Getting fiancee (to be spouse) while on PGWP

[Rv_2311]

Hi Everyone,

I just graduated from a 2 year program and hold a 3 yrs Post Grad Open Work Permit (PGWP). I have been in a long distance relationship since Sept 2013 and have just been able to visit her in August 2014 for a month during my summer break. I recently got a job and want to get her here asap.

Read a couple of posts and am quite unsure on how to proceed. Though I plan to fly back and get her here on visitors post applying for spousal dependent in November I wish to start sometime soon for gathering the documents. We have our chats, video calls, phone calls, a 179 pages book I have written for her etc etc as a proof.

My question is : How soon can I get her here and is it possible to get her here on Tourist visa, get married in city hall and apply for her dependent? Chances of rejection? we have had enough of long dist and plan to start our life here.


Can any of you help me out to decide so we can start working towards it?

 

[kristianvassilev]

Hi,

What's the country she will be applying from?

I was in your boat not too long ago - long distance relationship for 3 years, got married and then she came here (just 2 weeks ago).

What I wanted to do was wait for my PGWP (which took like 200 days) and then, since I work in the required NOC she was going to apply for SOWP (spousal open work permit). A TRV is issued automatically with that.
Anyway, my PGWP was issued only until Jan. 18 2016 (my passport was expiring), so I extended my passport but didn't want to wait another 200 days before I received my extended PGWP so she could apply for SOWP.

My wife came here as a tourist (visitor visa). It was a long process (35 pages of documents - including letters from her employer, my employer, proving that she has strong ties there, buying a 2-way ticket (her returning back home in 6 months) etc.

From the time we submitted the application to the time she came to my door in Canada it was 8 days. They approved it, asked for her passport and I bought a ticket.

So my advice would be:
If you want her here fast - try to get her to come as a visitor.
If you want her to be able to work right away and to stay here longer than 6 months - she applies for a SOWP.

My wife is just a tourist now. But with my PGWP extension she can apply for OWP from within Canada. It will take a few months though.

Hope this helps.