Hello,
I have browsed through the threads and had a few questions to answers I could not find yet. I am in a rather complicated situation, and I am concerning all my options on how I should proceed.
I originally immigrated with my family from the United States to Canada in the province of Ontario in 2003 under a study permit when I was under the age of 18. I am still a US citizen, and share a citizenship with another country as well. Since then, I have completed high school, and a 4 year university degree by the end of 2014. After I graduated I received a 3 year PGWP that expires the end of November 2017. Since my graduation, I have had a very hard time finding work that would make me eligible for a Express Entry or PNP application. It has reached the point where I am strongly considering pursuing a second degree in a more specific field and still continue to search for work while I study.
Now, I have been in a genuine relationship with my girlfriend that I met during my studies since early 2013. We have not yet married although we have been informally engaged for a while now. I am worried that applying for a spousal sponsorship with my expiry for my PGWP coming up soon would send a red flag to CIC.
During the time of our relationship, we have lived at separate addresses but visited each other several times a week. I lived with my family that also reside here under visas (guardian, study visas). She lives in her parents house although she is there alone. She simply has not taken over the lease. Her parents provide her with a portion of the rent and financial support in that regard. She has been working at the government of Canada in an NOC A level position for almost two years now.
We have taken trips and other events together and do have a sizable amount of photos and conversation dialogue between each other. I have met her family, including her parents, siblings, and further relatives. However she has not met my family yet. We come from different cultural and religious backgrounds, making it a little complicated to simply introduce her to my family without the establishment of a guaranteed marriage. With changing job situations and so forth we were not yet sure when we would get married hence I delayed her formal introduction to my family. She understands the situation and has been compliant so far. It is not the most ideal situation, as we would both prefer that this was not the case.
We are genuinely interested in getting married, however we had initially planned on doing this next year, by then which my PGWP would have long been expired. So short of applying for another degree and extending my stay as a student until we are married, it seems that the best option is to accelerate the marriage to this fall before the expiry occurs. Should we do this, I do not know if it would be appropriate to introduce her to my family in fear of backlash from such a rushed decision before they get to formally know her. Hence we were thinking we would need a year to do this properly. Here are my questions:
1) I understand we have to provide proof of living together. We have not done so to date. Should I move in with her and change my address accordingly, alongside other documents such as proof of bills being shared etc, would the timing of such a decision be seen as a red flag to CIC?
2) Should we get married and acquire a marriage certificate, would the lack of a wedding ceremony provide concern for another red flag? We would ideally be doing such a ceremony in the summer of 2018 as the size and costs of doing such is quite high. The time it takes to plan is also quite long.
3) Should I apply for an open work permit at time of application for PR, if my PGWP expires before my open work permit arrives, do I fall under implied status? What if I was working at that time, am I required to quit until my official open work permit arrives?
4) Is it smart to apply for a study permit at the same time I apply for a PR in case the PR does not go through? What happens if I receive an open work permit and the PR does not go through, do I stay until the permit expires or does it expire immediately at time of rejection?
5) I would much rather go the route of applying for a study permit as I am worried about the PR application having issues for rejection, however the cost of doing so is very high. Studying here without a PR under international fees until I apply for a PR at the time I originally wanted to which is the summer of 2018 would cost me upwards of $15,000. A cost that I could avoid should I apply for PR now and simply study once I receive it.
6) Do hand written cards and other misc. proofs of relationship have to be sent by mail or could we take a photo of them and submit via the online application?
7) She lives at her parents formal place and as such is not under the lease name or the bills. How do I transfer my name to her lease if she does not formally own the place she lives in? Her parents do not live with her and she is alone there, and she does pay for all bills and a portion of the rent.
Here is a summary of what we could provide:
Proof of conversation since we were in a relationship before getting married. Both electronic and hand written cards.
Written proof from my sponsor's family, colleagues, and my own friends and colleagues of this relationship being true and genuine.
Photographs of us together since the time we met.
If I move in with her in the next month, proof of new address. Not sure how proof of being on the lease would work.
If we get married, a marriage certificate. Odds are high that a formal ceremony will not take place until after the PR application has been sent.
I am considering consulting a legal representative in order to cover all the potential details that could cause for a red flag, and from my perspective so long as the legal fees are justifiable so long as they are less than the cost of education would be should I stay here under the premise of a study permit. However if I could avoid doing so it is better.
