Newbie American girl wanting to move with her Canadian

[blueangel371115]

Hello,
All this is kind of daunting. I am in the process of filing for a TRV. I have spent almost all of the last 3 months in Canada with my boyfriend. He's a Canadian from Quebec. We've been together eight months now with the intentions of getting married in a year or so. I have books on immigration and it all is a little overwhelming.
We met on eHarmony in August and corresponded daily either on the phone or online after that then we physically met on September 11, 2011 then we began dating on September 23, 2011 so is that when our relationship begans our does it count on the first date? I only ask because I'd like to know exactly how long I have to wait until my boyfriend can sponsor me.
It's also complicated as for a while his folks didn't want me staying there for long periods of time. It'd come up every other week for 3 or four days alll told I've spent at least four months in Canada. He lives with his parents for now but we are looking for a place as soon as I get my TRV. But will this time count for anything? We've been in a monogamous conjugal relationship this whole time but it will turn into a hybrid type of Common-law/Conjugal relationship. When we move in together. I really don't want to have to involve a lawyer but this is daunting.
Also how easy( or is it even possible) is it to extend a TRV once you already have one? I'd like to stay a year at a time, because of our finances I think it would be easier to get one. Then I'd work in the states during the summer while living in Canada.

 

[wilson]

Hi blueangel,

You need to wait until you qualify the requirements of CIC.

I think you are aware that if you are in a common‑law relationship, your boyfriend can sponsor you as his common‑law partner, if you are cohabiting in a conjugal relationship and have done so for at least one year.

Please note that a common-law partner Refers to a person who is living in a conjugal relationship with another person (opposite or same sex), and has done so continuously for a period of at least one year. A conjugal relationship exists when there is a significant degree of commitment between two people.

Common-law partners must attach any documents that show they are in a committed and genuine relationship, for example, evidence that they share the same home, that they support each other financially and emotionally, that they have had children together, or that they present themselves in public as a couple.

 

[oreidapennsyltucky]

My husband and I were in a similar situation. We met on okcupid in February of 2010 when I was in grad school in Canada and quickly fell in love. In July of 2010 we moved in together. Unfortunately, I couldn't find a job in my field since by that point I was on a temporary work permit, which doesn't give employers much confidence. I moved back to the states for a job in January of 2011.

My (now) husband and I knew that eventually we'd want to get married, but hadn't been in a rush because it's so expensive and time consuming. After spending a few months apart, weighing our options, and realizing that applying in one of the categories that's not spousal makes your application more complicated and the timeframe more lengthy, we decided to get married as quickly as possible. We found a venue, called our closest friends and family members to invite them, and got married in June. We only took a month to plan our wedding, but it was the perfect day. We figured that since we both have family members who don't have passports, we'd have to have multiple receptions anyway, so we've already had one where my family lives and we will have another once I move to Canada.

If I were to do it again, I would have sent in for my FBI clearance before my wedding. We thought it wouldn't take that long, but we ended up waiting 9 or 10 weeks. I'd also wait until right before I sent in my application to get my medicals. I had them done a few days after my wedding and now that I'm about to get my COPR, I may only have two weeks to land.

Anyway, in summation, it's supposed to take forever to apply as a conjugal partner. CIC explicitly told us that we'd have a difficult time proving our case if we applied as conjugal partners because there was nothing barring us from being in a relationship.

 

[scylla]

Agreed with the others. You won't qualify under conjugal since there are no barriers to you living together or getting married. If you want to apply for PR through spousal class, you'll either need to get married or live together for a year first.

Note that if you get a TRV, this won't let you live in Canada and work in the US during the summer (i.e. the TRV will not let you leave Canada to work in the US and then re-enter each day). A TRV allows you to extend your visit to Canada only - that's all it's good for. As soon as you leave Canada, the TRV will no longer be valid.

 

[itscoezy]

Agreed with the others. You won't qualify under conjugal since there are no barriers to you living together or getting married. If you want to apply for PR through spousal class, you'll either need to get married or live together for a year first.

Note that if you get a TRV, this won't let you live in Canada and work in the US during the summer (i.e. the TRV will not let you leave Canada to work in the US and then re-enter each day). A TRV allows you to extend your visit to Canada only - that's all it's good for. As soon as you leave Canada, the TRV will no longer be valid.

