Question about sponsorship.

[Ferirosha]

Hi! I read through all the posts, guides, examples, and what not. However, I'm still anxious that something bad will happen. So I'm going to ask here just to make sure.

I'm heading over to Canada soon. Before, my intentions were to visit. However, now I'd like to be sponsored by my fiance.
Problem is, I don't know what I need. I'm nervous. I know I'm taking everything I have with me and I'm going to be on visitor's visa first. But I don't have money with me on hand. Would that raise my chances of being declined entry?

Now, I can't exactly say I'm getting sponsored, since I need to marry first and then be sponsored. (Getting marriage certificate after arriving in Canada)
He is currently not working officially. As in he doesn't have a office job or anything. Just a minimum wage job in a restaurant. I know that in the sponsorship form, you must declare your income, but he can't do that since it's not really a real job, I think?
He does however have a house. So shelter is not a problem. Yes, he is a Canadian citizen with a Canadian passport and what not.

Questions here right now are: Am I able to work in Canada? I understand that I'd need to apply for a work visa of some sort, but without one am I able to? (Basic jobs such as waitress or someone that cleans dishes in a restaurant.)

Why am I anxious? Well, I know of marriage fraud, but we're definitely not doing that. It just may seem off to the officer that I'm coming in with nothing but luggages of my belongings with no cash on hand.
Will I be rejected entry or an extension? I'll probably have to stay on Visitor's visa pass until sponsorship application is approved, unless if there's another type of Visa or something I could be on?

What documentations do I need? I have my birth certificate and passport ready. Do I need to bring in say any school reports or health history certificates?

This whole thing is a mess and I'm sorry for that. All I want to know basically is my chances of being approved despite having no cash on hand and if my partner having no "real" job (yet) would mean a rejection to sponsor despite having no problems with shelter and basic needs (still able to pay for basic food and what not). Annnnd my complete chance of immigrating to Canada. I know that there's going to be a hectic lot of interviews since marriage fraud is a thing and I'd need to explain why I want to immigrate, but I'm ready for all of that except the fact that I'll have to declare that I have no money on hand upon arrival, which usually spikes concern for the border officers.
What sponsorship should I do? As I plan on staying with my fiance in his house, so would inland be better?

One more thing. How do I genuinely prove that I'm not using marriage fraud and my relationship with my partner is legitimate? Social media is rising, so we don't exactly send letters to each other. We use apps such as Skype and Facebook everyday though... but that's about it.

Edit: I really hope that I'm not offending anyone, but I was born in New Zealand, which is a visa-exempt country and from what I know, NZ and Canada has a decent relationship with each other. I understand that some other countries may be questionable (due to large drug imports, crime rate, etc.)

Thank you in advance!

 

[MilesAway]

For starters, showing up with all your belongings and no money is a good way to get yourself sent back on the next flight home.

-You cannot work without a permit. If it is a job that Canadians would usually be paid to do, then you need a permit to do it. Otherwise you are working illegally.
-Your spouse (once you are married) can sponsor you. The requirements are basically that they not be bankrupt or on welfare. If they are working, then put that. It doesn't matter if it isn't an office job.
-Depending on your nationality, outland is most likely the best bet. You say you were born in New Zealand; which citizenship do you hold? If NZ, then outland is by far the better option. Sydney is one of the fastest VOs.
-You'll need to prove you have a genuine relationship. Pictures of you together, proof of communication through whatever means you use, any mail you get to your shared address, letters from friends, etc.

 

[Ferirosha]

For starters, showing up with all your belongings and no money is a good way to get yourself sent back on the next flight home.

-You cannot work without a permit. If it is a job that Canadians would usually be paid to do, then you need a permit to do it. Otherwise you are working illegally.
-Your spouse (once you are married) can sponsor you. The requirements are basically that they not be bankrupt or on welfare. If they are working, then put that. It doesn't matter if it isn't an office job.
-Depending on your nationality, outland is most likely the best bet. You say you were born in New Zealand; which citizenship do you hold? If NZ, then outland is by far the better option. Sydney is one of the fastest VOs.
-You'll need to prove you have a genuine relationship. Pictures of you together, proof of communication through whatever means you use, any mail you get to your shared address, letters from friends, etc.

