Searching for some answers in a pretty unique situation

[buttie]

Hi everybody,

I have researched far and wide into the application procedures for family sponsorship. I think my situation is pretty unique and I hope I can find some answers here as to what the best route would be.

Me and my fiance have known eachother a little over 4 years, I am 27, a Dutch citizen and currently in canada on a visitor record that ends july 27. She is 23 and a Canadian citizen. We are both not living the most usual lifestyle and have a very strong passion for traveling and have done this very frequent in the years we have been together. We want to apply for permanent residency and are getting married this summer. We started dating almost four years ago and after almost dating for 2 years we decided we were not ready and needed to work on ourselves first. About 8 months ago we started dating again and since then we have been traveling together to numerous countries. She had another relationship in the meantime. We have stayed in contact almost the whole time and only been without contact for 4 months, mainly because we both needed it to grow. I can truly say that we are eachothers soulmates and best friends and not having contact was one of the hardest things for both of us. I guess we are people with a lifestyle that the goverment normally has very few understanding for and could be classified as hippy like.

I have stayed in Canada many times, mostly working freelance through my own company in Holland. I used to be a web developer but have since let this go because it made me very depressed. I have used my Canadian working holiday visa and lived with her in this period. The last two years I have had many temporary jobs in many different places because of my passion to travel, and the rough relationship I have with my home country (Being depressed every time I settle there, it truly feels like I was born in the wrong country). She has been in many different places too and has had jobs in many different places too. Neither of us have ever recieved wellfare, have a criminal record or anything like that.

So to sum it all up, we know eachother for 4 years and have dated for almost 2 and then 8 months recently. We both haven't had very stable working lives in the last 2 years. I have been visiting Canada quite often and am now on a visitor record. We want to start a more stable life in Canada together in which traveling becomes less of a priority.

My question would be: What would be the best way to apply and go through this?

Given that we would preferably stay together and I don't want to settle in Holland, my idea was to stay in Canada until we get married and apply for permanent residency outside of Canada. And then temporarily move to New Zealand together, where we can both enjoy our working holiday visas until the application is processed. Does this sound like a reasonable plan in this situation?

Other then that I would also like to know if it would be an option to apply from within Canada while all I have is a visitor record?

Thanks in advance,
Rudy

 

[scylla]

Your situation is pretty normal (hopefully that comes as good news).

Once you are married, you should apply using the outland method (outside of Canada) as you have planned. You can remain in Canada as a visitor while the application is being processed (lots of us have applied outland while in Canada - there are no issues doing this). Or you could certainly wait out the processing of the application in a different country. If you end up waiting out the processing of the application in a different country, it's possible your girlfriend may be asked to provide evidence that you plan to return to Canada to live here once the processing of the application has been completed and your PR status approved.

 

[buttie]

Thanks!

I guess I might just be complicating things in my head.

So the recent traveling all over and no stable jobs as of late shouldn't be a problem? Also staying inside Canada is a lot harder since I can't work here, would I just apply to keep staying as a visitor, I thought they gave me this visitor record because they might believe that I want to stay here and that is not allowed or can we write a letter that she will provide for me while we stay here?

 

[scylla]

There is no minimum income required to sponsor a spouse. As long as your girlfriend isn't on social assistance or bankrupt - the lack of a job should not be an issue.

You'll most likely have no issues extending your visitor status once you're married and have submitted the PR application. You can say you're waiting out the processing of the application and that your girlfriend is supporting you while you wait.

 

[buttie]

Thank you very much, that makes everything seem a lot easier than I thought.

I have one more question. I currently have a visitor record for a 100 days and it states on my record that I need to "Furnish proof of compliance on 27 July 2015 at port of exit". Does this mean I need to give them my visitor record if I leave and not extend my visa, or does that mean I have to proof that I have health insurance and/or funds for my current stay, because they were asking me about that at the border. I have tried to call CIC but it seems very hard to get through.

Thank you very much.

 

[buttie]

PS The lack of job is no problem for the sponsorship but it would be to provide proof for my visitor visa. Although the lack of job should be fixed fairly soon.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

I have one more question. I currently have a visitor record for a 100 days and it states on my record that I need to "Furnish proof of compliance on 27 July 2015 at port of exit". Does this mean I need to give them my visitor record if I leave and not extend my visa, or does that mean I have to proof that I have health insurance and/or funds for my current stay, because they were asking me about that at the border. I have tried to call CIC but it seems very hard to get through.

That means that you are supposed to leave Canada by that date and give your visitor to CBSA on your way out.

However, you are allowed to apply to CIC for an extension of visitor status. If you've applied and haven't heard by July 27th, you are allowed to remain in Canada on Implied Status beyond the visitor record expiry.

 

[floomy]

We had kinda similar situation to yours.
dated for years and traveled for a year and got married.
When we applied sponsorship (outland), neither of us had a job , not much saving too.
My husband had been approved as a sponsor a month after we sent application.
As Scylla mentioned, since we applied outland, vo requested to more evidence to support our plan to settle down in Canada after PR.
After I sent all supporting docs and re medical , I am waiting for DM.

FYI: We explained our future plan and why we decided to travel etc in details on separate sheet of paper.

Hope it helps.