Tourist Extension (a bit long but please read :( )

[LauraLynnR]

Hi everyone!
I always come back to ask something before I extend my stay! ???
This would be the 3rd time I have to ask for a Tourist Extension, and I know you can apply as many time as you want as soon as you have sufficient funds available, but this time it's more complicated.
I'm here since September 2013, so it's more than a year that I live in Canada, with my boyfriend, and last September we basically became common-law, so now you would tell me "Why didn't you apply for PR then?" The thing is pretty clear: for now we don't have enough money... PR is expensive and we calculated a total amount of 1100$ MINIMUM for all of it... might as well wait, right? We can't afford this.

Now the problem is another tho: my boyfriend lost his first job around August, he's currently waiting to go to a meeting on December 1st between his old employer, himself and Quebec's Norme du Travail, to retreive money that was stolen from him by that employer (he was modifying his hours, removing hours from his payslips, etc.) that will give us around 2000$ to $5000 compensation... we just don't know when he's gonna pay us tho :
Meanwhile he found another job during October, but he was laid off due to lack of work about 3 weeks ago and even if he applied right away for employment insurance (chomage) he still hasn't recieved any money or news yet.
End of the story: we are late on rent, paying the bills, etc. right now but fortunately we receive support from our families so we get by.

All of this to say that we don't know what to do, since my Extension Visa expires on January 8th 2015, and I have to re-apply before the end of November but this is the worst time ever for us to show he's supporting me.
For my previous Extension we attached a letter signed by him, stating he was supporting me financially, a copy of our lease to show we live together and his paystubs from March to June showing his stable job and income.
Now I wonder:
1. Can he still support me even if he's looking for another job and he receives money from employment insurance and Emploi Jeunesse (an organization that helps young people between 18 and 24 when they lose their jobs or if they do have a job but don't make enough for a living) or is it considered the same way as being on welfare?
2. Should we just ask my parents to lend us some money, put it into my bank account and write that I'm supporting myself in the application like we did for my first Visa? We are just afraid they're gonna find it strange, since he was the one supporting me.
3. Should we just put that my parents are paying the expenses for my stay since they're the ones helping us through this and attach a letter of explanation why my bf can't do it right now?

We are confused and we feel a bit helpless right now. I'm afraid I'll have to pack my bags this time and go back to Italy
Thanks to all in advance! Sorry if it took long, but at least this living hell we're going through is clear.

 

[scylla]

I'm not sure why you think you have to reapply before the end of November. The 30 days is a guideline - not a rule. As long as CIC receives your extension request before your current extension requires, then it's fine. You can wait until the beginning of January to apply.

 

[Regina]

Your situation is very complicated and now when your BF is on EI- it makes things ever worse.

Why have not ever you looked for a job? I mean some job where it is very easy to get LMO? Like at Wendy or Tim Hortons'?

Number 1 and 3 - are the best what you can do now.

 

[LauraLynnR]

I'm not sure why you think you have to reapply before the end of November. The 30 days is a guideline - not a rule. As long as CIC receives your extension request before your current extension requires, then it's fine. You can wait until the beginning of January to apply.

Oh well, that might change everything! The thing is I've ever done that a month before cause usually it takes CIC from 2 to 3 weeks to process my file, so I wanna make sure I receive the visa on time and be prepared to go home if they deny it.
If I apply on January, what's gonna happen if I haven't received any news on the 8th or after? I don't think I can stay in Canada longer just to wait for my visa... isn't it illegal to stay, passed the date on your document?

 

[LauraLynnR]

Your situation is very complicated and now when your BF is on EI- it makes things ever worth.

Why have not ever you looked for a job? I mean some job where it is very easy to get LMO? Like at Wendy or Tim Hortons'?

Number 1 and 3 - are the best what you can do now.

I haven't looked for a job cause I can't do it unfortunately... i'm on a tourist visa since last year, and tourists of course can't work, neither look for a job. Before coming here I tried to apply for a work permit hoping i could work too to help him get by, but the results of the test on the CIC website were REALLY discouraging (not enough work experience, low knowledge of french language which is required to work in QC, and my high school diploma isn't suitable for most lines of work) so I let it be.
So in the end what I wanna know, is if my bf is on EI can he still say he supports me on my application or not?

