Questions RE: IEC to Visitor, Sponsorship requirements etc

[psynergy]

Hey guys and gals,

I'm a british guy currently on the CEC, ending soon, and have been living with my Canadian girlfriend the whole year. We're planning on doing the whole common law dealio.

I have some questions, and I've tried looking through the guide, britishexpat, and this forum and I'm getting really, REALLY frustrated. So, if it's ok with you all, I'd really like to just set this up here and ask a ton of questions as I fill out all these forms?

First off, the visitors visa:

• Am I: a)Applying for extension of my temporary residence status b)applying for restoration of temporary residence status as a visitor or c)applying for initial temporary resident permit or extension or temporary resident permit.
• What is the purpose of my visit? Am I a returning worker?
• In the funds available for my stay, what are they looking for?
• If my parents, girlfriend, girlfriend's parents, and myself are all chipping in to help me stay here while we wait for the common law to kick in, what do I put in the 'my expenses will be paid by:' box?
• If I'm just staying living with together with my girlfriend, do I have to put anything for the 'list who you'll visit' section?

Now for the common law visa:

• First of all, do I need to be applying for a work permit as WELL as the common law sponsorship? or will the common law visa allow me to work automatically?
• Secondly, when filling out IMM5490E, and I need to show written and documented evidence, do I just write 'see attached evidence'? Do I write a short piece referencing the documents such as 'she came out to see me (document 4b)'?
• does IMM5669E HAVE to be signed in front of a government official?

Thanks ahead of time, and apologies if I post subsequent questions afterwards!

 

[rhcohen2014]

Hey guys and gals,

I'm a british guy currently on the CEC, ending soon, and have been living with my Canadian girlfriend the whole year. We're planning on doing the whole common law dealio.

I have some questions, and I've tried looking through the guide, britishexpat, and this forum and I'm getting really, REALLY frustrated. So, if it's ok with you all, I'd really like to just set this up here and ask a ton of questions as I fill out all these forms?

First off, the visitors visa:

• Am I: a)Applying for extension of my temporary residence status b)applying for restoration of temporary residence status as a visitor or c)applying for initial temporary resident permit or extension or temporary resident permit.
• What is the purpose of my visit? Am I a returning worker?
• In the funds available for my stay, what are they looking for?
• If my parents, girlfriend, girlfriend's parents, and myself are all chipping in to help me stay here while we wait for the common law to kick in, what do I put in the 'my expenses will be paid by:' box?
• If I'm just staying living with together with my girlfriend, do I have to put anything for the 'list who you'll visit' section?

you are a britith citizen, therefore you do NOT need to apply for a visa to be a visitor. What i believe you need to do is change your status from CEC worker to VISITOR. That MAY be applying for restoration of status as a visitor. I would either post this question as a new thread, or wait to see if a senior member can tell you for sure. I'm also pretty sure, knowing you do not need a visa, that will eliminate the questions you are trying to figure out answers for.

Now for the common law visa:

• First of all, do I need to be applying for a work permit as WELL as the common law sponsorship? or will the common law visa allow me to work automatically?
• Secondly, when filling out IMM5490E, and I need to show written and documented evidence, do I just write 'see attached evidence'? Do I write a short piece referencing the documents such as 'she came out to see me (document 4b)'?
• does IMM5669E HAVE to be signed in front of a government official?

Thanks ahead of time, and apologies if I post subsequent questions afterwards

only inland applicants can apply for an open work permit along with a PR application. As a british citizen, your best bet is to apply OUTLAND as the processing time is siginficantly shorter. Your application will be processed through the London Visa Office. You can remain IN canada as a visitor while the application is sent and in process. You will just need to apply for an extension and request for 6 mo. or a year. There are many applicants who are successful doing this. Keep in mind, visitors can NOT work in canada. If you can secure a remote job from a company in your home country, that is the best deal to have. You can legally work for a non- canadian company while maintaining visitor status in canada.

When you apply inland, and submit an open work permit, it will not be approved until AFTER stage 1 approval, which currently takes 8-10 months. Technically speaking, a British Outland applicant can land as a pr within that time, so it doesn't make sense to apply inland just to be able to obtain a work permit. You will be able to work legally in the same amount of time as a full PR. Either way, inland or outland, you are looking at 8-10 months where you are unable to work. APPLY OUTLAND!!!

I don't know what form IMM5490E is, i would need to know the name of the document to know if i can give you information about it.

