confusing wording! "are you sponsoring a member of the family class" plz help!!

[bankerguy]

I am a Canadian citizen. My girlfriend is from Japan but she has been living in Canada for 10 years. (she was a student, now she's working). She is currently here on a work visa.
We have been living together for 3 years now as boyfriend and girlfriend.

I am currently filling out the "APPLICATION TO SPONSOR, SPONSORSHIP AGREEMENT AND UNDERTAKING" form.

I have two questions.

First Question:
When it asks my current relationship with her, I should put "conjugal partner" not "common-law" ? Is this correct? I believe so because even though we have been living together like common-law, as far as the government goes, i believe we'd be still classified as conjugal since we've never applied for any kind of sponsorship in the past. Can someone confirm this please.

Second Question:

VERY confusing wording!!!
"Are you sponsoring a member of the family class or a member of the spouse or common-law partner in Canada class?" yes OR no?

I have no idea what this means...can someone please help!

 

[Sweden]

Conjugal partner is when you can not marry or live together but have a "marriage like" relationship.
If you've been living with your girlfriend for 3 years, you're common law partner. In Canada, CL partnership is "automatic" once you have been living for 12 months with your partner.

You're sponsoring your CL partner, so yes. She is considered your CL spouse, hence member of family class.

Sweden

 

[canadianwoman]

She is your common-law partner. For the second question, they are asking if you want to sponsor inland or outland. Your girlfriend has been living in Canada for a long time, so inland might make more sense, though she could do either.

 

[bankerguy]

WOW...that was fast! and very clear and to the point

THANK YOU SO MUCH .


Can i ask, how do you know this ? being from sweden and all?

 

[Sweden]

WOW...that was fast! and very clear and to the point

THANK YOU SO MUCH .


Can i ask, how do you know this ? being from sweden and all?

my name is Sweden - it doesn't mean I'm from Sweden but that might be confusing indeed.
I got sponsored by my partner, and landed last November, 6 months ago. I've gone through the process, so most of it is quite familiar! it's the same for everybody on the forum - either sponsors or sponsored...

For more info on the inland/outland process, read the first thread here http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/spousal-sponsorship-t46995.0.html it will probably clarify most questions...

Good luck!
Sweden

 

[bankerguy]

my name is Sweden - it doesn't mean I'm from Sweden but that might be confusing indeed.
I got sponsored by my partner, and landed last November, 6 months ago. I've gone through the process, so most of it is quite familiar! it's the same for everybody on the forum - either sponsors or sponsored...

For more info on the inland/outland process, read the first thread here it will probably clarify most questions...

Good luck!
Sweden

We are definitely doing the inland process because she doesnt want to have to go to a foreign office to apply.

If we do the inland process, can she still take short vacations out of Canada? or does she have to stay in Canada while the application is being reviewed?

 

[MadeInCanada]

For inland applications the applicant should stay in Canada. Should she leave, the application may be considered abandoned and would have to reapply.

Take Care
MadeInCanada

 

[Sweden]

We are definitely doing the inland process because she doesnt want to have to go to a foreign office to apply.

If we do the inland process, can she still take short vacations out of Canada? or does she have to stay in Canada while the application is being reviewed?

she can also do outland while staying in Canada, but she is free to go in and out of Canada (which is not the case for Inland, as the previous poster explained). If she applies outland, all the forms will be sent to Mississauga first, then they will go to Manilla (responsible for Japanese applicants as Tokyo is closed). Your gf wouldn't have to go to Manilla herself, unless she is asked for an interview. The only reason why she would be asked for an interview is if the visa officer thinks that the relationship is not genuine... she is from a visa-exempt country, and you guys have been living together for 3 years, so that's very unlikely to happen! Especially if she has been working in Canada for 10 years - she is obviously not trying to gain access to Canada as she is already here with a legal status that allows her to work. so she could stay in Canada, on her work visa, and apply outland.

The main benefit of applying inland is usually to get a work permit in Canada after 6 months, and be allowed to stay in the country. AS your gf already has a work permit, and if it expires she could stay in Canada on a tourist visa, there is no benefit to apply inland - she could do the outland process, so she can go in and out of Canada. It's completely legal to apply outland and be in Canada - lots of people do it.

Sweden