My boyfriend is an american citizen and wants to live with me in canada for a whole year so we can qualify for sponsorship. My question is how will he be able to go through Canada customs and say he wants to stay here for 6 months and not be denied? As wat im hearing is they are very much against people wanting to immigrate here illegally. We plan on doing it the légal way but i fear we may be denied. Also wat do we say when applying for visitor extension of 6 months for likely approval?
Applying to staty 6 months in canada than reapplying for extension?
- Thread starter Kalikay
- Start date
American's can travel to Canada as a visitor and stay up to 6 months. 30 days before the end of the 6 months he can apply for an extension and get another 6 months. He continue to keep reapplying so you can get your 1 year together but then you will also have to keep doing that to be able to stay together to apply for Spousal Sponsorship so you're looking at 18 months-2 years before he would get PR and be able to work. And getting approved for 2-3 extensions on a visitor visa which I'm not sure if they even do that many, maybe try posting in the visitors thread about it?
When he enters he needs to make it clear to a border officer that he is only coming to visit you, if they ask how long he says he doesn't know, or he knows he can only stay 6 months etc., he knows he can't work, and he should have some sort of ties to America to show that he would have reason to return (basically don't show up looking like you're moving).
My wife was here nearly 3 years on a valid VR by extending every 6 months, I believe @WeegieInOttawa will tell you the same thing. So it's entirely possible to enter for 6 months initially then keep extending to go for common law and then extending further to stay here during the process. It's fairly easy for Americans and anyone from visa exempt countries to do this once in the country, obviously I wouldnt turn up at the border and tell the agent your plans, just say coming to visit your girlfriend for a few months, best to have a return ticket booked at that stage (obviously cant if driving) and only come with 1 or 2 suitcases and some funds.
When it's time to extend after 6 months I would just say wants to spend more time with girlfriend blah blah, if you're going for common law you will need to make sure you build up some proofs of living together, and shared expenses etc, Then get your PR app ready to go right after the 12 months mark has elapsed, when it's time to extend beyond 12 months then you could pay for the PR app upfront and include the receipt with the Visitor extension app as proof of your intention to apply for PR.
When it's time to extend after 6 months I would just say wants to spend more time with girlfriend blah blah, if you're going for common law you will need to make sure you build up some proofs of living together, and shared expenses etc, Then get your PR app ready to go right after the 12 months mark has elapsed, when it's time to extend beyond 12 months then you could pay for the PR app upfront and include the receipt with the Visitor extension app as proof of your intention to apply for PR.
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And all I can say is dont delay with the PR app! you will save your and your boyfriend much anguish and anxiety if you get it in right away (once you qualify for common law of course)
What. He. Said.We are the experts.
When you requested an extension what did you tell them? Did you tell them your plans for sponsorship or pr?
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My boyfriend instead wants us to get married before he attempts to stay here for the 6 months than extend another 6 months. Do we go through the same process you mentioned? Does he tell canadian customs hes simply visiting his wife. Than when requesting extension tell them his plans for permanent residency etc?
If you get married you can apply for PR pretty much right away, no need to wait 12 months. What country do you intend to get married in?
We plan to get married in japan or toronto. Were unsure. So when he comes here for six months and says hes visiting his wife to customs there not gonna automaticly think he plans to stay forever cuz were married? Im basicly wondering if all the information y'all told me still applies in a married situation.
No there are others who have done the same. But if you get married first, you can apply for an Outland application as soon as you have the marriage certificate and get the process started right away. You can't apply for a work permit with Outland but you could still enter Canada and stay together.
Would'nt inland work better? Since after marriage we intend to stay here in toronto together for 6 months than request extension. Just so we can go through the application process together.
It's up to you. You can apply as an Outland and still be in Canada. It seems that many Outland apps from Americans are being processed quite quickly, maybe only 6-8 months. You may prefer Inland to get the work permit though.
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Ok i guess outland is better thanks. So if we travel to japan together than head to toronto. And my boyfriend tells canadian customs that hes coming here to visit canada for 6 months with his wife to Go through the whole sponsorship application together everything should be fine? Or he should simply state hes spending time with me.
Yeah that all sounds good. I believe from what I've read on here, the less you say the better. Start with saying you're simply visiting and if they ask about visa sponsorship then tell them that as well. If you've already sent off the Outland application before you enter that's fine too, again only mention it if they ask. Just don't lie.