Visiting > Getting married > Applying for residency

[Loverbunnyx]

I originally posted this in the Visitors forum, but was told to post it here.
I have posted on here once (maybe twice) a while ago, but my situation has changed and my boyfriend and I have a better idea of what we want in the near future. We hope to have me visit him in Canada (from America) for 6 months, and either be engaged and planning our wedding, or potentially even married by the 6 month mark. During my stay, he would 100% be funding all of my living/food costs. I also have two cats that I would be bringing with me. After getting married, I would apply for an extension of my visit and obviously apply inland for my residency. Now for my questions/thoughts.

1.) If we are only engaged by the 6 month mark, are they less likely to approve my application to stay longer?
2.) If we are married by the 6 month mark and my application to stay for another 6 months gets approved, is the CIC likely to approve any future applications for extension if my application is being processed?
3.) Is there anything special I need to do with my cats? I know that I need to take them both to the vet to get them checked out, but is there a form online I print to give to my vet, or should they have the form on hand?
4.) I have a fairly new 46 inch TV that I would love to bring while visiting, but I am almost certain that trying to bring it over the border might cause some issues (red flags, taxes, etc.) Do you have any suggestions? (I will sell it if I have to).
5.) Is there anyone in the US who needs to be informed about my trip?
6.) How does receiving my mail work? Do I inform the USPS? Or do I have a family member send me my mail once in a while?
7.) How does using US health insurance in Canada work? I currently have Aetna (I'm not sure what specific kind). I only have one important prescription that I will need while I am visiting.
8.) Would visiting for 6 months, applying for a 6 month extension in hopes of becoming common-law partners be another option?

I'm sorry about all of the questions, and thanks in advanced (even if you can only answer one question, or give any other random info!!!)

 

[keesio]

My 2 cents.

1) 6 months is a bit on the short side. But US-CDN couples probably have the most leeway in general so you are probably fine
2) Yup, many US citizens have gone up to live with their spouse and have been extended no problem. Some have stayed for years and got extended multiple times
3) I don't know
4) mmm.. it may raise some suspicion. You can always say you are giving it to your boyfriend.
5) No
6) If you are talking about mail from CIC, if you gave an e-mail address, most of the correspondence will be via e-mail. The only thing that will come via snail mail is your COPR at the end. But you can go into eCAS and update your address to your boyfriend's when you are up there and entered in the eCAS system. Then COPR will get mailed to your boyfriend's address
7) The vast majority will not give you full coverage in Canada. You may get travel insurance which would cover you for emergencies (but not prescription drugs). And that travel insurance may have some restrictions (you have to return to the US after a certain amount of time). You need to check with Aetna what coverage you have. Most likely you will need to purchase emergency insurance to cover you in Canada and pay out of pocket for your medication costs (prescription and drug). However, if you boyfriend has benefits from his employer that has a drug plan, once you are married, he can add you to it to cover your drug costs. I did the same exact thing for my wife - purchase emergency coverage and put her on my employer benefits plan to get drug coverage.
8 ) For common-law, you have to have been living together non-interrupted for 12 months to qualify. At the 6 months mark, you'd only have been living for 6 months so you would not classify as common law. I think you can get extended ok by just saying you want to continue spending time with your boyfriend.

Good luck!

 

[Loverbunnyx]

4) mmm.. it may raise some suspicion. You can always say you are giving it to your boyfriend.

Thank you for your input! As far as #4 goes, don't they make you pay them a percentage of expensive gifts? It wouldn't be like a "gift", though, since I bought the TV about a year ago for myself.

 

[keesio]

Thank you for your input! As far as #4 goes, don't they make you pay them a percentage of expensive gifts? It wouldn't be like a "gift", though, since I bought the TV about a year ago for myself.

I'm not sure actually. Maybe it is better if your boyfriend comes get it himself?

 

[screech339]

My 2 cents.

1) 6 months is a bit on the short side. But US-CDN couples probably have the most leeway in general so you are probably fine
2) Yup, many US citizens have gone up to live with their spouse and have been extended no problem. Some have stayed for years and got extended multiple times
3) I don't know
4) mmm.. it may raise some suspicion. You can always say you are giving it to your boyfriend.
5) No
6) If you are talking about mail from CIC, if you gave an e-mail address, most of the correspondence will be via e-mail. The only thing that will come via snail mail is your COPR at the end. But you can go into eCAS and update your address to your boyfriend's when you are up there and entered in the eCAS system. Then COPR will get mailed to your boyfriend's address
7) The vast majority will not give you full coverage in Canada. You may get travel insurance which would cover you for emergencies (but not prescription drugs). And that travel insurance may have some restrictions (you have to return to the US after a certain amount of time). You need to check with Aetna what coverage you have. Most likely you will need to purchase emergency insurance to cover you in Canada and pay out of pocket for your medication costs (prescription and drug). However, if you boyfriend has benefits from his employer that has a drug plan, once you are married, he can add you to it to cover your drug costs. I did the same exact thing for my wife - purchase emergency coverage and put her on my employer benefits plan to get drug coverage.
8 ) For common-law, you have to have been living together non-interrupted for 12 months to qualify. At the 6 months mark, you'd only have been living for 6 months so you would not classify as common law. I think you can get extended ok by just saying you want to continue spending time with your boyfriend.

Good luck!

As for item 7 saying you can get on your spouse work benefit. It is not entirely true. You can get on your spouse work benefit so long as the other spouse has national health coverage. Spouse cannot get on the other spouse work benefits , dentals , drug plan until he/she is on provincal health care first.

Screech339

 

[Loverbunnyx]

As for item 7 saying you can get on your spouse work benefit. It is not entirely true. You can get on your spouse work benefit so long as the other spouse has national health coverage. Spouse cannot get on the other spouse work benefits , dentals , drug plan until he/she is on provincal health care first.

Screech339

Thanks Screech339, I'll have to talk to him about that!

 

[Loverbunnyx]

I'm not sure actually. Maybe it is better if your boyfriend comes get it himself?

I'm not very sure either! I just feel like it will be another hassle in the process. Maybe I will just sell it and pitch in for a new one when I get there. Plus it's another thing to carry along!!