Visitor Visa

[morals31]

Hi
I will like to find out. My girlfriend has just been issued a visitor Visa and is coming to Canada to spend the Christmas with me. I am thinking of proposing to her and I will also like us to get married in Canada.
I will like to know
- if we get married will she have to go back to her home country before I can apply for her permanent visa
- her visitor Visa is valid for 1 year starting October 2015 to October 2016
- Can I file while she is here and she just stays and we continue to build our life together here
- Is the process fasted if done out of Canada than in Canada
- Will she is allowed to work etc

Many thanks
Anthony

 

[sashali78]

Hi
I will like to find out. My girlfriend has just been issued a visitor Visa and is coming to Canada to spend the Christmas with me. I am thinking of proposing to her and I will also like us to get married in Canada.
I will like to know
- if we get married will she have to go back to her home country before I can apply for her permanent visa
- her visitor Visa is valid for 1 year starting October 2015 to October 2016
- Can I file while she is here and she just stays and we continue to build our life together here
- Is the process fasted if done out of Canada than in Canada
- Will she is allowed to work etc

Many thanks
Anthony

She can stay in Canada as long as her visa will allow. The final authority for the duration of her visit in Canada would be CBSA when they stamp her passport on her visit. The maximum duration will be 6 months after which she can file for extension if she wants to stay longer.

Yes, you can file an Inland or Outland application while she is still in Canada. You will have to check which way would result in faster processing based on her home country.
In general, if she can enter Canada on a visitor visa it is wise to file an Outland application as in most case the processing time for Outland is shorter than Inland.
On the other hand Inland application will give her opportunity to work in Canada while it being processed. As i mentioned, it will be very much dependent on her home country and your personal preferences.
You can check the processing times here: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/perm-fc.asp

 

[morals31]

thanks for the reply

We are both from Ivory Coast and haven checked the processing times its 19 months for the local office

Next question is can she move in/out of the country during this time. Since her visa is valid for this length of time can we go home for vacation and return. Also when her visa expires can we get an extension of the visa so she can move freely such as for holidays etc

 

[sashali78]

thanks for the reply

We are both from Ivory Coast and haven checked the processing times its 19 months for the local office

Next question is can she move in/out of the country during this time. Since her visa is valid for this length of time can we go home for vacation and return. Also when her visa expires can we get an extension of the visa so she can move freely such as for holidays etc

If you file an Outland application, she can go in and out during the time application is in process. If its an inland application, you both must stay in Canada for all the duration of your application. Note that if you are a PR, you should not leave Canada for long period of times (few weeks vacations are fine).
If she is in Canada while her visa expires she can file for an extension of visa without leaving Canada, the extension request can be filed even on the last day of her visitor status (CIC recommends 30 days in advance though) and she continue her stay in Canada on implied status while the application is in process. If she is outside of Canada, she will have to file a new visa application.

 

[morals31]

thanks for the information

I was also thinking that since she has a job back home if she comes, we get married and apply for the work permit. Maybe she can go back and make her final arrangements and come here finally only after the work permit has been issued so she is not bored

will this be possible or she is not allowed to leave Canada during this period. I am taking advantage of the fact that I think the work permit will be issued within 6 months and her visitor visa will still be valid

 

[scylla]

thanks for the information

I was also thinking that since she has a job back home if she comes, we get married and apply for the work permit. Maybe she can go back and make her final arrangements and come here finally only after the work permit has been issued so she is not bored

will this be possible or she is not allowed to leave Canada during this period. I am taking advantage of the fact that I think the work permit will be issued within 6 months and her visitor visa will still be valid

If you apply inland then she needs to remain in Canada.

Having a valid visitor visa by no means guarantees she will be allowed into Canada.

 

[morals31]

one other question

I have just read that it takes around 26 months to get the final response if we apply Inland. I also think it takes about 5 years to get a Canadian passport.
what I want to find out is, if we get married and she stays here will the time spent waiting for the visa be taken into consideration as part of the process time to get a Canadian passport or does it start from the time she receives a reply from CBSA.

I am now a little confused if this is the case

 

[Rob_TO]

one other question

I have just read that it takes around 26 months to get the final response if we apply Inland. I also think it takes about 5 years to get a Canadian passport.
what I want to find out is, if we get married and she stays here will the time spent waiting for the visa be taken into consideration as part of the process time to get a Canadian passport or does it start from the time she receives a reply from CBSA.

I am now a little confused if this is the case

No, the qualifying time for citizenship only starts once she officially has her application approved and she becomes a PR. She then needs to spend 4 years in Canada as a PR to qualify for citizenship.

And as was stated, if you choose INLAND then as soon as you file the application she should not leave Canada for the entire processing time (2+ years).

 

[morals31]

thanks for the advice

much appreciated.

so it means even when she receives her open work permit and can work, it also means she cannot leave the country for the next 2 years

 

[MixedChick92]

My husband has a 5 year TRV, he was issued one before we got married. We got married in Canada too, but he went back to Jamaica and we did a Outland app. He also has been visiting me too during this process

Inland could nearly take 2 years to be come a PR.

Currently people doing an outland app thru the same office as me (Kingston) are done at 10 months, instead of 22 months.

My suggestion would be getting married here, and then have your soon to be wife, go back home and wait. It will be much faster
Most people would agree inland would be a lot slower.

Best of luck to whatever decision you make. ;D