Living together or no?

[Xylnaeri]

I was looking at the new application check list, and it says in the "7. proof of relationship (...)" to check yes or no if we're living together.
If I'm staying there as a tourist (there being his place) would that be considered living? Or should I check no to that?

If yes, how can I provide the documents they require, since I wont have any documents with my name as well as his (Maybe only phone bill, but no joint property leases) unless I can get my name on his insurance, but I'm not sure if my name would be registered on his address like that?

But if I check yes, but not to all of those I need to provide 1 from three categories later in the checklist.. and they show some of the same ones as below the "do you live together".. will a document showing joint utilities (two different ones, phone, gas for example) be two different ones or does it have to be a completely different category? If that makes any sense

It also says to show "Proof of your sponsors visits" but I've only visited him, and he's going to be the sponsor, does that matter? Should I just put any airline tickets for my visits to him?

thank you!

 

[profiler]

I was looking at the new application check list, and it says in the "7. proof of relationship (...)" to check yes or no if we're living together.
If I'm staying there as a tourist (there being his place) would that be considered living? Or should I check no to that?

If yes, how can I provide the documents they require, since I wont have any documents with my name as well as his (Maybe only phone bill, but no joint property leases) unless I can get my name on his insurance, but I'm not sure if my name would be registered on his address like that?

It also says to show "Proof of your sponsors visits" but I've only visited him, and he's going to be the sponsor, does that matter? Should I just put any airline tickets for my visits to him?

thank you!

If you're here as a tourist, you can still say yes to that question. You can also provide a letter stating that he is midterm on a current lease (if that's the case) or an explanation why it's not available.

For your last question, a letter or note explaining that you visited him, not the other way around. They can verify that by airline tickets, entry stamps in your passport, and by looking your passport number up...

 

[Xylnaeri]

If you're here as a tourist, you can still say yes to that question. You can also provide a letter stating that he is midterm on a current lease (if that's the case) or an explanation why it's not available.

For your last question, a letter or note explaining that you visited him, not the other way around. They can verify that by airline tickets, entry stamps in your passport, and by looking your passport number up...

And they will accept that? I'd definitely try and see if I can have my name on it, but if I can't there's not much I can do.
Midterm? Well he's paying off mortgage at the moment, i dont know if that would be relevant
Do you know about health insurance in BC? I was trying to find out if it'd be possible for me to be on his health insurance he has through his work, but I couldnt find any information (

So just explain that he didnt visit me, I just visited him instead.

In the checklist, it also tells to show pictures of accompanying family members, should I check that off or just leave it (no one is going with me)
And are family members every family member I have or is it children?

 

[profiler]

And they will accept that? I'd definitely try and see if I can have my name on it, but if I can't there's not much I can do.
Midterm? Well he's paying off mortgage at the moment, i dont know if that would be relevant

I am midterm in a mortgage as well, and I just explained in a note that fact to CIC, and that I owned our home before I met my wife. That was acceptable to them. They are not expecting people to re-open mortgages, or add names to titles...

Do you know about health insurance in BC? I was trying to find out if it'd be possible for me to be on his health insurance he has through his work, but I couldnt find any information (

I live in Ontario, and the eligibility requirements are a little different. Best I can do it suggest a link: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/health-drug-coverage/msp/bc-residents/eligibility-and-enrolment/are-you-eligible/applicants-for-permanent-resident-status and if anyone else can chime in here, I would appreciate that. No experience with MSP, unfortunately. If you asked about OHIP, no problem..

So just explain that he didnt visit me, I just visited him instead.

Yes, this should be fine. Again, same for us. Wife did the visiting, I stayed home and continued to work...

In the checklist, it also tells to show pictures of accompanying family members, should I check that off or just leave it (no one is going with me)
And are family members every family member I have or is it children?

A family is now you and your partner, and any children either or both of you share in common. Your parents with him, etc. If you have satisfied that, then check it off. If not, don't check it off.

 

[Xylnaeri]

I am midterm in a mortgage as well, and I just explained in a note that fact to CIC, and that I owned our home before I met my wife. That was acceptable to them. They are not expecting people to re-open mortgages, or add names to titles...


I live in Ontario, and the eligibility requirements are a little different. Best I can do it suggest a link: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/health-drug-coverage/msp/bc-residents/eligibility-and-enrolment/are-you-eligible/applicants-for-permanent-resident-status and if anyone else can chime in here, I would appreciate that. No experience with MSP, unfortunately. If you asked about OHIP, no problem..


Yes, this should be fine. Again, same for us. Wife did the visiting, I stayed home and continued to work...


