Hi all!
My American fiance and I will be getting married in 8 days (March 20th, 2016)! He is currently here on the standard 6-month-no-stamp-in-passport visitor's visa, which will expire on April 27th, 2016. We will be applying to extend this visitor' s visa for 6 months, right after we get married (more than 30 days before his current visa expires). We need time to gather all the paperwork and fees for the PR application.
From what I have read online, it seems like this is a very common reason for newly married couples to extend a visitor's visa. It also seems like almost everyone in this situation gets approval with no issues (so long as there are no errors on the application, or missing supporting documentation). I am, however, still nervous about him being denied the extension (if denied, he would have to return to the US, likely for a minimum of 6 months--how could such a thing not cause anxiety?!).
I have a letter from my employer, and 5 months worth of paystubs to show that I can support him through the extension. I only have a gross income of about $2000 a month, and I'm not sure if CIC would consider this sufficient. If necessary, I can have my step-dad write a letter stating he will help us out financially, if we need it (although, my fiance was here before for 6 months, and we survived on my income, and he's been here for 4 months now, and we're surviving on my income).
The thing that worries me the most, is that CIC will not be satisfied that my fiance will leave once his visa extension expires, and so will not grant the extension based on that (which is kind of ridiculous, seeing as he really has no intention of leaving--we're going to file the PR). However, if for some reason, we were unable to start the PR before he fell out of status, he would, albeit reluctantly, return to the US.
My fiance works in the US on an "on-call" basis. When he visits me here, he simply tells his company to switch him to the "not available" list, so they do not call him for jobs. When he returns, he puts himself back on the "available" list, so they will start calling him for work again. Very convenient for his visits, but doesn't exactly show a strong employment tie in the US.
As for his living arrangements, my fiance has lived with his roommate for over 10 years. He comes to stay with me, then returns to live with his roommate (who has obliged this annoying back-and-forth scenario for 2 years now). Again, very convenient for my fiance's visits here, but not a strong living tie to the US.
So, my question is: What and how can we submit something that will convince CIC that he will leave before losing his visitor status (or, as the case will actually be, we will file the PR before he loses his visitor status), so that they will grant the visa extension?
Thanks in advance for any advice and insight!! We need this extension!!
My American fiance and I will be getting married in 8 days (March 20th, 2016)! He is currently here on the standard 6-month-no-stamp-in-passport visitor's visa, which will expire on April 27th, 2016. We will be applying to extend this visitor' s visa for 6 months, right after we get married (more than 30 days before his current visa expires). We need time to gather all the paperwork and fees for the PR application.
From what I have read online, it seems like this is a very common reason for newly married couples to extend a visitor's visa. It also seems like almost everyone in this situation gets approval with no issues (so long as there are no errors on the application, or missing supporting documentation). I am, however, still nervous about him being denied the extension (if denied, he would have to return to the US, likely for a minimum of 6 months--how could such a thing not cause anxiety?!).
I have a letter from my employer, and 5 months worth of paystubs to show that I can support him through the extension. I only have a gross income of about $2000 a month, and I'm not sure if CIC would consider this sufficient. If necessary, I can have my step-dad write a letter stating he will help us out financially, if we need it (although, my fiance was here before for 6 months, and we survived on my income, and he's been here for 4 months now, and we're surviving on my income).
The thing that worries me the most, is that CIC will not be satisfied that my fiance will leave once his visa extension expires, and so will not grant the extension based on that (which is kind of ridiculous, seeing as he really has no intention of leaving--we're going to file the PR). However, if for some reason, we were unable to start the PR before he fell out of status, he would, albeit reluctantly, return to the US.
My fiance works in the US on an "on-call" basis. When he visits me here, he simply tells his company to switch him to the "not available" list, so they do not call him for jobs. When he returns, he puts himself back on the "available" list, so they will start calling him for work again. Very convenient for his visits, but doesn't exactly show a strong employment tie in the US.
As for his living arrangements, my fiance has lived with his roommate for over 10 years. He comes to stay with me, then returns to live with his roommate (who has obliged this annoying back-and-forth scenario for 2 years now). Again, very convenient for my fiance's visits here, but not a strong living tie to the US.
So, my question is: What and how can we submit something that will convince CIC that he will leave before losing his visitor status (or, as the case will actually be, we will file the PR before he loses his visitor status), so that they will grant the visa extension?
Thanks in advance for any advice and insight!! We need this extension!!
