Visa extension as a visitor

[DDBr]

Hello everyone,

I'd very much appreciate any insights on this matter. I'll try my best to concisely explain my situation.
I've been dating a Canadian citizen since 2007. From 2007 up to 2014, we would normally meet twice a year, one month in Canada, one month in Brazil. Due to family matters I could only come to Canada to start a life together in March, 2014. We're currently deciding if we should get married asap or wait one year to become common law partners.
The thing is my visa will expire in September, 2014 and I'll need to ask for an extension. But (and now come the big issues):
1) I never stated in any of my visits to Canada that I would be visiting my boyfriend (was scared to do so);
2) this time (March) wasn't different - I said I had come over to observe some classes (as I'm a teacher)
So my questions are:
1) should I state for the extension that I'm planning to extend because we are "exploring the relationship" (saw this on other posts)?
2) should I state both the reason I gave upon landing and add the relationship part?
I'm a bit scared as I don't know the policy and I have quit work, sold apartment all the works in Brazil to come.

 

[lellen]

I don't have an exact answer for you, but I would imagine that it's easier to get approved for an extension as a visitor if you're already waiting for the Spouse PR application. They need a valid reason for you to want to remain in Canada. In my opinion, the best thing you could do is get married, then apply for the sponsorship right away. And then, while you're still here waiting, before your status expires submit an application to extend your stay as a visitor, with the purpose of either "remaining with your spouse", or, if you decided to apply inland, to wait for the final decision (if you apply inland, you are required to remain in Canada during the process).

I don't know if that's enough time. Another thing you could do is get married and apply to extend your stay for the purpose of remaining with your spouse while you PREPARE the PR application. Who knows if they'll consider this a valid reason?

 

[DDBr]

Hi lellen,

Thanks a lot for sharing your thoughts. I really need some sound advice.
Yes, I also believe that asking for an extension after having applied for the spouse PR is the best option but I sincerely don't think we'll have time for that.
We are considering getting married. Since Canadian law is truly different from Brazilian's, I am already researching that. But again I don't know if we'll be set in time (got to apply for extension in about 20 days or so).
So I started considering these two options as well:
1) asking for an extension without getting married but stating the intention of applying for the spouse PR (don't know it that's a 'weak' motive);
2) going back to Brazil in September and returning about a month afterwards and this time stating as I land that I've come to be with my fiancé.

Do you think there's a better option out of the two? Or any other you might have thought of?

I'd really appreciate yours (or other member's) suggestions! Thanks again.

 

[lellen]

Getting married in Canada is very simple, you just apply for a license and get married. City Hall or something similar, don't know which city you're in.

Here's my opinion. Again, this is only my opinion:

The marriage certificate takes six weeks to arrive, or six weeks for you to be able to apply to get one. You should get married now, go back to Brazil in September, when you come back say you're visiting your husband and then you'll have time to do your PR application. Don't tell them you want to stay here to apply for the PR if you haven't started it and you're not married, they will see that you clearly have no intention of leaving after your "visit".

Don't worry about not having declared that you have a boyfriend before... he wasn't part of your family or anything, legally you either have a husband or a common-law partner.

Do you have one of those one year visas that you're allowed to come back for six months or something? That would be the ideal... you go back in September and then come back in say, December, your marriage certificate will have arrived and you'll have everything ready to apply for PR. Then you're good to go.


I suggest your post in the Family Class Sponsorship section of the forum, all the savvy people are there, they rarely visit this section.

 

[DDBr]

Hi lellen,

Thanks again. I'll post in the Family Class Sponsorship section as you mentioned to see if other members have also some advice to give.