However, if I'm reading your subject right, are you American? I was under the impression if your american you do not need a TRV...?? You should be able to leave canada and return and have no problems, no?

But yes you do need to get married or live together for 1 year before you are eligible.

 

[scylla]

However, if I'm reading your subject right, are you American? I was under the impression if your american you do not need a TRV...?? You should be able to leave canada and return and have no problems, no?

That's right - Americans don't need a TRV to visit. However the OP is thinking of obtaining an extension to her visit. Once she does this, the extension will only be valid as long as she remains in Canada.

While Americans can visit Canada without a TRV, there's absolutely no guarantee they can leave and return without any issues. In fact, if an American is planning on living in Canada and then traveling every day to work in the US (and then returning to Canada at the end of each day) - then I think sooner or later they will run into significant problems at the Canadian border. Whether an American is allowed into Canada is determined at the border by the immigration official they encounter based on a number of factors which can include what ties they have to the US, how long they're planning on staying in Canada, how long they have visited Canada recently, etc. Americans are not allowed to "live" in Canada - only visit as tourists. If it starts looking like an American is now living in Canada and not just visiting, an immigration official can shorten their visit (i.e. let them in but for less than six months), refused them entry or even slap them with a ban.

 

[Isometry]

Hello,
All this is kind of daunting. I am in the process of filing for a TRV. I have spent almost all of the last 3 months in Canada with my boyfriend. He's a Canadian from Quebec. We've been together eight months now with the intentions of getting married in a year or so. I have books on immigration and it all is a little overwhelming.
We met on eHarmony in August and corresponded daily either on the phone or online after that then we physically met on September 11, 2011 then we began dating on September 23, 2011 so is that when our relationship begans our does it count on the first date? I only ask because I'd like to know exactly how long I have to wait until my boyfriend can sponsor me.
It's also complicated as for a while his folks didn't want me staying there for long periods of time. It'd come up every other week for 3 or four days alll told I've spent at least four months in Canada. He lives with his parents for now but we are looking for a place as soon as I get my TRV. But will this time count for anything? We've been in a monogamous conjugal relationship this whole time but it will turn into a hybrid type of Common-law/Conjugal relationship. When we move in together. I really don't want to have to involve a lawyer but this is daunting.

If you are applying common-law, you will have to wait until you have lived together for at least one full year. The time between September and now helps make your relationship look valid, but doesn't "count" for anything in the way you're asking. If you get married, you can apply as soon as you've got the marriage certificate, even if you're not living together yet.

As stated by other posters, applying conjugal does not have the same restrictions as common-law or spousal, but is exceedingly hard to prove.

Assuming your application is more or less straightforward, you shouldn't need to involve a lawyer. Many of us have applied on our own and been successful. Also, this forum is an awesome resource.

If I were to do it again, I would have sent in for my FBI clearance before my wedding. We thought it wouldn't take that long, but we ended up waiting 9 or 10 weeks. I'd also wait until right before I sent in my application to get my medicals. I had them done a few days after my wedding and now that I'm about to get my COPR, I may only have two weeks to land.

Quoting this because I agree with all of it.

 

[blueangel371115]

Thanks all for the tips and responses. I feel a little better now. It is comforting knowing others have had similar experiences. Is there an advantage filing for a multiple entry visa into Canada? My parents have stated their wishes for me to visit home often ( I live in a VT town and hour or so from the border and 3 hrs from my boyfriend's). I'd visit a couple days each month ( if possible). I'm trying to figure out all my options to make everyone happy and help my family understand what my boyfriend and I are going through. I only asked about work before as I want to be an active role in my family and pull my weight but if I can't, I can't.

 

[OhCanadiana]

Thanks all for the tips and responses. I feel a little better now. It is comforting knowing others have had similar experiences. Is there an advantage filing for a multiple entry visa into Canada? My parents have stated their wishes for me to visit home often ( I live in a VT town and hour or so from the border and 3 hrs from my boyfriend's). I'd visit a couple days each month ( if possible). I'm trying to figure out all my options to make everyone happy and help my family understand what my boyfriend and I are going through. I only asked about work before as I want to be an active role in my family and pull my weight but if I can't, I can't.

You may find it helpful to look at GOGOGO's post at http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/moving-with-spouse-while-application-is-pending-t102071.0.html;msg1411584#msg1411584