 

[canuck_in_uk]

If I apply on January, what's gonna happen if I haven't received any news on the 8th or after? I don't think I can stay in Canada longer just to wait for my visa... isn't it illegal to stay, passed the date on your document?

No, it's not illegal as long as you submit an extension of stay app prior to your current status expiring. You will have Implied Status, which is a valid legal status, after your current status expires until CIC makes a decision on the extension app.

You can submit an extension up to the day before your status actually expires.

tourists of course can't work, neither look for a job. Before coming here I tried to apply for a work permit hoping i could work too to help him get by, but the results of the test on the CIC website were REALLY discouraging (not enough work experience, low knowledge of french language which is required to work in QC, and my high school diploma isn't suitable for most lines of work) so I let it be.

Though visitors aren't allowed to work, they ARE allowed to look for a job. If you can find an employer who goes through the LMIA process to hire you, you can apply for a work permit.

Have you looked at the Italian IEC program? It would allow you to work for up to 6 months. http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/italy-italie/experience_canada_experience/index.aspx?lang=eng

 

[LauraLynnR]

No, it's not illegal as long as you submit an extension of stay app prior to your current status expiring. You will have Implied Status, which is a valid legal status, after your current status expires until CIC makes a decision on the extension app.

You can submit an extension up to the day before your status actually expires.

Though visitors aren't allowed to work, they ARE allowed to look for a job. If you can find an employer who goes through the LMIA process to hire you, you can apply for a work permit.

Have you looked at the Italian IEC program? It would allow you to work for up to 6 months. http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/italy-italie/experience_canada_experience/index.aspx?lang=eng

Well then, this might change a lot of things... by January he'll probably have gotten a new job, or /and all the money that has been taken from him from his old job, which will give us quite a bit of money to show under the "funds available" section.

Actually there was somebody who was talking about hiring me eventually... my boyfriend's old employer! The one who was subtracting hours and money from his pay... I would not trust somebody like this anymore even if it was the only chance to get hired... plus since we got him in trouble with the Norm Du Travail for malpractice he doesn't even wanna talk to us anymore, so I would say my chance is gone with him at least, I hope you understand ???
I should try and ask if somebody else is willing to do it for me at this point.

Yes, back then I looked at the Working Holiday Program, something I suggest everybody to try when they ask me how to get a job and visit Canada... If I have to go back on January I guess I should give it a try this time if I'm still on time... I know that unfortunately the available spots are limited and they get filled within a few hours of the Program starting.
The only thing that concerned the both of us was that we didn't know if with the Working Holiday Program they would send me to a random place or I could chose where to work... if they would send me somewhere other than QC it would have been pointless since my bf wouldn't have had any means of transport to reach me, neither we would have had the chance to live together and become common-law.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

The only thing that concerned the both of us was that we didn't know if with the Working Holiday Program they would send me to a random place or I could chose where to work... if they would send me somewhere other than QC it would have been pointless since my bf wouldn't have had any means of transport to reach me, neither we would have had the chance to live together and become common-law.

???

The IEC program doesn't send you anywhere. They don't assign you a job or anything like that; it's just a way to get an open work permit. You can go wherever you want.

 

[LauraLynnR]

???

The IEC program doesn't send you anywhere. They don't assign you a job or anything like that; it's just a way to get an open work permit. You can go wherever you want.

Oh there you go! I've always thought they would send you here with a job already so the possibility of you working and supporting yourslef was pretty much guaranteed! In a few words, if you're not lucky enough, you're basically screwed!
Just thinking about me coming to this little town I live in, where there's no job opportunities for its citizens either...
My god, it seems strange that on the internet all I can find is how to apply, what to do, etc. but nobody really talks about what really is about... thanks!

 

[Regina]

Look for another PROPER employer who, of course, agrees and is able to get a LMO for you. If he gets LMO for you you could apply for an OPEN work permit.

To go back to home country and tring to get IEC - will get you nowhere: CIC will suspect your intention is not to get some Cnadaian experience but to stay with your BF in Canada (as you doing it now) and will not issue a WP for IEC.

