URGENT:My partner is 3-month pregnant & we want to shift to Canada(we're expats)

[canuck_in_uk]

Here let me add: since October, in all sincerity, we have been basically staying together almost 24/ 7, due to the irreconcilable differences with my ex wife. However, the housing proof at the time was hindered by her the precariousness and unnecessary rigidity of her contract, which strongly affected us a couple. My question is: Would a co-signed affidavit suffice to prove we have been staying together since October 2015?

Also, could one renew an ETA from within Canada a bit before the expiry of the previous one ?

No, a signed affidavit would not suffice. You would need other proofs such as mail, IDs registered there, bank statements etc.

You can apply for a new eTA after the current one expires. Note that an eTA is merely permission to travel to Canada. If you are asking about staying in Canada, you would need to extend your visitor status.

 

[Davidef]

Thank you for your quick reply Canuck.

So if her and I - once we complete the one-year period (which qualifies us as common -law partners) - decide to go to Canada and stay at her parents' house then I can make use of the current ETA to reside there until august 2017 (month in which the ETA expires). Afterwards, i understood correctly, I'll have to renew it.
Right? But where exactly and how ?

One additional thing, which doesn't have to do much with this: I heard that busking is free and legal in canada (only in designated areas) for any visitor ; and that doesn't have to be registered. Is that true ?

You know, in case I'll have to wait months for a work permit, as she applies to become a sponsor.
If this busking story is true then I could legally help everybody indirectly, since i am a polinstrumentist too, perhaps by busking a bit ( and I'll feel less like a burden on their parents!). Is all this virtually possible?

 

[canuck_in_uk]

then I can make use of the current ETA to reside there until august 2017 (month in which the ETA expires). Afterwards, i understood correctly, I'll have to renew it. Right? But where exactly and how ?

One additional thing, which doesn't have to do much with this: I heard that busking is free and legal in canada (only in designated areas) for any visitor ; and that doesn't have to be registered. Is that true ?

No, not right. Please read my previous post. An eTA simply allows you to board a commercial carrier to travel to Canada. It has nothing to do with status in Canada. You need apply to extend your visitor status.

No idea about the busking.

 

[scylla]

One additional thing, which doesn't have to do much with this: I heard that busking is free and legal in canada (only in designated areas) for any visitor ; and that doesn't have to be registered. Is that true ?

It will be classified as working illegally.

 

[Davidef]

Thanks for your previous information.
That's what I suspected; in this case, then, one shouldn't do that. But the confusion comes from a paragraph on Vancouver's official website.
It says:

Busking locations where you don't need a permit
Entertain the crowds at these locations – no permit needed:
Parks, unless specifically prohibited
Library Square, specifically the sidewalks along:
300-block West Georgia Street
700-block Homer Street
Queen Elizabeth Theatre, specifically the sidewalks along:
200-block West Georgia Street
600-block Hamilton Street
Science World, specifically the sidewalks along:
West side of Quebec Street
Seawall from Science World to Cambie Bridge, specifically:
East and north sides of False Creek
SkyTrain stations, specifically the sidewalks adjacent to the stations (unless refused by TransLink)
Terry Fox Plaza, specifically the sidewalks along:
700- and 800-blocks Beatty Street
Vancouver Art Gallery, specifically the sidewalks along:
800-block Robson Street

Toronto doesn't have similar guidelines ?

 

[MilesAway]

Thanks for your previous information.
That's what I suspected; in this case, then, one shouldn't do that. But the confusion comes from a paragraph on Vancouver's official website.
It says:

Busking locations where you don't need a permit
Entertain the crowds at these locations – no permit needed:
Parks, unless specifically prohibited
Library Square, specifically the sidewalks along:
300-block West Georgia Street
700-block Homer Street
Queen Elizabeth Theatre, specifically the sidewalks along:
200-block West Georgia Street
600-block Hamilton Street
Science World, specifically the sidewalks along:
West side of Quebec Street
Seawall from Science World to Cambie Bridge, specifically:
East and north sides of False Creek
SkyTrain stations, specifically the sidewalks adjacent to the stations (unless refused by TransLink)
Terry Fox Plaza, specifically the sidewalks along:
700- and 800-blocks Beatty Street
Vancouver Art Gallery, specifically the sidewalks along:
800-block Robson Street

Toronto doesn't have similar guidelines ?

