is he deployed? It would be very difficult to get CIC to accept you're common-law if he's deployed frequently during your 12 months. :/ Sorry, I should've asked this earlier.

 

[amikety]

I've seen a number of people here do exactly this and CIC seems to be good with it. I think it's good advice.

If you're visa exempt

 

[TeddyBearsPrincess]

He's going to be deployed at the end of the month. When his deployment is over, I'm going to return to Canada and live with him.

 

[TeddyBearsPrincess]

Okay everyone. First off, I really appreciate all the responses that I've gotten from everyone. You've been so helpful towards my goal of being home with my fiance. Long story short, here's the current situation:

The 15th of this months makes 6 months since I left Canada. I would really like to get home ASAP! How long does a tourist visa take to process or do think I'll be allowed sans visa? I'd really like any help I can get on the matter. My fiance is home and I would like to join him.