How do we do this?

[IamJems]

British citizen here! Boyfriend is Canadian.
First visited February 2016 though we met online and had our first communications December 14. Mostly we communicate through snapchat / skype.
Visited twice this year (10 days and then 2 weeks) and a third visit coming up for a month in September, another probably at the end of the year for the same duration (around new years maybe).

I want to move over there and be with him, im aware i can visit for 6 months out a 12 month period on a visitor visa. We've looked at different visa options, and we were considering an IEC working holiday but as ive found out from waiting for the last few months and still not getting an invite, its not a sure thing.

He brought up the idea of a conjugal sponsorship, but from this forum and others ive looked at that looks like a terrible way to go about it, as the only things stopping me from being there for 6 months is money as i cant work over there, and i dont think they would allow that as a valid reason.

I can maybe see about going over for 6 months next year, but even then that poses new problems, i cant work and i wont let him support me for 6 months, that's not fair. I can maybe get a job from home in the UK and do that over there for the 6 months, but then that leaves us with.... its only 6 months, how are we supposed to apply for common law sponsorship when that requires a year? Would 6 months be enough for a conjugal sponsorship? Im not looking for an immediate fix, just some pathway into allowing us to be together.

Is my best bet to cross my fingers that i get approved for a working holiday? There has to be another way or something im overlooking

 

[ImABule]

British citizen here! Boyfriend is Canadian.
First visited February 2016 though we met online and had our first communications December 14. Mostly we communicate through snapchat / skype.
Visited twice this year (10 days and then 2 weeks) and a third visit coming up for a month in September, another probably at the end of the year for the same duration (around new years maybe).

I want to move over there and be with him, im aware i can visit for 6 months out a 12 month period on a visitor visa. We've looked at different visa options, and we were considering an IEC working holiday but as ive found out from waiting for the last few months and still not getting an invite, its not a sure thing.

He brought up the idea of a conjugal sponsorship, but from this forum and others ive looked at that looks like a terrible way to go about it, as the only things stopping me from being there for 6 months is money as i cant work over there, and i dont think they would allow that as a valid reason.

I can maybe see about going over for 6 months next year, but even then that poses new problems, i cant work and i wont let him support me for 6 months, that's not fair. I can maybe get a job from home in the UK and do that over there for the 6 months, but then that leaves us with.... its only 6 months, how are we supposed to apply for common law sponsorship when that requires a year? Would 6 months be enough for a conjugal sponsorship? Im not looking for an immediate fix, just some pathway into allowing us to be together.

Is my best bet to cross my fingers that i get approved for a working holiday? There has to be another way or something im overlooking

Hi.

You're right, conjugal application is an automatic refusal for a UK/Canadian relationship and even if you did have any chance of approval you would still need to prove interdependence and a "marriage like" relationship of one year or more.

Your only realistic options for family class is either coming for 6 months as a visitor and applying to extend your stay to establish common law status, or getting married.

Otherwise, you will need to immigrate on your own if you intend to live here with him. As of right now the candidacy pool for UK IEC invites for this week is over 1900 with 5 open spaces. The outlook is low for IEC this season.

 

[MilesAway]

Conjugal is not an option for you as there aren't any legal barriers preventing you from either becoming common-law or getting married.

The 12 consecutive months can be done anywhere in the world, so it's possible for your partner to go live with you for 6 months also. Many people simply apply to extend their stay in Canada as a visitor.

 

[IamJems]

Many people simply apply to extend their stay in Canada as a visitor.

Is that possible? I was under the impression that you couldn't extend past 6 months. I have a job offer in the UK, its work from home on a low income but it is with a charity i have been a volunteer for for 6 years.

Would it be possible for me to say take this job, move to Canada as a visitor for 6 months and work from there (job is on a computer / phone and doesnt require me to be on site at any time) and then extend my visa from inside Canada?

That may be possible if i could extend my visa. I wasnt aware that was an option at all :/ How often are extensions approved and do i have to give grounds other than, I just really like it here and its where my boyfriend is?

