Met a Canadian girl - What next?

[Mellios]

Hi there,

I lost my job in London a year ago and decided to travel through Canada starting in Nova Scotia and moving West. I got here in Feb and met a girl after about 2 days and am still with her. I extended my visitor visa until the end of the year so I need to leave by the end of December.

We want to make a go of it and I'm wondering what is the first step? From doing some reading around it seems that living together for a year is an essential part of the process, this won't be an issue as that is what the plan is anyway (I'm going to get enough money together to mean I have the funds for that amount of time).

Do I need to apply for anything before I leave Canada in the next 2 months or before I return here after Christmas or do I wait until I am back here living with her before we apply for anything?

Also, do I need to stay in England for a specific amount of time before returning here after December?

I'm sure these are questions that have been asked many times before so if someone could point me in the right direction I'd be very grateful,
Many thanks.

 

[Msafiri]

1. You can't apply for sponsorship until you have cohabited for one year.
2. Your chances of co-habitation if you depart for the UK with a return to Canada depends on the goodwill of the CBSA agent you meet at the border and him/her not bouncing you.
3. This goodwill in my opinion will likely be not there - as the border agent would you admit someone who is unemployed, has been hanging out in Canada for almost a year, has already asked for an extension to their admission period, has a gf so in effect has more ties to Canada than the UK and won't go back home?
4. CIC/CBSA are not there to assist you manage your relationship so you can get to application stage - they are their to control entry/stay in Canada - genuine visitors come for a short visit then go back home.
5. You may be best applying for another extension to get you to Feb 2015 when you can apply for sponsorship - check the CIC website for the requirements...you may be able to start getting some of the required documentation such as police clearances.

 

[andrew-brit]

Hi Mellios,

Have you two been living together? It sounds like you have been traveling around and have not lived at a fixed address since February. Due to this fact it will be hard to count the period Feb-December towards the common law requirement of one year.

If it is possible you could start living together in the same place now, and apply to extend your visa for a year. I have never had trouble extending my visitor visa yet.

Also, there is a program called IEC which you can apply for. It gives you a workers visa for a year in Canada. It is closed for 2014 but it will open in December 2014 or January 2015 for next year. There is only a set number of visas available and places go fast so if you are able to/want to stay in Canada and work (so you can support yourself and live with your girlfriend for the required year) this is an option.

 

[Mellios]

Thanks guys, we have not been living together. I have been renting an apartment nearby since I got here. I was planning on coming back in the new year and then we would be living together for a year before applying as it seems this is the done thing in this situation.
Money is the reason I will not be extending my visa at this time, I need to go back to England and get some things sorted out first otherwise, yes, I would've tried to extend again.
Thanks for the link, I shall have a look at that as I have never heard of it before.

This goodwill in my opinion will likely be not there - as the border agent would you admit someone who is unemployed, has been hanging out in Canada for almost a year, has already asked for an extension to their admission period, has a gf so in effect has more ties to Canada than the UK and won't go back home?

I understand this point, I was hoping that having a house and mortgage in the UK would show the border agent my ties to the UK and lessen the chances of them thinking that I am a risky person to admit into the country.