That's not referring to work permits, but to city permits for street performers. Most city have regulations as to where you can and cannot busk. Citizens need to apply for permits if they wish to busk. They don't need to apply for work permits, but for permission from the city to perform at X location.

 

[canadianwoman]

Thanks for your previous information.
That's what I suspected; in this case, then, one shouldn't do that. But the confusion comes from a paragraph on Vancouver's official website.
It says:

Busking locations where you don't need a permit
Entertain the crowds at these locations – no permit needed:
Parks, unless specifically prohibited
Library Square, specifically the sidewalks along:
300-block West Georgia Street
700-block Homer Street
Queen Elizabeth Theatre, specifically the sidewalks along:
200-block West Georgia Street
600-block Hamilton Street
Science World, specifically the sidewalks along:
West side of Quebec Street
Seawall from Science World to Cambie Bridge, specifically:
East and north sides of False Creek
SkyTrain stations, specifically the sidewalks adjacent to the stations (unless refused by TransLink)
Terry Fox Plaza, specifically the sidewalks along:
700- and 800-blocks Beatty Street
Vancouver Art Gallery, specifically the sidewalks along:
800-block Robson Street

They are talking about whether someone needs a permit to busk, not whether a foreigner would need a work permit to busk. A foreigner would presumably need a work permit, and then a busking permit if he or she wanted to perform in an area where a busking permit was needed.
To be sure, I doubt the police would check if you were busking somewhere where busking without a permit is allowed.

 

[scylla]

That's not referring to work permits, but to city permits for street performers. Most city have regulations as to where you can and cannot busk. Citizens need to apply for permits if they wish to busk. They don't need to apply for work permits, but for permission from the city to perform at X location.

This exactly. They're not referring to work permits but busker permits. These are two entirely different things.

You cannot do work in Canada of any kind (including being a busker) without a work permit.

 

[Davidef]

- Once she qualifies to sponsor you (i.e. you are married or common law) then she can chose to sponsor you using either the inland or outland process. The inland process takes a lot more time but comes with an open work permit. The open work permit will be issued approximately four months after the inland application is submitted.

Thank you for the information people.
One thing i didn't ask you before, Scylla: how does this open work permit function?
Also, how/who (me or she?)/ where does one apply for it ?
Once a person is sponsored, can it take more than 4 months ?

 

[profiler]

Thank you for the information people.
One thing i didn't ask you before, Scylla: how does this open work permit function?
Also, how/who (me or she?)/ where does one apply for it ?
Once a person is sponsored, can it take more than 4 months ?

They say 4 months. My wife's arrived close to that time. Some times it goes over a little. But vast majority have it around 4 months.

Only inland applicants can apply for the open work permit. As it states, you can do most jobs in most professions for most companies with it. Only a few exclusions. You'd be applying for this with your inland application.

 

[Davidef]

Thank you for the quick reply, Profiler.
Where (is there an office? )and how does one apply inland for that permit ?
Online and along with the future sponsor? Or separately?

How does it work ?

 

[profiler]

Thank you for the quick reply, Profiler.
Where (is there an office? )and how does one apply inland for that permit ?
Online and along with the future sponsor? Or separately?

How does it work ?

Separate applicaton, sent with the sponsorship application. See: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/extend-worker.asp

On the application, the work permit type is open work permit. Leave all employer fields blank.

Pay the fees ($155 for the work permit; $100 open work permit holder fee), include the receipt with your application. Then wait.

 

[torontosm]

One additional thing, which doesn't have to do much with this: I heard that busking is free and legal in canada (only in designated areas) for any visitor ; and that doesn't have to be registered. Is that true ?

So I recall watching an episode of Border Security in which the CBSA officials mentioned that Buskers do not require a work permit to perform in Canada. I did a quick Google search and came across this which confirms that fact:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/tools/temp/work/permit/arts/index.asp

So, it seems like as long as you are a visitor, you don't need a work permit to busk.

 

[profiler]

So I recall watching an episode of Border Security in which the CBSA officials mentioned that Buskers do not require a work permit to perform in Canada. I did a quick Google search and came across this which confirms that fact:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/tools/temp/work/permit/arts/index.asp

So, it seems like as long as you are a visitor, you don't need a work permit to busk.

I recall that episode too ... wasn't the guy spanish or something??

 

[torontosm]

I recall that episode too ... wasn't the guy spanish or something??

Absolutely! And he had the most amazing mustache.