Sponsorship request problem.

[Stressedout]

Hi, I am a born and bred british citizen currently in britain wanting to live in Canada with my wife who is canadian born and bred, currently living in Ontario Canada. We have read that if she claims welfare then she cannot sponsor me period. The thing is she works 4 days a week for 6 hours a day and cannot work more than that as she has a 9 year old child to care of alone. She claims a small amount of welfare to help pay for rent. We also heard that the size of her income doesnt matter at the time of the application so is it possible for her to stop claiming welfare for when she appllies to be a sponsor and does she just have to not be claiming welfare for the sponsorship application alone or through the whole process, including PR application etc.?

 

[scylla]

It's the whole process. She can't be on welfare when she submits the application and must remain off welfare until you are approved as a PR.

 

[scylla]

Oh - and just in case you weren't aware - your wife will be financially responsible for you for three years after you become a PR and land. This means that if you claim welfare at any time during the three years after you land, she will be responsible for paying this money back to the government.

 

[pinklady]

You could go to canada as a visitor and look after her child while she goes to work full time?
Just as a temporary measure.
You can still apply outland through the london office even if you're in canada. Total processing time from submitting at Mississauga to Passport Request is about 4 months.

 

[chelley]

She is free to apply for daycare subisidy so she is able to work more regular hours...

Not only should she go off welfare before applying, it's best to be off for her to be off it for at least 2-3 months .. This type of info sometimes takes awhile to make it thru the systems and could delay or even have the application declined if she isn't off for a minimum time before applying

 

[Stressedout]

Thanks for replies.

Yes scyla I am aware that she would be financially responsible. I would be looking for work once granted as a PR although not sure when that will happen the way things are going. Havn't seen her for 9 months as it is but I am visiting her in 2 weeks.

Pinklady.. We have been thinking of that option but we would be gambling on processing times as my visitor visa would be for only 6 months.

Chelly.. Thanks we will look into the daycare subsidy and the 2-3 months off welfare before she can sponser is not good news for us.

Starting to think a work visa might be the best way to go which gives us no advantage on me getting over there even though we are married, doesn't seem righ. Also I cannot even apply for a work permit if I find a job there and would have to come home again to do that I have read. I just want to be with her and start working for our future, so frustrating.

 

[chelley]

if you are under 25 (or is it 27?) there are work holiday visas you can apply for... might be a good option... even on a visitor visa, you can extend for up to a year, which should cover the processing time... but she'd have to find a job that not only supports her current situation, but you as well.. might be stressful on the relationship if you cannot help in a financial capacity (just speaking from experience and seeing it happen before!)

otherwise maybe she might not be aware of all the (non-welfare) options of government support available..

i've posted ones i know of here, most she'd probably be eligible for

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/help-wife-wants-to-ask-for-social-assistance-for-child-t73094.0.html;msg806039#msg806039

her social/case worker might have further ideas, they can be very supportive for ladies that are trying to make their situations better.... they do offer some incentives for those trying to get out of the system that many don't know about or utilize (clothing budgets, housing/relocation support, resume/interview help etc)...

good luck!

 

[pinklady]

Its easy as far as I have seen on this forum to get visitor visa extensions. You just have to apply a month or more before the visitor visa expires. A visitor visa isnt an actual visa, since the UK is visa exempt. but then you apply for extensions and can be given another 6 months, sometimes even another year. Other people on here would be able to help you out with that.

It would be a gamble, but the odds are very good. Check out my spreadsheet of people going through the London visa office, it shows the total processing times.

Good luck

 

[Stressedout]

Thank you again, I am 31. I will read through the links you two sent me and talk it over with my wife when she returns home from work later this evening.

Also I booked my flight to visit her last week over the phone and the woman I spoke to flagged up the fact that I had not booked a return flight and stated that I might be stopped when arriving in Canada by the border agency and refused entry if I do not book a return flight there and then. What should I say to the border agents if this were to happen? Or was she just trying to get more money out of me??

 

[chelley]

not sure but book that return portion even if you don't use it....

they may go so far as to deny you boarding on the plane on a one way ticket... i've booked and discarded return tickets since i know it's a tricky one to get anywhere on a one way ticket these days... (even if it's not to the same airport, you can find cheaper airfare out of pearson to some more obscure airports in scotland and such).. while some have traveled on a one way ticket, it's a very risky prospect..

 

[pinklady]

Ahhh you need the return flight.
I have never been asked to show proof of a return flight when entering canada, but they do ask how long you're visiting for.

BUT..... one time I did only have a one way flight, and they wouldnt even let me check in at manchester airport. I had to buy a return flight at the airport which was quite costly. They wouldnt let me check in until I had that return booked.

 

[Stressedout]

ok thanks ladies(I presume), wife just got home so will talk it over with her. Is it not possible to say, I am travelling on to the US across the border by car after I arrive?

 

[canadianwoman]

Yes, that might work - or it might not. It is usually the airline when you check in that wants to see the return ticket - because if you are refused entry, the airline has to pay to fly you back. I've never been asked to show my return ticket at border control (and I travel a lot), but when I checked in with a one-way ticket to Malaysia, the agent questioned me. He let me on without buying another ticket though - I guess he believed my explanation (that I was going to buy a ticket to Africa in Malaysia).

Return tickets are often not much more than a one-way ticket; they are certainly not double.

If you come to Canada, you can stay for 6 months, and then get an extension. But if your wife cannot support herself and her child on her income now, she won't be able to support you as well. As a visitor, you won't be able to work; so even if she works more hours because you can look after the child, I don't think it will end up being enough money. Maybe it would be better to visit for a couple of weeks, then go back to the UK and work. Could you send her enough money to help her get by without welfare until your PR is issued?

 

[pinklady]

Same as Canadianwoman, I have never been asked to show my return ticket on arrival in Canada, only, when I have been checking in in England. Also yeah, returns are usually only a little more expensive than one way tickets.

It would be fine to tell Canadian immigration you were travelling to US, driving across the border etc. But its unlikely you'll even get to canada without the return portion.
Which airline are you using? It was air transat/canadian affair that stopped me and made me buy the return ticket at the airport.

 

[Stressedout]

Too late as I have already paid for the one way ticket and yes I am travelling with canadian affair/air transat.