Inland sponsorship and newly weds

[kfrench]

Hey guys! So my partner and I are getting married this summer. They are from Alberta and I am from the USA. I was up there for around four months last year and have my name on the lease for our place up there (Has been on it since July) and I was wondering if there are any repercussions for apply for sponsorship in the same week that we get married?

We've been talking about getting married for a few months now and finally decided that we wanted to get married this summer. Nothing big, just a "courthouse" marriage because neither of us can afford much more than that and a little reception after with family and a few friends. We'd rather spend the money we have saved up on all of the legal fees for sponsorship and for a lawyer to help us with filling out paperwork. We will have a honeymoon at some other point, once we are able to save up money, but its not a high priority for us since we both would rather have a stay-cation.

Also, we are leaning towards doing Inland sponsorship application just because that way I can apply for a work permit while we wait and I can be there now. I have questions about that too, but I feel I should just make a list of all the questions I have....

• When I fly to Canada (with the intention of getting married and filing FCS papers) what should I tell the customs agent?
• Is there any issue that comes with applying for FCS so soon after gettin married?
• Is the wait time for a OWP different for someone who filed it along with the FCS rather than what it says the wait time in on cic?
• I know that you risk your application being rejected if you leave the country while the FCS is being processed, but are there special circumstances where it is okay? ie death in the family?
• Does it help to have written letters from friends who have know about your relationship with your partner when you are sending in proof of the relationship?
• Is there anything I can do in the next few months to help prepare for all of this?

If I think of more questions, I'll post them here but for now thats what I can think of.

Thanks for any help!

 

[profiler]

Congrats on your impending wedding...

... and I was wondering if there are any repercussions for apply for sponsorship in the same week that we get married?

I doubt you'd be able to get your Marriage Certificate that fast, which can be an issue. But if the registrant is fast, you might be able to. This is a required piece of paper...

• When I fly to Canada (with the intention of getting married and filing FCS papers) what should I tell the customs agent?

Always tell the truth. If you don't have the paperwork filed, you don't have to tell them about it...

• Is there any issue that comes with applying for FCS so soon after gettin married?

No. Usually the longer you wait, the more interest they take. They start to ask, "Why the delay?"

• Is the wait time for a OWP different for someone who filed it along with the FCS rather than what it says the wait time in on cic?

OWP is only for inland applicants. FCS is not inland, it's outland. Inland they call it Spouse, Common-Law or Conjugal Partner In Canada Class (SCLPC). Wait time for OWP if filed with the PR app is 4 months or so.

• I know that you risk your application being rejected if you leave the country while the FCS is being processed, but are there special circumstances where it is okay? ie death in the family?

They tend to tolerate "short trips" outside of Canada. As long as you can get passed CBSA to return, it shouldn't be an issue.

• Does it help to have written letters from friends who have know about your relationship with your partner when you are sending in proof of the relationship?

Yes. It goes to showing the relationship is genuine.

• Is there anything I can do in the next few months to help prepare for all of this?

Have you had a look at the paperwork? Also the paperwork requirements? Once you decide on Inland or Outland, have a look at the checklists to see what paperwork you need, then start gathering!