A family is now you and your partner, and any children either or both of you share in common. Your parents with him, etc. If you have satisfied that, then check it off. If not, don't check it off.

Well He hasn't met my family in person, is that needed? I could give an explanation of why of course

I have another question (or a few), I hope you can help.
I'm visiting my boyfriend this summer and if we get married, I want to extend my stay.
If we are getting married a bit after I send in the application to extend my stay, should I write that we are getting married (maybe show a proof of the date and such) and say that we want to be together while applying for PR, add the fees as proof as well?
Is it possible to extend my stay a year or more? I'm not sure how long getting all the papers together would take?
And should I put the original purpose as tourism, and then in the other one add what I just said?

 

[profiler]

Well He hasn't met my family in person, is that needed? I could give an explanation of why of course

That would be required. They will want to know why.

I have another question (or a few), I hope you can help.

I'll try my best...

I'm visiting my boyfriend this summer and if we get married, I want to extend my stay.
If we are getting married a bit after I send in the application to extend my stay, should I write that we are getting married (maybe show a proof of the date and such) and say that we want to be together while applying for PR, add the fees as proof as well?
Is it possible to extend my stay a year or more? I'm not sure how long getting all the papers together would take?
And should I put the original purpose as tourism, and then in the other one add what I just said?

If I can offer some advice here:

If you are planning to get married, then I would hold back submitting your application until you are married. It changes the burdon of proof, and by applying inland, you can apply for an Open Work Permit (OWP). You just include that with the PR application package. It's an extra $255 (on top of the $1040 for the PR application). This will permit you to remain in Canada while they process your application. You will be entitled to work, if you please. When you apply for PR, and include this in your application, it will grant you implied visitor status until they "decide" on the OWP (which is pretty much always granted, unless something unforeseen happens).

If you are doing this, I would also apply to renew your passport before returning to Canada. This way, when they issue the OWP, it will be for 2 years, and will most certainly cover the processing times for inland PR.

But yes, you can apply to extend your stay. How long they grant, is up in the air. I do hear of a year being granted typically.

 

[Xylnaeri]

That would be required. They will want to know why.


I'll try my best...


If I can offer some advice here:

If you are planning to get married, then I would hold back submitting your application until you are married. It changes the burdon of proof, and by applying inland, you can apply for an Open Work Permit (OWP). You just include that with the PR application package. It's an extra $255 (on top of the $1040 for the PR application). This will permit you to remain in Canada while they process your application. You will be entitled to work, if you please. When you apply for PR, and include this in your application, it will grant you implied visitor status until they "decide" on the OWP (which is pretty much always granted, unless something unforeseen happens).

If you are doing this, I would also apply to renew your passport before returning to Canada. This way, when they issue the OWP, it will be for 2 years, and will most certainly cover the processing times for inland PR.

But yes, you can apply to extend your stay. How long they grant, is up in the air. I do hear of a year being granted typically.

Well I thought about not going back home, that's the thing, but maybe that would be stupid?
I was going to get the OWP, but I'm only staying for 6 months, and i'm unsure how the best way to do it would be.
My passport lasts until 2021, so would it be necessary to renew it? I can always renew it online I found out.

But I wanted to apply to extend my stay so we can get married and apply, and I wouldnt have to go home. Then apply for PR and OWP, is that a dumb idea?

 

[profiler]

Well I thought about not going back home, that's the thing, but maybe that would be stupid?
I was going to get the OWP, but I'm only staying for 6 months, and i'm unsure how the best way to do it would be.
My passport lasts until 2021, so would it be necessary to renew it? I can always renew it online I found out.

But I wanted to apply to extend my stay so we can get married and apply, and I wouldnt have to go home. Then apply for PR and OWP, is that a dumb idea?

You certainly can extend your stay, assuming you meet their requirements to do so. When you enter Canada (assuming from Denmark, given your flag avatar), you are typically granted 6 months at the border, unless they write in a different date on the entry stamp. Is that the 6 months you are referring to?

If you married in those 6 months, you could apply inland with the OWP package, and not have to apply to extend your stay. The OWP would do that part for you, and it's virtually always approved (providing you are in status when you apply).

If your PP doesn't expire until 2021, then no need to renew. That was an advisory, because some didn't do that, and didn't get the full length of time that they typically grant as a result.

How long are you expecting to take to marry? You can certainly do what you are suggesting...

 

[Xylnaeri]

You certainly can extend your stay, assuming you meet their requirements to do so. When you enter Canada (assuming from Denmark, given your flag avatar), you are typically granted 6 months at the border, unless they write in a different date on the entry stamp. Is that the 6 months you are referring to?

