Sponsoring wife in Beirut - Alternatives? Student Visa?

[bluesosa]

Hello,

Hope someone can provide some insight; I'm in dire need of some help!

My fiancee lives in Beirut right now, while I'm a Canadian citizen and resident of Quebec.

We were planning on getting married this year and applying for a sponsorship. However, given the situation with Damascus/Beirut embassies, I am very worried that the process will take way too long. Quite frankly, I don't know if we can stand being apart (although I know many of you do it!!).

My fiancee is currently finishing her university studies.

Few questions:

1) If she applies to a Canadian university and comes there to study, is it easy to get a student permit as an international student?
2) Will it then be easy for us to apply from within Canada while we are waiting?
3) How long will she able able to stay in Canada?
4) Will she have to take a lot of course, or can she take a more 'relaxed program?
5) What are the disadvantages to this approach? The financial aspect (tuition fees, etc) is not really an issue for us.

Thanks in advance for all your help!

 

[mroliveland]

I am not really expert in this but I can say that in light of the pain of waiting and being away from your wife, I highly recommend to do inland sponsorship (if you can do it)

Many do inland sponsorship while their spouses on visitor visa. They have to extend the visitor visa and they are usually have the fear of not extending the visa. if she will be on student permit, she will stay as long as she is enrolled in her study thus avoiding the visa extensions making study route much better and safer.


In spite of all the cons of inland sponsorship, I think it is still better than the outland especially if your wife from a country where the visa office takes very long time for processing. At least, you are with your wife and it does not matter how long the inland sponsorship takes. The long processing at some visa offices overseas exceeds the the time required for inland sponsorship!!!!! Imagine being away from your wife for more than a year spending considerable amounts of money on the international calls and flight tickets to visit her...The year after marriage is the time that you and your wife have to enjoy, not to waste it in waiting, anxiety, fears and worries, depression, and many other bad things...


If I were you, I would give it a try for sure. I will ask my wife to apply for a study permit/visa after registering in a university and fulfilling all the requirements. If granted, do the inland sponsorship right away.

 

[scylla]

To be approved for a student visa, your wife would have to prove that she really is a student. This means that as part of her application for a study permit, she will need to show strong ties to her home country and demonstrate that she has no plans to remain in Canada long term. The degree / diploma she selects will also have to make sense in light of her previous studies and any work experience. I would recommend against submitting a study permit for a more "relaxed" program since this may make CIC suspect she has other intentions. Study permits are certainly rejected. The main reasons are usually: insufficient funds, studies don't make sense in light of previous studies/experience, and lack of ties to home country.

 

[bluesosa]

Thanks for your responses. Another question: if we apply for spousal sponsorship, is she almost sure to get declined if she later applies for a student visa (for a legitimate program, with sufficient funds, etc)? What are her chances?

Does anyone have experience with this?

Thanks again.

 

[canadianwoman]

If she is going to apply for both, apply for the student visa first. Then, once accepted, she can send in her PR application. If she applies for the student visa after applying for the PR visa, they are going to think she won't return home, and so she will need much more proof of ties to her country.