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Applying for coop visa to join partner in Canada

Nigela

Newbie
Sep 13, 2013
3
0
Hello,
I apologize if this has been brought up before. I'm a PR and my boyfriend is applying to come to Canada on a coop(?) visa. He is using an agency called Uvanu who offered him 6 months of English classes and another 6 months when they will arrange for a work permit for him.

We have a lot of doubts.

1. Is this a reputable agency, has anybody here used them ?
2. I've been able to put him on my extended health benefits as my common law partner. Can he use that to comply with medical insurance requirement for his visa application or is it better to get a separate insurance for him through a private insurance company?
3. I have a feeling that it's better not to mention that he's coming to join me since he's coming as a student, is that right? When they ask him about his accomodation arrangements, what should he say? I saw a lawyer who said it's better not to 'mix' things up and stick to the student story. We might consider applying for his PR as my common law at a later date but we just want to get him here as soon as possible.
4. He is from Spain and the agency says the visa takes 25 days to process through Paris office, is that realistic considering the strike? Has anybody gone through there recently? Would it be better if he came as a visitor while waiting for the student visa to be processed, then leave the country and come back as a student? Would it have to be in LA office?
If somebody had a similar experience I would appreciate any advice. I've been going through my own (crazy) bureaucratic processes and I just haven't found enough info to direct him (his English is very basic).
Thank you very much.
 

scylla

VIP Member
Jun 8, 2010
95,848
22,113
Toronto
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
28-05-2010
AOR Received.
19-08-2010
File Transfer...
28-06-2010
Passport Req..
01-10-2010
VISA ISSUED...
05-10-2010
LANDED..........
05-10-2010
I would pick a different course if you can.

Recently, these types of co-op programs have been getting a lot of attentention and even some press in the Canadian media since CIC has realized that too many people are using these programs as a means of getting to Canada and aren't genuine students. It's my understanding that it's now much more difficult to obtain an approved visa as a student of one of these co-op programs vs. a real diploma or degree.

However there's nothing stopping him from trying.

He needs to mention that you are his common law partner in his application and you are truly common law and have lived together for at least one year. Failure to do so is misrepresentation (i.e. lying about your status to gain entrance to Canada). When it's caught, misrepresentation is typically punished by a refusal of the application and a 2 year ban from entering Canada. Even if the misrepresentation isn't caugh as part of the student visa application - it can catch up to you later when he applies for PR.