Can we get married while we wait for commonlaw visa to process?

[Jayemxo]

My fiancé and I are living in the UK. I am on a work visa here and he is a British citizen.
If we apply for him to come to Canada as my commonlaw partner, can we get married while the visa is being processed?
I've read advice to others that we shouldn't mention the engagement. Waiting to apply until after we're married will add another year to our time in the UK as well as the added costs if me renewing my UK visa to stay that extra time.
We plan to marry August 2019 and my visa expires in October 2019. We would rather marry here as it would be more difficult (financially) for his family to come to Canada, whereas mine would happily come to the UK for the wedding.
Is it possible to apply as commonlaw partners in, say, autumn of 2018, and then get married in the UK while we wait for his visa-- so that we can move to Canada shortly after the wedding?
I guess my real question is-- If we apply as commonlaw, but show up at the border legally married, will that affect his residency?
Thanks so much!

 

[spousalsponsee]

You can do it without a problem. You will need to inform CIC of the change when it happens. Since the change is the same two people from developed countries going from 'married but without the paperwork' to 'married with paperwork' it's vanishingly unlikely to have any negative impact.

 

[Jayemxo]

You can do it without a problem. You will need to inform CIC of the change when it happens. Since the change is the same two people from developed countries going from 'married but without the paperwork' to 'married with paperwork' it's vanishingly unlikely to have any negative impact.

Thank you.
Do you know whether there is a time limit on when we need to enter Canada after the visa is granted? Does it expire if we don't enter during the time frame?

 

[Hurlabrick]

Thank you.
Do you know whether there is a time limit on when we need to enter Canada after the visa is granted? Does it expire if we don't enter during the time frame?

Yes, there is a 'time limit'.

Once you are approved, CIC will send you a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (CoPR). This will have an expiry date on it. If you do not land and declare PR by this date, it will all expire and you will have to start all over again. The expiry date is usually 1 year from the date of your medical.

Note that it is perfectly possible and very common to do a 'soft landing', so land and declare PR, then return to the UK (or wherever), sell up and return to Canada on another occasion to 'land as settler' and do the customs stuff on that second occasion.

Some light reading here:

http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Landing_as_PR-Canada

 

[Jayemxo]

Yes, there is a 'time limit'.

Once you are approved, CIC will send you a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (CoPR). This will have an expiry date on it. If you do not land and declare PR by this date, it will all expire and you will have to start all over again. The expiry date is usually 1 year from the date of your medical.

Note that it is perfectly possible and very common to do a 'soft landing', so land and declare PR, then return to the UK (or wherever), sell up and return to Canada on another occasion to 'land as settler' and do the customs stuff on that second occasion.

Some light reading here:

http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Landing_as_PR-Canada

Thank you!