Hi, thank you.
-How else would I be able to stay? I currently am having difficulty finding a job. So I don't really have money with me. I don't know how else I could do this..

-I read that I could possibly work 'cash' jobs, which would be something like a waitress. If it's illegal however I'd submit a work permit for sure. Was just unsure if I could do that if I was on a visitor's visa.

-Even minimum wage job counts as a job? If so, thank you for the information.

-I'm born in NZ and citizenship is NZ. My birth certificate and current passports and documentations are all NZ based. However, I'm confused about Sydney, as Sydney is in AUS and I'm in NZ, which is a neighbouring country, but not the same.

-So printed conversations of say Skype on a daily basis is alright? If so, thank you again for the info.

Also, is Visitor's visa the best way to go until we get contacted about the sponsorship? If so, that's fine. Right now it seems that the hardest part is getting approved by border officers and getting into Canada.

 

[MilesAway]

If you are eligible, you can try for IEC. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/iec/eligibility.asp?country=nz&cat=wh
Otherwise, you will need to find an employer who can go through the LMIA process to get a work permit. Note that many employers are not willing or able to do it. It's an expensive and long process.

Yes, a job is a job.

Sydney is reponsible for Family Class applicants from many countries in that area, including New Zealand.

 

[Ferirosha]

Again, thank you for the reply.

One thing I'm concerned about now is entry. If I'm going to Canada with the intentions of being sponsored and I will state that when being interviewed by border, is it a good idea to not bring all my belongings? (Pretty much just 1 luggage of clothes really. Nothing else.)

Like I mentioned before, I'm having own difficulties so I don't really have spare money that I would bring to Canada. Would that be a huge issue? Or am I able to state, with my belongings, that my fiance will support me? At least until I could get a work permit.

Thank you for answering my questions.

 

[MilesAway]

You are entering as a visitor, so you need to act like a visitor. If you bring all your things, that could get you refused entry. Telling the border guards that you will be looking for a job and a work permit is another great way to get yourself refused.
If you aren't eligible for IEC, then you need to understand that it is very difficult to get an employer willing to go through the LMIA process. There's no guarantee that it will be approved. So showing up and announcing your intention to find work could get you an exclusion order as well, which you definitely do not want.

I think you need to re-evaluate your plan.

 

[Ferirosha]

Well, the difficulties I'm seeing right now would be the fact that I must be on a visitor's visa instead of anything else. At this point, I'm forced to bring very little things with me. I don't want to lie to the officer either, seeing as it really only makes matters worse in most cases. However, I'm not actively going to try and look for a job.
I could say that I'm visiting with the intentions of being sponsored. Does that not help my case, as I pretty much would be saying that I'm intending to stay for long matters of time? All I'd be bringing would be clothes, and a normal visit permit being 6 months means that it should be fine for me to have 1 luggage just full of clothes, does it not?

My plan is not the greatest, I'll admit. This is due to the fact that this is pretty much the first time I'm doing this.

Basically what I'm going to have to do is go through the border and tell them I'm visiting, HOWEVER with the intention of being sponsored by my fiance? I'm still confused as that should clearly tell them that I'm planning to stay longer, but temporarily staying on a 'visitor's pass until we can get everything sorted for sponsorship. With the money case, I was hoping that if I told them that my fiance could support me, it'd be better, seeing as I don't have money on hand.

/shrug I'm just trying to find ways to get in without lying to the officers. I didn't think the issue would be so huge. Would anything I mentioned above help my situation at all? Like I said, I don't actually want to go into Canada just to work, I'm going as I want to immigrate to stay with my fiance. I'd only consider working if it helps the sponsorship situation, but not necessarily if he's able to support me with basic needs such as shelter and food.

