Greetings,
I posted here a while back, thanks to the advice of everyone, my Serbian GF of almost two years, after 2 visitor visa rejections, was accepted on an SX-1 Visa in August 2017.
Unfortunately, her term is almost come to an end, and she will have to return to Russia for exams in the second week of January. She is on an SX-1 visa so technically she can stay up to February 23, 2017 (6 months less a day) but the entry validity date is December 22nd, so once she leaves Canada, she cannot return under her current visa.
Consequently, with 5-6 weeks left in Canada, we have begun to seriously discuss options regarding her future in Canada. Although not ideal due to our ages (Me 25, Her 24), we have thought about marriage given its seemingly the most direct route to our ultimate goal – for her to be able to live and work in Canada. However, I am also aware that this is no guarantee because an ‘elopement’ raises red flags; particularly if one’s parents/relatives are not aware of this and don’t attend the actual ceremony.
Therefore, we are exploring other options such as trying to get her visitor visa extended with the aim of reaching the status of Common-Law together, then submitting an application to sponsor her for PR. However, she will have to return to Russia for 2 weeks to write exams in January, then she has to go back for another 2 weeks for final exams in July, meaning that this could threaten the 12 month requirement to live together. We have also considered waiting until next August, in which my older brother and his girlfriend will be getting married, and trying to get a visitor visa (hopefully Multi-Entry) for that with proof of invitation, and supporting letters from them and so on. But this is only a stopgap and would further delay our time together and her chances of getting a job here.
Surprisingly, there is a large demand in the Job market for what she studies (Serbo-Croatian and Russian – English Teaching and Interpretation), but they all say the same thing. You are exactly what we are looking for, but because you are not eligible to work in Canada, we cannot hire you, nor can we help you in getting a work permit. She will be graduating June 2018 so she will be looking for a permenant, full-time job afterwards, and these seem perfect.
This is why we keep going back to the idea that maybe Marriage is the best option, but 1) would an elopement (only 2 friends for witnesses, to take pictures) mean that sponsorship not be the given that it seemingly it is. And 2) Is it even Possible to get married in that quick of a time? Especially with the holidays. We are in Ottawa FWIW
Thanks.
TL;DR
I posted here a while back, thanks to the advice of everyone, my Serbian GF of almost two years, after 2 visitor visa rejections, was accepted on an SX-1 Visa in August 2017.
Unfortunately, her term is almost come to an end, and she will have to return to Russia for exams in the second week of January. She is on an SX-1 visa so technically she can stay up to February 23, 2017 (6 months less a day) but the entry validity date is December 22nd, so once she leaves Canada, she cannot return under her current visa.
Consequently, with 5-6 weeks left in Canada, we have begun to seriously discuss options regarding her future in Canada. Although not ideal due to our ages (Me 25, Her 24), we have thought about marriage given its seemingly the most direct route to our ultimate goal – for her to be able to live and work in Canada. However, I am also aware that this is no guarantee because an ‘elopement’ raises red flags; particularly if one’s parents/relatives are not aware of this and don’t attend the actual ceremony.
Therefore, we are exploring other options such as trying to get her visitor visa extended with the aim of reaching the status of Common-Law together, then submitting an application to sponsor her for PR. However, she will have to return to Russia for 2 weeks to write exams in January, then she has to go back for another 2 weeks for final exams in July, meaning that this could threaten the 12 month requirement to live together. We have also considered waiting until next August, in which my older brother and his girlfriend will be getting married, and trying to get a visitor visa (hopefully Multi-Entry) for that with proof of invitation, and supporting letters from them and so on. But this is only a stopgap and would further delay our time together and her chances of getting a job here.
Surprisingly, there is a large demand in the Job market for what she studies (Serbo-Croatian and Russian – English Teaching and Interpretation), but they all say the same thing. You are exactly what we are looking for, but because you are not eligible to work in Canada, we cannot hire you, nor can we help you in getting a work permit. She will be graduating June 2018 so she will be looking for a permenant, full-time job afterwards, and these seem perfect.
This is why we keep going back to the idea that maybe Marriage is the best option, but 1) would an elopement (only 2 friends for witnesses, to take pictures) mean that sponsorship not be the given that it seemingly it is. And 2) Is it even Possible to get married in that quick of a time? Especially with the holidays. We are in Ottawa FWIW
Thanks.
TL;DR
- GF of 2 years has 2 Prior Visa Rejections: GF successfully gets SX-1 visa to study English at University for 6 months
- After living together, would like to have her live and work in Canada permanently. Sooner rather than later
- Hesitant about marriage because it would be an elopement, parents wouldn’t know. Could be questionable in eyes of Canadian immigration authorities.
- She graduates in June 2018, and has had a number of job offers in Canada, problem is that they can’t help her achieve a work permit or live here.