Can I apply for PR a couple months before being considered common law since the process takes long

[Joeydocs]

Hi, I'm currently in Canada on a visitors visa visiting my Canadian fiancé of 9 months. She wants to sponsor me to become a Permanent resident of Canada. There's definitely been some immigration barriers that has stopped me from studying here because of financial problems. She is able to support me while I'm not working so is it possible to apply for a conjugal sponsorship 3 months before being together for 1 year? From what I understand the application takes 12-18 months to process so by the time it processes fully we would have been together for a little while over a year. Can someone guide me in the right direction?

 

[Classic Chucks]

Nope. You guys have to be exactly living together for 12 months at the time of application.

 

[Classic Chucks]

You can't also apply for conjugal as you have no real immigration barriers. You are already in Canada which means nothing has stopped you from entering this country. Continue living together for 12 months and then apply for common law or if you can't wait for 3 more months, get married. Whichever you choose (CL or married), you can go the inland route and apply for an OWP which can be approved in 4 months time.

 

[JulianaAndrew]

Also, be advised that if you are engaged, you shouldn't apply as a common-law, or conjugal partner. They advise you to get married first and then apply for sponsorship. I guess it would have something to do with the fact that there would be issues/more work for them, since you would have to switch from common-law class to spouse class in the middle of the process.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Also, be advised that if you are engaged, you shouldn't apply as a common-law, or conjugal partner. They advise you to get married first and then apply for sponsorship. I guess it would have something to do with the fact that there would be issues/more work for them, since you would have to switch from common-law class to spouse class in the middle of the process.

It is perfectly fine to apply as common-law while engaged. There is also no issue getting married mid-process, as it is a simple update to the app.

 

[JulianaAndrew]

It is perfectly fine to apply as common-law while engaged. There is also no issue getting married mid-process, as it is a simple update to the app.

Okay, although I did read somewhere on the website where it said that, before considering my options. That would have been at the beginning of this year. It clearly said I shouldn't apply if I was engaged, and had to marry her first instead, then apply.
It was CIC's website.

 

[Rob_TO]

Okay, although I did read somewhere on the website where it said that, before considering my options. That would have been at the beginning of this year. It clearly said I shouldn't apply if I was engaged, and had to marry her first instead, then apply.
It was CIC's website.

You are mistaken, as it doesn't say that anywhere on the CIC website, and it never has. You must have misinterpreted whatever you read.

There is no problem at all to apply as common-law if you've cohabited for 12 months.

 

[JulianaAndrew]

You are mistaken, as it doesn't say that anywhere on the CIC website, and it never has. You must have misinterpreted whatever you read.

There is no problem at all to apply as common-law if you've cohabited for 12 months.

I must have misinterpreted it, or just remember it wrong. Maybe it was one of the emails I got from the embassy in my country that was telling me that. I think that's more likely to be it. Thank you for clarifying!

 

[Joeydocs]

You can't also apply for conjugal as you have no real immigration barriers. You are already in Canada which means nothing has stopped you from entering this country. Continue living together for 12 months and then apply for common law or if you can't wait for 3 more months, get married. Whichever you choose (CL or married), you can go the inland route and apply for an OWP which can be approved in 4 months time.

Could I apply for an OWP now?

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Could I apply for an OWP now?

Not based on your relationship or a possible future sponsorship app.

 

[Classic Chucks]

Could I apply for an OWP now?

Not yet. Get married or live together for 12 months and then submit the inland app with OWP included in it.

 

[Joeydocs]

Not yet. Get married or live together for 12 months and then submit the inland app with OWP included in it.

I have applied for school and found a school that the us government will give me student loans for to cover tuition but it starts in January, and I was told by the school that the border won't grant me a study permit if i ask for one a couple months before the course actually starts.

 

[scylla]

I have applied for school and found a school that the us government will give me student loans for to cover tuition but it starts in January, and I was told by the school that the border won't grant me a study permit if i ask for one a couple months before the course actually starts.

If you come 4-6 weeks before your program starts - you should be fine. Note that while you can work part time while on a study permit, you cannot start working until your classes start in January.