Visiting Canada while visa is processed

[Canadian hopeful]

Hi

I am from UK, my partner is sponsoring me and our case is currently at the High Commission in London. I recently got a letter from the Commission asking for more information about our relationship.
What I'd like to know is ... can I go to Canada as a visitor in the meantime? My partner and I had a baby boy last month and I am desperate to get back and be with them ... I'd like to go as soon as possible, perhaps stay 'til a visa is ready!
I'd like to know where I stand on this ...

Thanks for your help.

 

[BeShoo]

You can go as a visitor (for now) as long as you can prove that you will return to the U.K. at the end of your visit and won't work illegally while you're in Canada. You may be permitted to stay for up to 6 months. Once you are in Canada, you can request an extension to the visitor period if you want. It's recommended that apply one month before your current authorization to stay expires.

 

[Canadian hopeful]

Cool! Thanks for that Beshoo!

My partner and I have been together for two years, I have visited Canada seven times now, in that period and have just got back from a ten week trip to be there for the birth of our son!
I've just had a letter asking for more proof of our conjugal relationship ... we've not had a chance to live together yet so I'm concerned about how I'm going to do this! But, we need to ... combine our affairs, as they like to put it, now to keep our family together! My partner has kids from a previous relationship too.
If you have any thoughts, or any ideas of the kind of information immigration are looking for ... these would be greatly appreciated!

Many thanks ...

 

[AllisonVSC]

What kind of evidence of your conjugal relationship did you include the first time? I suggest you read the OP2 manual regarding the types of "interdependencies" they will look for to judge your case. If you want more help after, please PM me. I too applied as conjugal partners and got approved Nov 2009.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/manuals/op/op02-eng.pdf

Good Luck, Allison

 

[BeShoo]

If you have any thoughts, or any ideas of the kind of information immigration are looking for ... these would be greatly appreciated!

Besides the link that AllisonVSC sent you, have a look at the the three posts I put up that start here:

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/spousal-sponsorship-t46995.0.html;msg357741#msg357741

Try to think about what evidence might serve to support any of the points in those posts that apply to your situation. Certain ones will not apply, since you have not lived together, but other ones may apply when you have visited each other or even by mail, e-mail, instant message, telephone, or whatever other means you us to keep in contact. Pictures, receipts, and records of communications will probably be the main types of evidence you might have.

 

[canadianwoman]

In addition to the above-mentioned, try to show proof that you are involved in the lives of your partner's children (if in fact you are). One of the things CIC uses to judge whether a relationship is genuine or not is the attitude to any children brought into the relationship. If you can show that you have a good relationship with your step-children and are involved in their lives, it will help.

 

[Canadian hopeful]

Thanks for the information and the links, guys ... they've been most helpful to me in compiling my response!

One more question ... I'm planning on going back to Canada in a couple of weeks to see my girlfriend and baby again and spend some time with them, I've booked a return flight as I think I'll need to show that I intend to go back to the UK again, that I'm only visiting Canada in the meantime.

I'll be flying to Montreal, so, when I arrive, will I need to let the authorities there know that I've applied for PR in Canada? And, if so, at what point will I need to do this?

Many thanks.

 

[BeShoo]

They are going to ask the purpose of your trip. You'll mention that you are visiting your partner and your baby. (I would probably avoid using the word "girlfriend" if you can, because it might suggest that you are only dating.) If you tell them that you have a PR application in process, it may reassure them that you're following the legal route and not trying to just stay illegally. They may give you a Visitor Record with a leave-by date.