 

[MilesAway]

Yes, many people extend their stay beyond 6 months. Some members here extended their stays repeatedly for a few years.

 

[IamJems]

Yes, many people extend their stay beyond 6 months. Some members here extended their stays repeatedly for a few years.

Thank you I wasnt aware of this.

On my previous visits to Canada i have been asked how much money i had with me upon entry, If i were to come for 6 months would i need a return flight when i enter / enough money tp support myself for those 6 months?

Will they ask me how much money i have on me and will they be okay with me working whilst im here as its not for a Canadian company and is essentially a work from home job in the UK that ill be doing in Canada?

 

[ImABule]

Is that possible? I was under the impression that you couldn't extend past 6 months. I have a job offer in the UK, its work from home on a low income but it is with a charity i have been a volunteer for for 6 years.

Would it be possible for me to say take this job, move to Canada as a visitor for 6 months and work from there (job is on a computer / phone and doesnt require me to be on site at any time) and then extend my visa from inside Canada?

That may be possible if i could extend my visa. I wasnt aware that was an option at all :/ How often are extensions approved and do i have to give grounds other than, I just really like it here and its where my boyfriend is?

Yes, it's possible to extend your stay as a visitor in Canada. You must provide proof of means of support to do this.

No, you need a work permit even to work remotely.

 

[scylla]

No, you need a work permit even to work remotely.

This is incorrect. If the work is remote, you aren't doing work for a Canadian company and that company has no Canadian customers / clients - then you can work remotely from Canada without a work permit.

 

[ImABule]

This is incorrect. If the work is remote, you aren't doing work for a Canadian company and that company has no Canadian customers / clients - then you can work remotely from Canada without a work permit.

Interesting, thank you for the clarification.

How does one, or CIC, ascertain that said company does in fact not have any Canadian customers?

What about customers that are Canadian in the country the company is located in?

 

[canadianwoman]

You can come in as a visitor. You will probably be given 6 months at the border. You can apply to extend this stay (or a shorter stay if the border agent gives you less time) about one month before the stay ends. People are usually given the extension.
You have to be clear that you are a visitor. Have a return ticket with a specific date. You can always change the date after you get the extension. It is good to bring proof of ties to the UK, and proof of funds.
Personally, I would not say you are going to be working remotely. You can work remotely if it is not for a Canadian company, as noted above, but why confuse things at the border? You can say you have been doing that when you apply for an extension.

 

[GG and B]

I'd actually recommend going for the Working Holiday Visa for 2017 cause you would automatically have a 1 year work permit. I did it for 2012, applied end of 2011 and had no problem getting it. You just have to figure out when the time starts that you can apply for 2017 and make sure to do it asap as there are only very limited visas they give out.
Our initial plan was for me to stay for the 1 year with this visa and after that apply to stay as a visitor which would have made us common-law and then apply for Family Sponsorship, however that didn't work out due to private reasons.

But, as others said, you could also go as visitor. I would feel safer with the Working Holiday, but at the end of the day that's your choice to make.

 

[IamJems]

I'd actually recommend going for the Working Holiday Visa for 2017 cause you would automatically have a 1 year work permit. I did it for 2012, applied end of 2011 and had no problem getting it. You just have to figure out when the time starts that you can apply for 2017 and make sure to do it asap as there are only very limited visas they give out.
Our initial plan was for me to stay for the 1 year with this visa and after that apply to stay as a visitor which would have made us common-law and then apply for Family Sponsorship, however that didn't work out due to private reasons.

But, as others said, you could also go as visitor. I would feel safer with the Working Holiday, but at the end of the day that's your choice to make.

The working holiday was the original plan. However there is no certainty or guarantee of a place. Ive been in the pool with over 1k places and still didnt get an invite to apply, I will apply to next years as it gives us 2 years stay in Canada. but if i dont get it i wanted an alternative. Hopefully i do!

Knowing i can now extend my visa and knowing i can also work for a uk company without breaking any laws just means that i have other options.