Temporary Visitor Visa questions.

[Flugangst]

I want to go to live in Canada, and be with my fiance. He is the reason why I want to immigrate to Canada. (I live in the USA, by the way.) He has a house, and a good paying job, and he'd be the one who would be supporting me.

I was told that I could stay in Canada until I can file for Canadian Citizenship (After three years of living in Canada, if I remember correctly.) while being on a Temporary Visitor's Visa, as long as I am working or going to school, and so long as I extend my Visa, seeing as I can extend it as many times as I want. So, my idea was to go to Canada, work my butt of, and continue to extend my Visa for the 3 years and then apply for citizenship. I was told that I could, without any doubts, LEGALLY do this. IS THIS TRUE?

She said that first before doing anything else, I need to get a Canadian Work Permit. Then fill in apps online, in person, etc, etc. Now, would I be able to do this while in Canada? Or would this have to be something I'd have to do back here at home in the U.S? Would the Border Customs allow me to enter Canada, as long as I showed them that I was planning on working once I got to Canada? Or would I have to go home eventually and apply for PR in my country of residence? No one seems to be able to answer these questions for me, therefore, I am totally lost about this.

 

[Leon]

Somebody has really given you a lot of wrong information. First of all, you can not apply for citizenship unless you first have become a permanent resident. It is after becoming permanent resident, that you have to live in Canada for 3 years to be able to apply for citizenship. Time spent in Canada on a student visa or work permit before becoming permanent resident could possibly count for up to 1 out of the 3 years.

To be able to become a permanent resident, it is not enough to just live in Canada as a visitor. If you have skills or education to get a skilled type job offer, you could use that to apply for permanent residency. To get a temporary work permit, you first need to have a job offer. To get a student visa, you need to be accepted to a school and show that you have money to support yourself and pay your tuition. For both, you need to prove that you have strong ties to your homeland and will return there after your permit expires so as soon as you say that you are coming to move in with your fiance, you would probably be denied.

Your best bet is coming as a visitor for your 6 months, live with your fiance, get married and have him sponsor you to get permanent residency.

 

[Flugangst]

Thank you for your detailed reply. That is what I have been trying to get out of someone.

Thank you, thank you, thank you ever so much.

I figured that he'd probably have to sponsor me. ( I stayed up really late reading about the Family Sponsorship visa after I wrote this.)

 

[Joie]

.