If you married in those 6 months, you could apply inland with the OWP package, and not have to apply to extend your stay. The OWP would do that part for you, and it's virtually always approved (providing you are in status when you apply).

If your PP doesn't expire until 2021, then no need to renew. That was an advisory, because some didn't do that, and didn't get the full length of time that they typically grant as a result.

How long are you expecting to take to marry? You can certainly do what you are suggesting...

Yes! the 6 months I'm hopefully granted. Let's say we get married the 4th month, we would only have 2 months to get the papers together, and such, which I feel isn't enough.. That's why I wanted to extend the stay, because if I have to be put on his insurance, or we have to get joint bills and such.

 

[profiler]

Yes! the 6 months I'm hopefully granted. Let's say we get married the 4th month, we would only have 2 months to get the papers together, and such, which I feel isn't enough.. That's why I wanted to extend the stay, because if I have to be put on his insurance, or we have to get joint bills and such.

You can do the paperwork in the 4 months leading up to the application, no? If the expectation is to complete this, then you can already complete the PR application ahead of time, or at least gather the proofs and answers. To add you to a phone bill or insurance doesn't usually take more than a phone call or a visit to an office.

You can certainly do it as you've suggested, but they will ask you for proof of means to support yourself on the Visitor extension application. It's also another fee to extend your status. Of course if money is no object...

As long as they have the OWP the day before your status expires, you have implied visitor status...

 

[Xylnaeri]

You can do the paperwork in the 4 months leading up to the application, no? If the expectation is to complete this, then you can already complete the PR application ahead of time, or at least gather the proofs and answers. To add you to a phone bill or insurance doesn't usually take more than a phone call or a visit to an office.

You can certainly do it as you've suggested, but they will ask you for proof of means to support yourself on the Visitor extension application. It's also another fee to extend your status. Of course if money is no object...

That's true, I just wanted to relax since I just finished school. But he's going to be working so I could do that when he's not around! But then I'd have two options, depending on the time and if we even get married.
I don't want to rush him, and I don't want it to be just for the application, you know?

So as long as I apply for OWP, I can stay, correct?

Well I have saved up money, plus he pays for where I live, food, bills, etc. so it should be fine, but you never know! I'm not sure how much money they would see as sufficient, but if he pays for what i mentioned above, I feel like they'd accept it?

 

[profiler]

That's true, I just wanted to relax since I just finished school. But he's going to be working so I could do that when he's not around! But then I'd have two options, depending on the time and if we even get married.
I don't want to rush him, and I don't want it to be just for the application, you know?

So as long as I apply for OWP, I can stay, correct?

Well I have saved up money, plus he pays for where I live, food, bills, etc. so it should be fine, but you never know! I'm not sure how much money they would see as sufficient, but if he pays for what i mentioned above, I feel like they'd accept it?

The OWP requires the PR application. But yes. The day their mailroom receives the application, you have implied visitor status until they issue the OWP (4 months later).

We didn't do the visitor extension, but I am sure as long as there is a source of funds, it is ok.

 

[Xylnaeri]

The OWP requires the PR application. But yes. The day their mailroom receives the application, you have implied visitor status until they issue the OWP (4 months later).

We didn't do the visitor extension, but I am sure as long as there is a source of funds, it is ok.

Thank you so so much!

How long did it take for you to get all the papers together?

 

[profiler]

Thank you so so much!

How long did it take for you to get all the papers together?

You bet.

Well, there is an added complication to our case. My wife is from the Russian Federation. Getting paperwork can be troublesome, and translation can also prove challenging.

We knew this upfront. So, we scheduled a wedding for one of her visits. We had already had her USSR birth certificate translated, notarized, and certified by the Canadian Embassy to Russia in Moscow. She brought most of what she needed to get married, then went home to get a police certificate, renew her passport, and to rent her apartment out (and transfer power of attorney to her mother), translation of things like her work book and degree, etc.

She returned and we began the process to complete and acquire any additional paperwork (like the marriage certificate), having notarization of copies made, etc. By the time it was all done, probably 2 months but most of that was waiting.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Do you know about health insurance in BC? I was trying to find out if it'd be possible for me to be on his health insurance he has through his work, but I couldnt find any information (

You won't get MSP until at least a few months after you apply for PR. I believe it is getting a bit easier to do it; it used to be a fight with MSP to get coverage before PR.

He most likely won't be able to add you to his benefits as just his girlfriend; you will need legal status as a spouse, either married or common-law. Also, employer benefits generally require provincial health coverage first. If you don't have provincial coverage and his employer says they can add you to the plan, get confirmation from the actual insurance underwriters. If it turns out that the insurer's fine print required provincial coverage and they find out you didn't have it, you would have to pay back any claims you made.