getting married while visiting

[one_love8907]

Hi, I am a U.S. citizen and I've been dating a Canadian citizen for 2 1/2 years now and we're ready to get married. Our relationship has consisted of either me going up to Canada to see him, or him coming down to Illinois to see me. We've been consecutive with our visits and are confident we are ready for marriage. The ultimate goal is for me to come live with him in Canada. My question is what would happen if we just went to the court house on my next visit and got married? Would I be able to stay, or would I have to leave the country and then apply for PR and then come back? We have contacted several immigration officers and nobody is giving us any straight answers or helping. THANK YOU!

 

[matthewc]

You don't get to stay in Canada automatically, until you are a permanent resident (PR). Once you're married, your husband submits an application to sponsor you for sponsor you for permanent residence:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/fc.asp

Step one is to read through all of that paperwork so you get an idea what it entails.

You should be able to continue visiting back and forth as you have been - you're not required to leave (or conversely, entitled to stay) just because you got married. This site has a good overview of the issues around visiting while your app is in process for US applicants:

http://us2canada.com/visiting.php

Even if you do decide to "visit" long term, don't fall into the trap of thinking you should apply "inland". You can apply through the outside route (using the application kit I linked to above) even though you're in Canada. It's the better option for many reasons.

 

[one_love8907]

I do have another question though and wondering if you or anyone else reading this could help. Where my boyfriend lives is only about 20 mintes from the U.S. border and we've been down to the border and talked to immigration officers in person at least 20 times just trying to do this the legal way and not make any mistakes we will regret in the future. On a few different visits, the immigration office told us when we did get married, to just come down to the border office and they can issue my PR card to me right then and there the day of, or day after we get married. How can this be possible? Or is he talking about a visitors visa he can issue me so I may stay in country until PR is approved? This is just a confusing topic and everytime I try to research myself it seems I'm being sent in circles on any websites I go to or by any officers I talk to. Any feedback would be so helpful and would save a load of stress for my boyfriend and I. Much appreciated as well!

 

[job_seeker]

You have to be sponsored by your soon to be husband, first stage approval takes 8-9 months. The POE officer is probably referring to a VR (Visitor Record) where you can stay up to the expiry time indicated on the VR.

I do have another question though and wondering if you or anyone else reading this could help. Where my boyfriend lives is only about 20 mintes from the U.S. border and we've been down to the border and talked to immigration officers in person at least 20 times just trying to do this the legal way and not make any mistakes we will regret in the future. On a few different visits, the immigration office told us when we did get married, to just come down to the border office and they can issue my PR card to me right then and there the day of, or day after we get married. How can this be possible? Or is he talking about a visitors visa he can issue me so I may stay in country until PR is approved? This is just a confusing topic and everytime I try to research myself it seems I'm being sent in circles on any websites I go to or by any officers I talk to. Any feedback would be so helpful and would save a load of stress for my boyfriend and I. Much appreciated as well!