Do I have this right? (UK - Canada+Marriage)

[ConfuzzledBrit]

Hi all,

I have a few questions related to immigration, and I'd greatly appreciate any answers/clarification that you can offer.

I'm British, and soon I'll be moving over to Canada (Newfoundland if that makes a difference) to marry and live with my fiancee, who is Canadian born and bred (full citizen in other words). We met online about 18 months ago, and when I visited her last June, I proposed.

The idea is to fly over on a normal 6 month trip (the max allowed without a visa, I believe), and marry, then start proceedings to get permission to live and work there (family class sponsorship). Is this correct? What do I tell the customs officer on entering the country? Do I say that I'm there to marry and apply to work/stay, or that I'm visiting? I don't want to start off on the wrong foot.

As I understand it, she will need to prove that she can afford to "keep" me, as it were, for 12 months. This won't be an issue.

As the application process can be long, can I apply for an extention to my time in the country while the application is in process, and how easy is it to get one?

I'm a writer, and therefore self-employed (though I'd want to get a job once allowed, too). Would I have to stop trying to sell my work during the non-working part of my stay, or would I be ok since I would be working for myself, and paying taxes in the UK and not Canada?

With regards to the application itself, I intend to apply over there, and not return home to apply, even though it's quicker that way. I have photos, emails, and 18 months of MSN chatlogs (we talk for 6-8 hours a day most days), which I hope will be sufficient as "proof."

Am I correct in all this so far, or have I got mixed up somewhere?




If that's too long, here's the short version:

• I'm (British) off to Canada to marry my fiancee (full citizen) and stay and work. What do I tell the customs officer when I land in Canada?
• Will I be able to still write/submit to publishers during the "no working" part, since it's self employment rather than working for a Canadian company?
• Can I apply for an extension to my stay, if the application process is still going when the original 6 months of a "holiday visa" is finished? How easy are they to get?
• Will 18 months of chatlogs, emails, and pictures from my previous trip be enough "proof"? Can I edit out the private parts of the chatlogs? Or is it best to leave them intact?

I think that's everything. Any help with one or all of the questions would be greatly appreciated, and if I've got something completely wrong I'd rather know now than when I land!

Thank you for reading,

Adam

 

[Baloo]

Hi all,

I have a few questions related to immigration, and I'd greatly appreciate any answers/clarification that you can offer.

I'm British, and soon I'll be moving over to Canada (Newfoundland if that makes a difference) to marry and live with my fiancee, who is Canadian born and bred (full citizen in other words). We met online about 18 months ago, and when I visited her last June, I proposed.

The idea is to fly over on a normal 6 month trip (the max allowed without a visa, I believe), and marry, then start proceedings to get permission to live and work there (family class sponsorship). Is this correct? What do I tell the customs officer on entering the country? Do I say that I'm there to marry and apply to work/stay, or that I'm visiting? I don't want to start off on the wrong foot.

As I understand it, she will need to prove that she can afford to "keep" me, as it were, for 12 months. This won't be an issue.

As the application process can be long, can I apply for an extention to my time in the country while the application is in process, and how easy is it to get one?

I'm a writer, and therefore self-employed (though I'd want to get a job once allowed, too). Would I have to stop trying to sell my work during the non-working part of my stay, or would I be ok since I would be working for myself, and paying taxes in the UK and not Canada?

With regards to the application itself, I intend to apply over there, and not return home to apply, even though it's quicker that way. I have photos, emails, and 18 months of MSN chatlogs (we talk for 6-8 hours a day most days), which I hope will be sufficient as "proof."

Am I correct in all this so far, or have I got mixed up somewhere?




If that's too long, here's the short version:

• I'm (British) off to Canada to marry my fiancee (full citizen) and stay and work. What do I tell the customs officer when I land in Canada?
• Will I be able to still write/submit to publishers during the "no working" part, since it's self employment rather than working for a Canadian company?
• Can I apply for an extension to my stay, if the application process is still going when the original 6 months of a "holiday visa" is finished? How easy are they to get?
• Will 18 months of chatlogs, emails, and pictures from my previous trip be enough "proof"? Can I edit out the private parts of the chatlogs? Or is it best to leave them intact?

I think that's everything. Any help with one or all of the questions would be greatly appreciated, and if I've got something completely wrong I'd rather know now than when I land!

Thank you for reading,

Adam

I read the short version...

First, you cannot "move and live", you can only visit, even when you are married.

What do you say? "Visiting your girlfriend".
Can you still write - Yes, make sure you are paid in the UK, not Canada.
Yes you can apply for an extension. getting in for six months is the hard part - I suggest that you read the notes at the CIC site about visiting.
Your proof - It should be Ok, but I am not the person you need to convince.

Blank out the "hot bits" in the chat logs

You can apply "outland" even if you are in Canada.

Ask more questions as you think of them

 

[ConfuzzledBrit]

Thank you, Baloo.

Are you saying that I should head over and say I'm visiting my girlfriend, then marry and apply to stay? The aim is to stay in Canada with her, and not return to England.

I'll go and reread the CIC site, too. I may have missed the right parts the last time I looked. ???

 

[Baloo]

Look at it from the point of view of the IO.
In most cases, if someone arrives and makes it obvious they intend to stay without permission, the chances are that they will be refused entry.
Because they are coming to Canada as a visitor and visitors have to leave.

My approach at any immigration POE, would be to answer any questions truthfully and not provide other information unless asked.
Many people here say they are visiting friends.
You have to convince the IO that you are returning to the UK, you will need a return ticket (that could be cancelled or modified at a later date).

 

[ConfuzzledBrit]

Look at it from the point of view of the IO.
In most cases, if someone arrives and makes it obvious they intend to stay without permission, the chances are that they will be refused entry.
Because they are coming to Canada as a visitor and visitors have to leave.

My approach at any immigration POE, would be to answer any questions truthfully and not provide other information unless asked.
Many people here say they are visiting friends.
You have to convince the IO that you are returning to the UK, you will need a return ticket (that could be cancelled or modified at a later date).

I see, thank you for clarifying. It wasn't my intention to try and stay without permission, I just wasn't sure how to handle the IO interview.
I had intended to get a return ticket, and to cancel or change the return date if I needed to.

 

[Baloo]

ConfuzzledBrit - your inbox is full.

 

[dishy_max]

Brit - we're doing something similar but we're common-law and applying outland as it is much faster in London that Canada!

When you go into Canada, you can stay for 6 months....my boyfriend is taking his car insurance (SORN) docs as well as bills and a return flight to prove that he intends to leave on a certain date (we're not even asking for the full 6 months).

As Baloo said, don't give more information than they are asking for. Be honest. Tell them you are visiting your friend and that you can support yourself (or she can support you during your stay) - she should be at the airport as they do sometimes as to speak to the person picking you up to confirm that story!

Good luck!