Moving to Canada to be with my Fiancée

[hagridandfang]

Alright, to be clear, it feels like I've got a particularly bad setup to apply for permanent residence in Canada. There are a lot of factors that are working against me, and for that reason I don't know where to start. The one thing I will say though, is that I'm not planning to move to Canada for another 2 1/2 years, so I've got time to work on whatever needs to be worked on.

To start off with, I'm an Irish citizen, and I suffer from MS (although I'm fully capable of moving about in any way a normal person would at the moment), and have to take an injection of Copaxone every day. As far as I'm aware, that means I have no other options available to me but applying for a Family Class PR Visa, as that makes me exempt from the Excessive Demand part of the other application processes.

My Fiancee and I are both currently university students, her studying in Canada, and myself in Ireland, and she will be graduating next year. We had talked about getting married in Canada when I moved over, but, from what I understand, now the only way for me to move over is for me to be married to her first. Is there any way that I could move over first, and marry her while I was over there, or is my disability so much of a hindrance that I HAVE to marry her beforehand, and not have a traditional wedding like we had hoped for?

What are the steps that I need to take to make a move to Canada go smoothly? Am I right in thinking that I can go to Canada without a visa (as I'm in a visa exempt country), get married to her, and apply for PR inland? Or are there better options for me in my situation?

 

[truesmile]

You can certainly "visit" her beforehand. Avoid the word "moving" when entering Canada, just stick to the word visit or visiting. Even once here you may still apply outland, for faster processing. Most will suggest that's a better option.

 

[Panamai]

Being from a visa-exempt country, you have two viable options. You could either come over as a visitor for 6 months and get your visit extended for a total of one year, living with your fiancee the whole time and becoming 'common-law.' Or, if you are ready to marry her, just come over as a visitor and you have 6 months in which you can marry her any time. If you apply outland (which is the best and fastest option for visa-exempt countries) you can stay in Canada the whole time and just get your visitor status extended. The visitor extension, I believe, just consists of a form you fill out around the 5 month mark and $100. I never had to do that because I just went back to the USA to see my family when each 6 month visiting period was ending. That's also an option for you, if you can afford the extra travel. The one bad thing is, if you have a lot of stuff to move, you may have to wait and bring it over gradually or after you get your PR as you don't want to look like you are 'moving' at any time before you have a COPR. I just sold all my larger things and brought only what I could fit in the backseat and trunk of my car.

 

[Panamai]

Don't do inland unless you are prepared to be stuck in Canada for 2 years and have no options for appeal in case of a negative outcome! You could very well have your COPR in hand within 6-8 months if you apply outland.

 

[draxz1289]

As already mentioned, outland is the quickest and easiest way.

You can come here on a 6 month visa start living and extend your visa for a year and apply as common-law or get married in that 6 months and apply outland.

Keep in mind it is not recommended to leave the country after applying in-land since if you are denied entry your application is rejected.

 

[swestenzweig]

A couple of other things to keep in mind...

While you are a visitor in Canada, you will not be able to work. How difficult will it be for you to get your career going after a year or more absence? Also, with an existing and ongoing medical condition, you're probably going to need some type of care while in Canada on visit. Can you afford to pay for traveller's health insurance for the entire time you're in Canada?

This is not to deter you by any stretch, but you may find it's better to live apart while your application is processing. You certainly won't be able to see each other as often, but the emotional strains of living apart from your spouse may be less than the financial strains of living together during that time.

 

[Panamai]

Ahh, yes. I wasn't thinking about your medical condition. That's a tough one. My only chronic illnesses are rosacea and asthma and so far I've gotten by on walk-in clinics ($100 a visit). I would think with your condition and meds, you really need to consider your healthcare options. Most traveller's insurances will only cover emergency treatment. You might be better off applying outland and returning to Ireland until you can get your PR. Unless, of course, you can afford to fly back to Ireland when you need to see a doctor or get an Rx filled.

 

[PMM]

Hi

Alright, to be clear, it feels like I've got a particularly bad setup to apply for permanent residence in Canada. There are a lot of factors that are working against me, and for that reason I don't know where to start. The one thing I will say though, is that I'm not planning to move to Canada for another 2 1/2 years, so I've got time to work on whatever needs to be worked on.

To start off with, I'm an Irish citizen, and I suffer from MS (although I'm fully capable of moving about in any way a normal person would at the moment), and have to take an injection of Copaxone every day. As far as I'm aware, that means I have no other options available to me but applying for a Family Class PR Visa, as that makes me exempt from the Excessive Demand part of the other application processes.

My Fiancee and I are both currently university students, her studying in Canada, and myself in Ireland, and she will be graduating next year. We had talked about getting married in Canada when I moved over, but, from what I understand, now the only way for me to move over is for me to be married to her first. Is there any way that I could move over first, and marry her while I was over there, or is my disability so much of a hindrance that I HAVE to marry her beforehand, and not have a traditional wedding like we had hoped for?

What are the steps that I need to take to make a move to Canada go smoothly? Am I right in thinking that I can go to Canada without a visa (as I'm in a visa exempt country), get married to her, and apply for PR inland? Or are there better options for me in my situation?

1. You should note the cost per month of Copaxone without a Provincial health plan (which you won't have at first) is close to $2500 per month.

 

[hagridandfang]

Hi


1. You should note the cost per month of Copaxone without a Provincial health plan (which you won't have at first) is close to $2500 per month.

Well, I could take a plane back to Ireland every couple of months, and pick up some boxes of medication, because the entire cost is subsidized here. At least until I can get onto a provincial health plan, anyway.

From what I gather, I think the best option would be to get married soon enough, here in Ireland, in the courthouse (whenever my fiancee comes here next), and then spend some time in a long distance marriage while I wait here in Ireland for my PR application to come through, while either working or studying. That way there'll be no gap in my resume. Afterwards, assuming I get PR, we might be able to renew our vows in Canada, and have a bigger ceremony then.

Do you guys think that sounds like a better plan?

 

[Rob_TO]

Well, I could take a plane back to Ireland every couple of months, and pick up some boxes of medication, because the entire cost is subsidized here. At least until I can get onto a provincial health plan, anyway.

From what I gather, I think the best option would be to get married soon enough, here in Ireland, in the courthouse (whenever my fiancee comes here next), and then spend some time in a long distance marriage while I wait here in Ireland for my PR application to come through, while either working or studying. That way there'll be no gap in my resume. Afterwards, assuming I get PR, we might be able to renew our vows in Canada, and have a bigger ceremony then.

Do you guys think that sounds like a better plan?

If you aren't planning to move to Canada for 2.5 more years, then what's the rush? If you budget approx 1 year for your outland PR app to go through processing, you don't need to even think of applying for another 1.5 years.

You could always travel to Canada as a visitor at any time, and do a wedding here if you wanted.

 

[AshleyAnne]

Once you start your application the background check and medical exam will expire in one year and USUAALLY they will ask you to land by that time, assuming there are no issues with your application that cause it to take much longer in process. I would think you could plan a nice wedding whereever you wanted it (Canada I'm assuming) and then fly back to Ireland and submitt your application when it is time/ready.

Outland is 100% the way to go, especially since you can be IN Canada when you apply. You can travel back and forth that way without any issue. As stated, be sure to note to the border and customs that you are NOT moving and make sure you always haev your pre booked retrun flight to sshow in case of emergency.

best of luck to you and your love! Make sure you have a LOT of evidence of your relationship to make your life easier.