Help: Common-Law Partner's Ex-Wife

[missmini]

I am pretty certain that we have enough evidence of our relationship that we're likely to not need an interview. Our relationship is solid and for proof of it we have:
- tickets to 9 countries travelled together with stamps in our passports
- hotel bookings
- photos with friends and family in several different countries
- facebook messages etc

So, if it is really better to apply outland, I am going to look it up now and any advice you have would be AWESOME! thanks guys!

yes ur evidence looks strong no problem there but u need similar strong clear proofs for the cohabitation part too!!!
as far as i know it's not big deal, make sure u downloand and fill in the outland forms; where they ask abt do u want ur application to go to the country of residence the sponsor says NO which means it will go to the country of nationality (i suppose u have just one, the UK one, and they will easily see that from ur documents, passport, etc); in the pr form they ask u the applicant to write down the visa office, u would write london, same when u do the medicals...and that's it from what i know of!!!

hmm for some people inland is the only option (read my previous post here!) maybe they came in Canada illegaly, running from their countries, maybe they tried to be refugees but their claim was denied; maybe they entered legally but then their travel/work/study permit expired, their renewal got rejected and still they didn't want to leave; applying inland gives them an implied status = normally they will not be deported until the application is finalized; then, most of them will b PRs; i'm very glad Canada has inland process too; they deserve a chance to stay!! there r plenty of stories on this forum, some heart-breaking if u r interested to see.......

u welcome and good luck!!

 

[bonitanita]

yes ur evidence looks strong no problem there but u need similar strong clear proofs for the cohabitation part too!!!
as far as i know it's not big deal, make sure u downloand and fill in the outland forms; where they ask abt do u want ur application to go to the country of residence the sponsor says NO which means it will go to the country of nationality (i suppose u have just one, the UK one, and they will easily see that from ur documents, passport, etc); in the pr form they ask u the applicant to write down the visa office, u would write london, same when u do the medicals...and that's it from what i know of!!!

hmm for some people inland is the only option (read my previous post here!) maybe they came in Canada illegaly, running from their countries, maybe they tried to be refugees but their claim was denied; maybe they entered legally but then their travel/work/study permit expired, their renewal got rejected and still they didn't want to leave; applying inland gives them an implied status = normally they will not be deported until the application is finalized; then, most of them will b PRs; i'm very glad Canada has inland process too; they deserve a chance to stay!! there r plenty of stories on this forum, some heart-breaking if u r interested to see.......

u welcome and good luck!!

WOW! Thanks! I am so grateful.

Our situation is:

- We came to canada in July 2011
- Prior to this we were living at travelling together for 1.5 years and we have evidence
- In Dec, I applied for an extension of my visitor visa but was denied because I didn't send an original stamp of entry (oops)
- In Jan, I applied to have my visitor status restored and have not heard back yet
- I have applied for al of my criminal background checks
- I have booked a medical for march 28th
- He is working and I am living with him

My questions are:
1. is there a difference in cost from inland/outland applications?
2. besides the things you stated, are there any other differences in the forms?

 

[computergeek]

My questions are:
1. is there a difference in cost from inland/outland applications?
2. besides the things you stated, are there any other differences in the forms?

1. No, the cost is the same - $1040 including the application fees ($75 sponsor, $475 applicant) and right of permanent residence fee ($490).
2. There are slight differences to sponsor's portion of the application package, but the content is basically the same.

The Outland versus Inland issue has been discussed numerous times, but in the vast majority of cases it's better to go outland (which really means "a visa office in your home country processes the paperwork") because it is faster. At the present time, using the average numbers, you'd expect to be done with an outland application via London in roughly 9 months (2 months for the sponsorship approval, 7 months for London.) If you file an inland application, it will likely be a year before they even look at the sponsorship application and another year before they complete your application.

For outland, any interview will be conducted in London.

If you apply inland, once the sponsorship is approved, you can apply for an open work permit (generally, you do this at the same time as the original application) and then you can go find a job. But the point is that in 9 months you can have PR (outland) versus 11 months to get an open work permit (inland).