 

[volkov]

when you go to visit, you aren't supposed to say anything that will make them worry that you won't go back home. saying you are going with intention of being sponsored is almost certain to get refused entry by many border agents you might run into

you have to get it in your mind that you are going to visit and that you will return home, after you get here you might change your mind, but if you come trying to be on a visitor permit and you bring all your worldly belongings and say you are planning to stay, you will have a good chance of failing

the best thing is to travel very light, one suitcase, not lots of extra stuff, and like I said, convince yourself that you are just going to visit and that you will return home, don't buy a one-way plane ticket, etc.

 

[Ferirosha]

when you go to visit, you aren't supposed to say anything that will make them worry that you won't go back home. saying you are going with intention of being sponsored is almost certain to get refused entry by many border agents you might run into

you have to get it in your mind that you are going to visit and that you will return home, after you get here you might change your mind, but if you come trying to be on a visitor permit and you bring all your worldly belongings and say you are planning to stay, you will have a good chance of failing

the best thing is to travel very light, one suitcase, not lots of extra stuff, and like I said, convince yourself that you are just going to visit and that you will return home, don't buy a one-way plane ticket, etc.

Yes, I know that. However, I had actually called CIC. They said to just say that I'm going there with the intentions of being sponsored, thus why. Do I not listen to that advice?
I do have a return ticket for 2 weeks that I bought before changing minds to be sponsored and stay in Canada. Should I just pack light, get a 2 week visitor's pass permit, then apply for an extension afterwards? 2 weeks is so short though, which is a worry if I want to apply for extensions, seeing as they suggest doing so 30 days before it expires..
I've tried to look at other permits, but as far as I know, visitor's is the only one I could use. Unless if there's another one I could do that I wasn't aware of.

 

[bluecanary]

Yes, I know that. However, I had actually called CIC. They said to just say that I'm going there with the intentions of being sponsored, thus why. Do I not listen to that advice?
I do have a return ticket for 2 weeks that I bought before changing minds to be sponsored and stay in Canada. Should I just pack light, get a 2 week visitor's pass permit, then apply for an extension afterwards? 2 weeks is so short though, which is a worry if I want to apply for extensions, seeing as they suggest doing so 30 days before it expires..
I've tried to look at other permits, but as far as I know, visitor's is the only one I could use. Unless if there's another one I could do that I wasn't aware of.

I think it would be dangerous to let the officer think you intend to stay a long time. But once you're past the border officer, you can go ahead with sponsorship. CIC and the border are different beasts.

Having the return ticket to show them is good. If you get in, you can cancel your return (and hopefully get money back if you bought a refundable ticket) and either reschedule your departure or hold off and stay for the 6 months you are legally allowed to stay (assuming the border officer doesn't limit you to a set number of days), then you can apply to extend your stay about a month before that 6 month time period is up if you wish. It's like $100 to extend.

As for getting permits, I'm not sure what you mean by that. If you're from NZ, I don't think you need anything special to visit Canada as NZ is visa-exempt.

 

[canadianwoman]

You do not need a visitor visa or a permit to enter Canada as a visitor from New Zealand. You are just visiting Canada. One or two bags will not arouse suspicions. You have to be clear that you are a visitor. Have a return ticket, and bring proof of ties to New Zealand, if you have any. (They don't usually ask for proof, but they might.) They don't usually ask about your money either, so don't bring the topic up. If they directly ask, you can say you are going to visit your fiance. If they directly ask, you can say you will be staying at his house and that he will be supporting you during your visit.
Then once you are here you can apply to extend your stay.