Stay in Canada on TVR, and start looking for a job (with LMO).

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Let me correct the myriad of errors in this post.

Look for another PROPER employer who, of course, agrees and is able to get a LMO for you. If he gets LMO for you you could apply for an OPEN work permit.

To go back to home country and tring to get IEC - will get you nowhere: CIC will suspect your intention is not to get some Cnadaian experience but to stay with your BF in Canada (as you doing it now) and will not issue a WP for IEC.

Stay in Canada on TVR, and start looking for a job (with LMO).

It is called an LMIA, not an LMO.

An LMIA allows a person to apply for a CLOSED work permit, not an open work permit.

OP doesn't need to return to Italy to apply for IEC.

MANY people on this forum have applied for IEC while waiting for their PR so that they can work instead of just being visitors. For visa-exempt applicants with a spousal sponsorship app submitted, there is little chance of being refused by CIC for the grounds you stated.

A TRV is merely an entry visa and does not allow a person to stay in Canada. As OP is visa-exempt, TRV is irrelevant to her anyways. She is in Canada on visitor status.

 

[LauraLynnR]

Thanks for the information! Sorry if I was absent for a few days.
Anyways, I haven't submitted any application for PR yet (can't afford to pay the huge fee for now ) so I assume from what you wrote, that I can't apply for any work visa whatsoever unless I already applied for PR. Did I get it right?

That's why the best thing we can do for now is apply for another Tourist Extension (waaaay less expensive than PR!) and I'll be able to stay here for a few other months eventually, hoping we'll be more stable, and finally send my PR application.
In a few words, what I was really interested in knowing was if a person on unemployment (like my bf right now) could still be included in my Tourist Extension application, stating he's the one supporting me financially (aka "Paying my expenses in Canada") or can't cause unemployment is considered as much as being on Welfare?

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Thanks for the information! Sorry if I was absent for a few days.
Anyways, I haven't submitted any application for PR yet (can't afford to pay the huge fee for now ) so I assume from what you wrote, that I can't apply for any work visa whatsoever unless I already applied for PR. Did I get it right?

That's why the best thing we can do for now is apply for another Tourist Extension (waaaay less expensive than PR!) and I'll be able to stay here for a few other months eventually, hoping we'll be more stable, and finally send my PR application.
In a few words, what I was really interested in knowing was if a person on unemployment (like my bf right now) could still be included in my Tourist Extension application, stating he's the one supporting me financially (aka "Paying my expenses in Canada") or can't cause unemployment is considered as much as being on Welfare?

Applying for a work permit has nothing to do with applying for PR. If you can find an employer and get an LMIA, you can apply for a work permit. If you qualify for IEC, you can apply. It is not in any way dependent on you having applied for PR.

EI is not welfare but I wouldn't mention it. Bank statements (if has money in his account) and letters from your families stating that they are supporting you financially would be good.

 

[LauraLynnR]

Applying for a work permit has nothing to do with applying for PR. If you can find an employer and get an LMIA, you can apply for a work permit. If you qualify for IEC, you can apply. It is not in any way dependent on you having applied for PR.

EI is not welfare but I wouldn't mention it. Bank statements (if has money in his account) and letters from your families stating that they are supporting you financially would be good.

Good, then I'll go with those two. I have a prepaid credit card that my parents charge from Italy every time I need money, I could take a screenshot of the funds available on it too, like I did last year for my first extension.

Just another question: on the new application, under "Your current marital status" do I need to put "Common-law" this time, since I've been living with my bf for more than a year? I can tell CIC that me and him are planning on applying for my PR soon, or would it be a bad idea? I don't want them to think that I'm "abusing" of my visitor status since it's the 3rd extension I'm asking, but that's our real intention when we are more economically stable

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Just another question: on the new application, under "Your current marital status" do I need to put "Common-law" this time, since I've been living with my bf for more than a year? I can tell CIC that me and him are planning on applying for my PR soon, or would it be a bad idea? I don't want them to think that I'm "abusing" of my visitor status since it's the 3rd extension I'm asking, but that's our real intention when we are more economically stable

Yes, you must put common-law. It's fine to tell them that you are going to be applying for PR.