 

[vaida]

i know nothing about common law, but regarding the visitor status
a) i believe restoration of your status as a visitor is the right one
b) purpose of your visit could be staying with your common-law partner while PR process. YOU ARE NOT RETURNING WORKER, for the mother of god do not write this u're applying for visitor record!
c) i proved $5000 on my own account and it was enough, depends on how long u're asking the visa to be issued for
d) put 'other' and explain 'myself and parents'. but don't forget to attach the bank statements from your parents along with yours, as well the statement signed by your parents that they are willing to sponsor your stay. if you want less of a hassle just make sure u have a decent amount on your own account. put as much as u can, do not make them think u're gonna be working while u stay
e) yes, the first and only person on the list should be your girlfriend

now those are from my own experience, i am from different country tho, i'm not sure if british citizens have any exceptions or anything

 

[canuck_in_uk]

• Am I: a)Applying for extension of my temporary residence status b)applying for restoration of temporary residence status as a visitor or c)applying for initial temporary resident permit or extension or temporary resident permit.
• What is the purpose of my visit? Am I a returning worker?
• In the funds available for my stay, what are they looking for?
• If my parents, girlfriend, girlfriend's parents, and myself are all chipping in to help me stay here while we wait for the common law to kick in, what do I put in the 'my expenses will be paid by:' box?
• If I'm just staying living with together with my girlfriend, do I have to put anything for the 'list who you'll visit' section?

1. Just to make sure, this is the app you should be using http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/guides/5551ETOC.asp#5551E4. You ARE NOT applying for restoration; that is for those who are out of status. You are applying for an "extension of a temporary resident status". You MUST get this app in before your IEC expires.

2. Purpose of visit is to remain with your Canadian partner while you submit a common-law sponsorship app. You are not a returning worker.

3 and 4. There is no set amount. Add up how much you spend on living expenses per month, multiply that by 6 and then add a bit more. Have your partner write a letter saying that you will be staying with her rent-free; if she's working, include her payslips. If you have savings, show bank statements. Have your parents and her parents write letters saying that they will be paying all of your other expenses. In the "expenses" box, you can select Other and then put "Myself, my partner, my parents, her parents".

5. I would just say "girlfriend and her family".

• First of all, do I need to be applying for a work permit as WELL as the common law sponsorship? or will the common law visa allow me to work automatically?
• Secondly, when filling out IMM5490E, and I need to show written and documented evidence, do I just write 'see attached evidence'? Do I write a short piece referencing the documents such as 'she came out to see me (document 4b)'?
• does IMM5669E HAVE to be signed in front of a government official?

As said above, you can only apply for a work permit with an inland app. I strongly advise you apply outland, much better option for a Brit. Once you are a PR, you will have the right to live and work in Canada.

"See attached evidence" should be fine.

No, IMM5669 does not have to be signed in front of a government official.

 

[psynergy]

Thanks all for the replies!

Just so I'm sure, my current status is 'Worker' right? as I'm on a WORKING holiday visa?

Also, What does the document number for my IEC visa look like? is it the number in big red letters?

 

[psynergy]

Also, Also: As we're applying for the visitor's visa online, how do we provide evidence for my girlfriend's payslips etc when they only take one document?

 

[screech339]

Also, Also: As we're applying for the visitor's visa online, how do we provide evidence for my girlfriend's payslips etc when they only take one document?

Is there any way you could scan the payslips into one electronic copy? There are scanners that will allow you to scan multiple pages into one pdf file.

 

[psynergy]

Possible. I can always compile them into one document, as well. Would I then upload the entire package of evidence into the 'letter of explaination' box? or the proof of funds box? or all of the above?

 

[vaida]

Possible. I can always compile them into one document, as well. Would I then upload the entire package of evidence into the 'letter of explaination' box? or the proof of funds box? or all of the above?

Yes, you will have to compile them into one document and attach it with your bank statements and everything else for the proof of funds. they allow you to submit only one word or pdf document for each category. for example when you attach them a copy of your passport, you can compile it together with other copies of stamps you got when you entered canada as well as copy of your current work permit. and as you asked earlier the document number if the one which starts with U.....

 

[psynergy]

Yes, you will have to compile them into one document and attach it with your bank statements and everything else for the proof of funds. they allow you to submit only one word or pdf document for each category. for example when you attach them a copy of your passport, you can compile it together with other copies of stamps you got when you entered canada as well as copy of your current work permit. and as you asked earlier the document number if the one which starts with U.....

Ok GOOD. I can do that!

Seriously though, am I a worker if I'm on the IEC visa?

 

[vaida]

Ok GOOD. I can do that!

Seriously though, am I a worker if I'm on the IEC visa?

Yes, you are