Common-Law Marriages

[TTMK]

Okay, I'm confused.

When you get married the spouse can't stay in Canada until they fill out an immigration application and get accepted, right?

If that's right then how do common-law marriages work?

 

[EXCELLANS]

Hello;

Firstly, Are you married or Common Law ? They are different;

İf you married: You must apply for sponsorship ASAP and maybe well waiting paper work they might be able to stay.But if you have TRV you sould go get it extened 30 days before it expires..

 

[TTMK]

Ohh, what I don't get though is how the common-law person got to Canada in the first place and got to live with the other person for 1(+) year.

 

[mitamata]

I can tell you how I could do it. I don't need a visa to visit Canada for up to 6 months. I could go to Canada, stay with my husband for 6 months, leave to visit home for a week, then return to Canada for another 6 months and then visit again and so on. Of course, I wouldn't be able to work in Canada, but I could still be living with my partner.

Another possibility is that the person is in Canada with a different visa. Maybe a skilled worker visa or a student visa or whatever.

 

[TTMK]

Oh I see, that makes sense. Thanks !