Visitor Visa Extension for Common-Law Sponsorship

[Jaybo]

Hello, I am a Canadian citizen and I am planning on sponsoring my girlfriend for her permanent residence once we are legally in a common-law relationship in March, 2015. She has been living with me as a visitor for the past 6 months, and we just applied for a visitor's visa extension explaining our situation and asking for 10 months. This would give us enough time to qualify as common-law, submit the application and to spend more time together while the application is being processed.

We just received the response from CIC, saying that the application was approved, yet the duration is only 5 months from now. My questions are:

1. Why would they give only 5 months? Is there any way of finding out why only 5 months was given? This is strange considering the reason for the extension was in order to be able to stay together and obtain common-law status. Yet they granted it one month short of that date. Bank statements and letters of support showed ample funds for this time period.

2. Is it likely that when the 5 months are coming to an end, that she will be able to apply for another extension and it will be granted?

3. If by chance her extension gets rejected, is it a valid reason to still apply for PR under common-law only after having lived together for 11 months (we also lived together for over one year in 2012, but were not aware of the possibility of applying for PR as common-law).

If anyone has been in a similar situation or has any knowledge about any of these questions, it would be greatly appreciated if you could respond! Thanks!

 

[Rob_TO]

1. Why would they give only 5 months? Is there any way of finding out why only 5 months was given? This is strange considering the reason for the extension was in order to be able to stay together and obtain common-law status. Yet they granted it one month short of that date. Bank statements and letters of support showed ample funds for this time period.

2. Is it likely that when the 5 months are coming to an end, that she will be able to apply for another extension and it will be granted?

Not sure why they gave 5 months only, that's up to the visa officer who processed it.

Just apply for another extension when this 5 months is almost up.

3. If by chance her extension gets rejected, is it a valid reason to still apply for PR under common-law only after having lived together for 11 months (we also lived together for over one year in 2012, but were not aware of the possibility of applying for PR as common-law).

11 months won't do. It MUST be 12 consecutive months and not a day less.

If you lived together for 12 consecutive months in 2012 then you would officially be common-law right now. However if you don't have proof of the cohabitation in 2012, you probably won't be able to use it.

 

[Jaybo]

Thanks for the helpful response. I found out that another person was also given a 5 month extension. Maybe this is the new standard, or perhaps one of the visa officers math is a little funny. :

Yes unfortunately the evidence during 2012 is not nearly as substantial as what we are gathering for the current co-habitation.

Thanks again!

 

[JosephM]

Jaybo, I'm curious to know what types of responses were put on the request application... What were her reasons for wanting to stay and reasons for initial visit?!

Thanks