I am an American and want to marry my canadian boyfriend.

[Lil_lulu86]

Hello all. I am currently an American and my fiancé is canadian. We would like to get married in June 2014. I am still currently residing in the states. We want our ceremony to be in Canada and I would like to stay there and live there after we get married. I want to start my paperwork after the wedding. Is this advised? What should my first step be? Thank you all.

 

[benjis_monikuss]

I'm applying common- law so spouse isn't my forte`... but I can give you what I have read.

You are visa exempt so you should hypothetically receive a 6 month visitor visa when you arrive. You can get married then apply for PR and if needed, you can apply for an extension on your visitor visa. Start compiling as much evidence as you can now; pictures of engagement parties, family dinners, wedding invitations etc. You won't be able to apply until you receive your marriage certificate, so you should have a decent amount of time to organize a strong file. Look through the required forms and use the guides to prepare yourself for the things you will need to know and the evidence you will need to gather (make sure you use your country specific guide). My advice is to be thorough and scrupulous and send everything all at once to ensure a smooth and speedy process.

 

[Lil_lulu86]

Is common law better than spouse? And how do u apply common law?

 

[Benni]

Common-Law is harder to prove. I will be doing the same as you -- flying there to marry then apply for spousal. I will stay a few months (you're allowed 6 months at a time on your passport), then come back to the States for a bit. I will go back and forth like that until the PR comes through.

 

[Lil_lulu86]

I thought after our paperwork was submitted we can't cross to go back to the states. I was under the impression after we are married we stay in canada til our paperwork comes back. I would like to stay in canada after we wed and work after I receive my work permit.

 

[missmatalini]

You can legally stay for 6 months and then apply for an extension (75$) and it has to be approved. That's what I've done. . . it might end up being cheaper than constantly flagpoling at the boarder.

 

[Benni]

I thought after our paperwork was submitted we can't cross to go back to the states. I was under the impression after we are married we stay in canada til our paperwork comes back. I would like to stay in canada after we wed and work after I receive my work permit.

That's if you apply Inland.

missmatalini, you make a very good point! I'll discuss that with my guy, we may want to do just that.

 

[Lil_lulu86]

How would I apply for an extension?

 

[sariss]

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/extend-stay.asp

 

[Lil_lulu86]

That was the plan was to apply inland. Has anyone applied inland? And what's the waiting period for a work permit? And is there any disadvantages?

 

[Benni]

C/P from that link: "You should apply 30 days before your status expires to":

extend your visitor, student or work status,
change your permit type (for example, from a student permit to a work permit) or
change your permit condition (for example, if you are studying and you want to change schools, or if you are working and you want to change jobs).

I won't be working OR studying while there. Would the link apply to me as just a visitor?

(Sorry to be hijacking your thread, Lil_lulu86)

 

[sariss]

Yes. The first line states visitor, student or work - you fall into visitor.

 

[Benni]

Thank you!

 

[Lil_lulu86]

Ok so has everyone done is alone? Or has anyone hired someone? I currently would like to try to do this by myself but people are telling me to hire someone from the immigration office of David Cohen. What's the ups and downs to doing it yourself.

 

[Benni]

Oh! Just thought of one more thing -- I'll be buying a round trip ticket for a 90-day stay. If I extend my stay, what do I do with the rest of the ticket?