Any clarification on what I could face and what to do to prepare properly is greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
I have browsed through the threads and had a few questions to answers I could not find yet. I am in a rather complicated situation, and I am concerning all my options on how I should proceed.
I originally immigrated with my family from the United States to Canada in the province of Ontario in 2003 under a study permit when I was under the age of 18. I am still a US citizen, and share a citizenship with another country as well. Since then, I have completed high school, and a 4 year university degree by the end of 2014. After I graduated I received a 3 year PGWP that expires the end of November 2017. Since my graduation, I have had a very hard time finding work that would make me eligible for a Express Entry or PNP application. It has reached the point where I am strongly considering pursuing a second degree in a more specific field and still continue to search for work while I study.
Now, I have been in a genuine relationship with my girlfriend that I met during my studies since early 2013. We have not yet married although we have been informally engaged for a while now. I am worried that applying for a spousal sponsorship with my expiry for my PGWP coming up soon would send a red flag to CIC.
During the time of our relationship, we have lived at separate addresses but visited each other several times a week. I lived with my family that also reside here under visas (guardian, study visas). She lives in her parents house although she is there alone. She simply has not taken over the lease. Her parents provide her with a portion of the rent and financial support in that regard. She has been working at the government of Canada in an NOC A level position for almost two years now.
We have taken trips and other events together and do have a sizable amount of photos and conversation dialogue between each other. I have met her family, including her parents, siblings, and further relatives. However she has not met my family yet. We come from different cultural and religious backgrounds, making it a little complicated to simply introduce her to my family without the establishment of a guaranteed marriage. With changing job situations and so forth we were not yet sure when we would get married hence I delayed her formal introduction to my family. She understands the situation and has been compliant so far. It is not the most ideal situation, as we would both prefer that this was not the case.
We are genuinely interested in getting married, however we had initially planned on doing this next year, by then which my PGWP would have long been expired. So short of applying for another degree and extending my stay as a student until we are married, it seems that the best option is to accelerate the marriage to this fall before the expiry occurs. Should we do this, I do not know if it would be appropriate to introduce her to my family in fear of backlash from such a rushed decision before they get to formally know her. Hence we were thinking we would need a year to do this properly. Here are my questions:
1) I understand we have to provide proof of living together. We have not done so to date. Should I move in with her and change my address accordingly, alongside other documents such as proof of bills being shared etc, would the timing of such a decision be seen as a red flag to CIC?
2) Should we get married and acquire a marriage certificate, would the lack of a wedding ceremony provide concern for another red flag? We would ideally be doing such a ceremony in the summer of 2018 as the size and costs of doing such is quite high. The time it takes to plan is also quite long.
3) Should I apply for an open work permit at time of application for PR, if my PGWP expires before my open work permit arrives, do I fall under implied status? What if I was working at that time, am I required to quit until my official open work permit arrives?
4) Is it smart to apply for a study permit at the same time I apply for a PR in case the PR does not go through? What happens if I receive an open work permit and the PR does not go through, do I stay until the permit expires or does it expire immediately at time of rejection?
5) I would much rather go the route of applying for a study permit as I am worried about the PR application having issues for rejection, however the cost of doing so is very high. Studying here without a PR under international fees until I apply for a PR at the time I originally wanted to which is the summer of 2018 would cost me upwards of $15,000. A cost that I could avoid should I apply for PR now and simply study once I receive it.
6) Do hand written cards and other misc. proofs of relationship have to be sent by mail or could we take a photo of them and submit via the online application?
7) She lives at her parents formal place and as such is not under the lease name or the bills. How do I transfer my name to her lease if she does not formally own the place she lives in? Her parents do not live with her and she is alone there, and she does pay for all bills and a portion of the rent.
Here is a summary of what we could provide:
Proof of conversation since we were in a relationship before getting married. Both electronic and hand written cards.
Written proof from my sponsor's family, colleagues, and my own friends and colleagues of this relationship being true and genuine.
Photographs of us together since the time we met.
If I move in with her in the next month, proof of new address. Not sure how proof of being on the lease would work.
If we get married, a marriage certificate. Odds are high that a formal ceremony will not take place until after the PR application has been sent.
I am considering consulting a legal representative in order to cover all the potential details that could cause for a red flag, and from my perspective so long as the legal fees are justifiable so long as they are less than the cost of education would be should I stay here under the premise of a study permit. However if I could avoid doing so it is better.
Any clarification on what I could face and what to do to prepare properly is greatly appreciated.
Thank you.