Desperately need your help re permanant visa for Canada

[nickkaz]

Hi team,

I met my fiancé in Toronto in August last year - I was 6 months into my working holiday visa (max allowed time 12 months). We met, fell in love, moved in together, then decided to move to Australia with her on the working holiday visa. Since coming here, we are now engaged and have also just discovered she is pregnant - super excited and scared at the same time! She wants to raise the child in Canada and I want to be there for everything. also as she's covered for health care in Canada and not in Australia, it makes sense to have us over there.
What are my options for getting a permanent visa? what if I apply and it's not improved by the time she's due to give birth? I don't want to miss this for the world.
really appreciate your help.

 

[truesmile]

Welcome to the forum.

Do you have 12 consecutive months of cohabitation? If you do, and you can PROVE it, then she can sponsor you as 'common-law'. If not, once you are married she could sponsor you then.

Are you from a visa-exempt country?

 

[nickkaz]

Welcome to the forum.

Do you have 12 consecutive months of cohabitation? If you do, and you can PROVE it, then she can sponsor you as 'common-law'. If not, once you are married she could sponsor you then.

Are you from a visa-exempt country?

Hi mate,
Yes we do have proof. We lived together with her mother from September - January (her mother could provide a stat declaration I guess?), we then got our own place in Australia and are both on the lease as proof.
I'm a New Zealand citizen..

 

[truesmile]

Then, you can start gathering ALL the documents required and she can submit an application for sponsorship as soon as it's ready. An "outland" application if you are still in Australia at the time.

 

[Sweden]

Even if you're in Canada, apply outland. Sydney is one of the very fast VO, and you will most likely be done with your application outland earlier than the 1st stage inland.
So Gather the proofs, apply outland, and wait! you can stay in Canada on a tourist visa, even if you won't be able to work, but at least you can be here. Most likely you will have a 6 months visa when entering Canada, and then it can be extended, so you don't have to leave. Just apply for an extension 1 month before your current visa expires, and the extension should be granted.
Good luck,
Sweden

 

[nickkaz]

Thanks

 

[Catou]

Get that stat dec from her mother and gather every bit of evidence of your relationship that you can. It takes awhile to get it all together but, if you can, apply while you are still in Australia. You will need police certs from both Australia and NZ - the Aussie one is easy as you apply online. The NZ one is even easier as you simply complete a form that is in the country-specific pack that authorises Sydney to do the check with NZ.
Applying from inside Australia is faster. For some reason, there's loads of evidence that applications from Australian residents are processed quicker than for kiwis that are outside Australia.

While you are getting things sorted, get your drivers record. If you have had a NZ drivers license get your NZ drivers record as well as records for any other countries where you have held a drivers license. This will make it easier to change to a provincial license in Canada and is also useful for insurance.

Best of luck with your application.

 

[nickkaz]

Thanks team, really appreciate the feedback.
One last question. Applying directly myself or using a company like IXP? Is one more beneficial than the other?

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Thanks team, really appreciate the feedback.
One last question. Applying directly myself or using a company like IXP? Is one more beneficial than the other?

Definitely do it all yourself, using a company provides no benefit.