Canadian wants to bring Girlfriend soon to be wife to Canada from South Africa

[Dinto]

Hi I have fallen in love in South Africa, and want to marry my girlfriend.... what is the easiest way to get her into Canada....as I realize a permanent residence visa takes along time... Should we marry in South Africa and then go to the Canadian Embassy? or should she apply for a visitors visa and we marry in Canada? Its very confusing reading the Canadian Immigration Webpages.... We do not want to be apart for a long period of time... I have funds to support her while we await the pr once in Canada.... its getting her into Canada that seems to be the problem?

 

[pinklady]

It doesnt really matter whether you marry in SA or Canada.
You can apply for a visit visa for her, but if you are married they may take the view that she won't leave at the end of her visit, then her visa would be denied.
Unfortunately, I think the only way for her to be able to move to Canada permanently is to be sponsored as your spouse.
Outland current processing times are 48 days for stage 1, and then 23 months for stage 2. Such a long time.
If you were able to get a visa for her to enter Canada, you could apply inland. Current times are 11-12 months for stage one (at this point she can get a work permit), and 8 months for stage 2. However she would not be able to leave canada during the entire process.

Alternatively, if she could get a positive LMO from and employer she would qualify for a work permit.

Good luck!

 

[computergeek]

Another option is if she has a dying desire to expand her education, she could apply for a study permit. In Vancouver at least, there are also language schools that will assist a student in finding a temporary work position (and the necessary work permit) and this includes French (I was surprised there was an option to study French in British Columbia, but indeed there is such a school - so there may be an option like this where you live too.) The idea is that the job is to help reinforce the language skills. And it never hurts to know French.

 

[worththewait2012]

It doesnt really matter whether you marry in SA or Canada.
You can apply for a visit visa for her, but if you are married they may take the view that she won't leave at the end of her visit, then her visa would be denied.
Unfortunately, I think the only way for her to be able to move to Canada permanently is to be sponsored as your spouse.
Outland current processing times are 48 days for stage 1, and then 23 months for stage 2. Such a long time.
If you were able to get a visa for her to enter Canada, you could apply inland. Current times are 11-12 months for stage one (at this point she can get a work permit), and 8 months for stage 2. However she would not be able to leave canada during the entire process.

Alternatively, if she could get a positive LMO from and employer she would qualify for a work permit.

Good luck!

Needing confirmation: when speaking to the immigration officer it's better to say... "here for a visit" rather than "to get married?".... and later to apply for extension? or not??

 

[computergeek]

Do not say "here to get married" - that will set of ALL the alarm bells.

 

[canadianwoman]

If she is coming in to Canada, just say she is a visitor. She can apply for extension of her stay later.

 

[Dinto]

Well she owns a house in South Africa but has to resign from her job if she wants to come visit Canada... I don't know if this makes her ineligable for a visitors visa?

I find it all so confusing...... we just want to be together.....and I need to go back to Canada...

thanks

 

[steaky]

You can also consider offering/find a job (such as care-giver) in Canada to her, so that she can see if she is eligible to get a work permit and both of you can be together:

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/-t91915.0.html;msg1185889#msg1185889