Re: American Girl and Canadian Boy. UPDATED! I need a few more answers!

[TeddyBearsPrincess]

Hello everyone! I made a forum a bit ago asking questions originally for conjugal and school permits. We're saving up to get married. Here's my confusion. I was told by the members that I can enter with JUST my passport and get a new stamp every six months, renewing my visitor status.

I just wanted last minute clarification. I want to go home, I want to go back to Victoria and be with my fiance who is home and looking forward to my return. I got my first six months in Victoria on 9/22/2012, I moved to Edmonds 03/15/13 and yesterday I made 6 months living here. I am here in Edmonds currently. Do I need to apply for a tourist visa or do I just board the clipper, hand over my passport, and get my six months? I'd really appreciate a prompt answer. Thank you in advance!

 

[Steph C]

Hello everyone! I made a forum a bit ago asking questions originally for conjugal and school permits. We're saving up to get married. Here's my confusion. I was told by the members that I can enter with JUST my passport and get a new stamp every six months, renewing my visitor status.

I just wanted last minute clarification. I want to go home, I want to go back to Victoria and be with my fiance who is home and looking forward to my return. I got my first six months in Victoria on 9/22/2012, I moved to Edmonds 03/15/13 and yesterday I made 6 months living here. I am here in Edmonds currently. Do I need to apply for a tourist visa or do I just board the clipper, hand over my passport, and get my six months? I'd really appreciate a prompt answer. Thank you in advance!

Yes, you just board the Clipper or Coho and upon clearing Customs (on the Canadian side?) tell them you are just visiting and they should stamp your passport right there. No need to apply online. Be sure to follow everybody's previous advice about what to say to the Canadian border officials so that they will indeed let you in with 6 months.

 

[TeddyBearsPrincess]

Thank you. I was just scared to quit my job and leave my current residence, go to Victoria, and be stuck because I didn't apply for a tourist visa. How do I renew my visitor status? Do I fill out an application or anything? I know I have to do it 30 days before it expires and I get implied status for doing so.

 

[Steph C]

Thank you. I was just scared to quit my job and leave my current residence, go to Victoria, and be stuck because I didn't apply for a tourist visa. How do I renew my visitor status? Do I fill out an application or anything? I know I have to do it 30 days before it expires and I get implied status for doing so.

There's no 100% guarantee when crossing into Canada that you will get the visa.. that being said you have a pretty high chance of acceptance as long as you say the right things. And don't be moving a bunch of stuff over the border. Not sure about the renewal.. you planning on going for 12 months of Common-law?

 

[TeddyBearsPrincess]

Yes, although I wonder if they'll be okay with common law if we're just going to be married end of next year. Even with that, I have to do at least one renewal. I don't have much to move over thankfully. And there's not much fibbing to be done. I wonder if it'll be a little easier if I have him pick me up and drive across the border? So just to be clear, the visitor visa is completely unnecessary?

 

[Steph C]

Yes, although I wonder if they'll be okay with common law if we're just going to be married end of next year. Even with that, I have to do at least one renewal. I don't have much to move over thankfully. And there's not much fibbing to be done. I wonder if it'll be a little easier if I have him pick me up and drive across the border?

Yes Common-Law is just as good as married.. they don't make an exception if you plan to marry right after the application. If I were you I would marry him quietly right away, so that you can start your paperwork.. I don't know if you get easily bored but it sounds like you're in for a 2 year wait until you can work or study! Bring on the food trucks..

 

[TeddyBearsPrincess]

I'll talk to him and see if we can get a marriage license. As it stands, I think we'll wait till the end of the next year and work on getting common law. He doesn't mind the wait for me to work and neither do I. I'm picking up guitar, sewing, and I found out I can legally take distance courses so boredom shouldn't be a factor. So I'll take a distance course in book keeping and restaurant management while I wait. Thank you so much for all your help guys. I won't apply for a visitor visa, I'll just get ready to go home. Thank you again!

 

[Steph C]

I'll talk to him and see if we can get a marriage license. As it stands, I think we'll wait till the end of the next year and work on getting common law. He doesn't mind the wait for me to work and neither do I. I'm picking up guitar, sewing, and I found out I can legally take distance courses so boredom shouldn't be a factor. So I'll take a distance course in book keeping and restaurant management while I wait. Thank you so much for all your help guys. I won't apply for a visitor visa, I'll just get ready to go home. Thank you again!

You are well on track then for becoming a military wife! You will have no problem finding friends in the other spouses living near by.. Good luck!

 

[TeddyBearsPrincess]

I told him I'm coming home and he's so excited! I just need to renew every little while and I can be common law. How does one go about renewing? Thanks again for all your help guys!

 

[TeddyBearsPrincess]

One more thing, I totally forgot about Sponsorship. When should that be filled out? After our marriage?

 

[Steph C]

One more thing, I totally forgot about Sponsorship. When should that be filled out? After our marriage?

as soon as you qualify as spouses - so after 1 year living together or after marriage, whichever comes first.

 

[TeddyBearsPrincess]

So when would I be able to work again? After the marriage?

 

[MilesAway]

You are able to work after you become a PR, or if you apply inland, after you receive the OWP (after stage 1, roughly 11 months).

 

[TeddyBearsPrincess]

The website is vague about what I really have to do to qualify as a PR. What are the qualifications?

 

[MilesAway]

You don't "qualify" as a PR. In your case, you would be sponsored by your spouse. When the whole process is complete, you get a confirmation of permanent residence, which allows you to go "land" as a PR. Then a few months later, you get your PR card. When you land as a PR, you have the right of residence in Canada, the right to work, and depending on the province, the right to healthcare (all provinces have it, it just varies in the waiting period).