From IEC to visitor visa

[EJH]

Hi there!

I am currently in Canada on the IEC work visa(Australian), and am sorting out the forms to change to a visitor visa before my work permit expires in February.

My Canadian partner and I are going to put in a Spousal application in July(after we've been living together for a year), and I am hoping to stay as a visitor in the meantime.

Is it advisable to put my partner as a 'person I will visit' on the visa form? Or should I put them as just a friend, or not at all? We are not common law at this stage.

 

[scylla]

You should stay that you are specifically requesting the visitor visa so that you can complete one year of living together with your partner to become common law and then be sponsored for PR. It's extremely rare that visitor visas are refused if you state this as your reason. In other words, be 100% open about your motives and feel free to include your future common law partner's bank statement to support the application.

 

[EJH]

Scylla, you are a treasure.

I was unsure if I should say that was the reason or not, as I was worried they would refuse as it would not be a 'genuine' visitor. Obviously nothing is guaranteed, but I will certainly take this route.

Thankfully funds are not an issue, I just can not bear to be apart from him.