 

[volkov]

You do not need a visitor visa or a permit to enter Canada as a visitor from New Zealand. You are just visiting Canada. One or two bags will not arouse suspicions. You have to be clear that you are a visitor. Have a return ticket, and bring proof of ties to New Zealand, if you have any. (They don't usually ask for proof, but they might.) They don't usually ask about your money either, so don't bring the topic up. If they directly ask, you can say you are going to visit your fiance. If they directly ask, you can say you will be staying at his house and that he will be supporting you during your visit.
Then once you are here you can apply to extend your stay.

good points, and pay attention to the concept of "if they directly ask"... the worst you can do is start rambling on about a bunch of things they didn't ask about

 

[Decoy24601]

Also, I would take advice the CIC call center gives with a grain of salt. The CIC is not the CBSA and they can't guarantee you want an individual CBSA officer might do.

Here is some information on Dual Intent: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/tools/temp/visa/dual.asp

You can not be refused at the border simply because you plan to submit a PR application. In fact, visa-exempt travelers are often given an easier time at the border if they have a PR application in process or if they are gathering documents for one and plan to submit it soon. However, you still have to prove that for now you are only visit. That means minimal baggage (1 or 2 bags), proof of ties to your home country, proof of money to support yourself, and a return ticket. There's a good chance they won't question you much at all, but it's good to have all of this just in case they do. If they ask if you if your fiance will be sponsoring you, then you can go ahead and say yes. If you say upfront that you are staying for the full 6 months and planning on submitting a PR application you might not have issues, but you're setting yourself up for catching an officer on a bad day and end up being refused entry for lack of ties to your home country and lack of funds.

Remember, even though you are travelling to Canada on your visa-exempt passport, you will be requesting to enter Canada as a visitor and will be staying as a visitor. You'll be expected to act like one as users have said above.

 

[Ferirosha]

Also, I would take advice the CIC call center gives with a grain of salt. The CIC is not the CBSA and they can't guarantee you want an individual CBSA officer might do.

Here is some information on Dual Intent:

You can not be refused at the border simply because you plan to submit a PR application. In fact, visa-exempt travelers are often given an easier time at the border if they have a PR application in process or if they are gathering documents for one and plan to submit it soon. However, you still have to prove that for now you are only visit. That means minimal baggage (1 or 2 bags), proof of ties to your home country, proof of money to support yourself, and a return ticket. There's a good chance they won't question you much at all, but it's good to have all of this just in case they do. If they ask if you if your fiance will be sponsoring you, then you can go ahead and say yes. If you say upfront that you are staying for the full 6 months and planning on submitting a PR application you might not have issues, but you're setting yourself up for catching an officer on a bad day and end up being refused entry for lack of ties to your home country and lack of funds.

Remember, even though you are travelling to Canada on your visa-exempt passport, you will be requesting to enter Canada as a visitor and will be staying as a visitor. You'll be expected to act like one as users have said above.

Thank you
So I should not take CIC's advice? They seemed genuine and I was going to do what they told me to say, but I suppose me being paranoid and asking everyone here was a better idea.
Should I say that I'm coming with the intent of visiting my fiance, and he will support me for the duration?
Problem is I have a 2 week return flight. Will they issue me with only 2 weeks? If so, it'll be very difficult for me to get an extension, as the website says it must be 30days before expiry when you apply, not 14...
I know that the good thing is that NZ being visa-exempt, it means that I won't be stopped and be suspected of much. But it's different as NZ borders generally don't ask you questions. They check your belongings, check your criminal record, passport, and what not and bam, you're in. I'm rather nervous with the idea of having a interview sort of thing with the officer.

I'm planning to travel with 1 or 2 luggages of just purely clothes, my laptop, phone, some shoes, keyboard, and etc. Would that be fine? I don't really have much assets, so I wouldn't be bringing a mini TV or anything. Pretty much just clothes and said items with some NZ food for my fiance. (Dry foods such as chocolate and biscuits only).