 

[bonitanita]

1. No, the cost is the same - $1040 including the application fees ($75 sponsor, $475 applicant) and right of permanent residence fee ($490).
2. There are slight differences to sponsor's portion of the application package, but the content is basically the same.

The Outland versus Inland issue has been discussed numerous times, but in the vast majority of cases it's better to go outland (which really means "a visa office in your home country processes the paperwork") because it is faster. At the present time, using the average numbers, you'd expect to be done with an outland application via London in roughly 9 months (2 months for the sponsorship approval, 7 months for London.) If you file an inland application, it will likely be a year before they even look at the sponsorship application and another year before they complete your application.

For outland, any interview will be conducted in London.

If you apply inland, once the sponsorship is approved, you can apply for an open work permit (generally, you do this at the same time as the original application) and then you can go find a job. But the point is that in 9 months you can have PR (outland) versus 11 months to get an open work permit (inland).

Thanks so much.
I have spent the day reading the forms and trying to figure it out.
I am going to go with the outland. I really appreciate your advice!

Anita

 

[Victorfoxtrot]

I have just started getting my documents together and had NO IDEA about this!!! I would like to know more. If that is the case, then yes, I would love to opt for the one with a shorter time! How is it that it doesn't matter that i am here in Canada. If that is the case, why do they even have the inland application? Any advice you give me would be MUCH MUCH appreciated.

I had a feeling you didn't realise, which is why I pushed for a bit more info. They changed the rules a few years back I believe - see Missmini's concise summary as to why some do inland. Either way it is perfectly acceptable to be here in Canada on say a visitor visa and apply outland via your home country. This is exactly what I, and many others on the Spousal thread via London,UK have done.

The forms you need can be found by going to the application forms and guides section on the right hand side of the cic.gc.ca site. Just make sure you click the 'Sponsor your family' link under the applying from outside Canada section, not inside. There's only one set of forms entitled Spouse, Common-law or Conjugal Partner and Dependant Children. Those are the forms you need.

Make sure you have enough proof of the actual living together part - that you have combined your affairs. Photos, emails, letters etc are all good to demonstrate the emotional part, but you should also include any rental agreements, bills, bank account details, receipts, joint purchases etc to substantiate the financial side if you see what I mean.

 

[bonitanita]

I had a feeling you didn't realise, which is why I pushed for a bit more info. They changed the rules a few years back I believe - see Missmini's concise summary as to why some do inland. Either way it is perfectly acceptable to be here in Canada on say a visitor visa and apply outland via your home country. This is exactly what I, and many others on the Spousal thread via London,UK have done.

The forms you need can be found by going to the application forms and guides section on the right hand side of the cic.gc.ca site. Just make sure you click the 'Sponsor your family' link under the applying from outside Canada section, not inside. There's only one set of forms entitled Spouse, Common-law or Conjugal Partner and Dependant Children. Those are the forms you need.

Make sure you have enough proof of the actual living together part - that you have combined your affairs. Photos, emails, letters etc are all good to demonstrate the emotional part, but you should also include any rental agreements, bills, bank account details, receipts, joint purchases etc to substantiate the financial side if you see what I mean.

Well since I am from the UK, I think it is wiser for me to apply outland.

As for proof of our relationship, we have:

- Affidavits from landlords / parents we lived with
- 2 pages of list of friends/family who can confirm they met us as a couple incl. dates and country they met us in with their phone numbers
- photos of us with friends and family around the world
- joint bank account info
- mail to the same addresses
- Photocopies of passport stamps where we travelled on the same dates
- copies of airline tickets and boarding passes together
- hotel booking confirmations of both of us
- copies of cards given to us both

Hopefully that is enough to avoid an interview!

Thanks again for your help!

 

[Victorfoxtrot]

I should say so. I also wrote fairly detailed answers (typed up separately on sheets) for questions such as 'how did you meet', 'how did your relationship progress' , rather than try and squeeze it into the short space they give you. My boyfriend thinks I probably bored them to tears which is why they processed my file quite quickly. I sent so much stuff, kept receipts for virtually everything and also sent a pile of emails, invitations to weddings etc. I know others have sent screen shots showing Skype conversation records and also facebook contact etc.