Also, what do you mean by proof of ties to home country? I'm going to bring my birth certificate, NZ passport and health certificate from my local clinic with a list of vaccinations I have and such, but is there anything else I may need to bring? I don't think something like a school certificate matters, would it? I didn't want to bring all these certificates as it'll definitely look like as if I'm trying to find a job, which I'm not. But I'd like to bring as much proof as I can to prove that I am from New Zealand and my sole reason for going to Canada is for my fiance. As I've stated, I would mention that my fiance would support me for the duration of the stay. But would I need to provide any sort of proof for that? I understand that as long as I don't come off as suspicious, I shouldn't need to prove that. My return ticket is on expedia. Would a screenshot of it be valid proof, as I don't have a printed version?

Thank you again in advance.

 

[Decoy24601]

Thank you
So I should not take CIC's advice? They seemed genuine and I was going to do what they told me to say, but I suppose me being paranoid and asking everyone here was a better idea.
Should I say that I'm coming with the intent of visiting my fiance, and he will support me for the duration?
Problem is I have a 2 week return flight. Will they issue me with only 2 weeks? If so, it'll be very difficult for me to get an extension, as the website says it must be 30days before expiry when you apply, not 14...
I know that the good thing is that NZ being visa-exempt, it means that I won't be stopped and be suspected of much. But it's different as NZ borders generally don't ask you questions. They check your belongings, check your criminal record, passport, and what not and bam, you're in. I'm rather nervous with the idea of having a interview sort of thing with the officer.

I'm planning to travel with 1 or 2 luggages of just purely clothes, my laptop, phone, some shoes, keyboard, and etc. Would that be fine? I don't really have much assets, so I wouldn't be bringing a mini TV or anything. Pretty much just clothes and said items with some NZ food for my fiance. (Dry foods such as chocolate and biscuits only).

The CIC agent wasn't wrong, but it's a little more complicated than s/he said. You have two options. Both ways you should say you are visiting your fiance, because that's the truth. Do not mention money or whether he will be supporting you unless asked. If you really don't have any funds of your own then you could try to have your fiance write you a letter saying he will support all of your needs while you are in Canada with some bank statements showing proof that he has the funds. If you're asked, you could try to prevent that as evidence. Some CBSA officers are fine with this, since the first time I visited my husband back when we were dating I said I was visiting for 3 months. This officer didn't ask about money, only whether or not my boyfriend had a job and where he worked etc. The other CBSA officer I dealt with a few months later wasn't so fond of this. It really depends.

Option 1: Say you would like to visit your fiance and that you will be applying for PR while you are there and would like to visit during that time and ask for the full 6 months. This is riskier, since you haven't actually applied yet and don't have any proof of ties.

Option 2: Say you are "planning" on visiting your fiance for, let's say, 3 weeks or so (pick a timeline and have a return ticket. Plans can change, right?). If they ask about a PR application then tell them and be honest, this will likely just work in your favor. If they ask you about proof of funds, this is where you could have proof that your fiance will support you and see if they accept it. Having a PR application shows CBSA officers that you do intend to immigrate legally, so don't be worried if they ask. Answer honestly. I'd say this option is the safest one.

Being visa-exempt doesn't mean you won't be pulled in for a secondary inspection, so it's best to be prepared for that. What you plan on bringing is fine. I would suggest not bringing any food. You'll have to declare this and trying to bring food into Canada tends to be more hassle than it's worth (that's my opinion). You still can, since it's a treat for your fiance and I get that, just make sure you declare it.

This really boils down to the individual CBSA officer and their mood and how they normally handle this sort of situation. One officer might not question you at all, while another will and then refuse you entry. If this happens it won't negatively affect your PR application even though it's not a pleasant experience. You can always try to visit again.

Edit: By proof of ties to your home country I mean proof of a job/property/lease/utility bills/etc. Things to show as proof that you live in your home country and are obligated to return. A screenshot of the ticket should be fine. I'm American and I've both had an easy time at the border and have been hassled for lack of ties. Again, there's a good chance you won't be asked any questions and if you are, there's also a good chance you won't be asked for proof. It's just something that's good to have on hand just in case, since it can happen.