My situation (visitor planning on extending my stay)

[alasken]

Hi all,

I just found this wonderful forum, and figured I'll try and see if I can get some advice.

I am a Norwegian who studied in Australia for the past 1.5 years. On the first day of university there I met a Canadian girl and we quickly became bf/gf. We moved in together after 1 year (but have no records to prove it), and when we graduated in November we travelled a bit before visiting my family in Norway. She then went back to Canada right before Christmas, while I followed a week later. Our plans were to apply for jobs here and in Norway, but use her parents' house as a base for it all. I had not read up at all about visa requirements, and basically thought I'd have no problems at all.

My point of entry was Vancouver, and on my arrival card I checked the box where they ask if you have unaccompanied baggage as I had two fully packed suitcases being shipped from Australia. This made the officers concerned, and I had to go to the separate line that takes you to the immigration officers. The guy who questioned me found it worrisome that I had brought so much stuff (two fully loaded suitcases and two fully loaded carry-ons), and especially stuff that I did not need to travel (like electronics, guitar stand and some clothes). He asked me a ton of questions, and I said I'd look for work but that it wasn't a big deal if I didn't find anything. I was really ignorant about what they don't like to hear, and just answered honestly. Finally he told me he thought I'd start working or studying illegally, and that I had to leave after 1.5 months unless I could convince him otherwise. I told him I have plenty of money in the bank, and that I've studied for 7 years and that I'm all done. I also gave him my gf's phone number, and he called her and asked her the same questions he asked me to see if I was lying or not. Fortunately she confirmed my answers, and he stamped my passport and told me I can stay for 6 months.

Now, a month later I realize how hard it is going to be to find a job here within my field (I have a Master of Commerce with a major in Applied Finance), and it looks like I might not find anything before my VISA is up. This is fine workwise, as I'm making lots of money from online poker, but I don't want to get taken away from my gf so I'm trying to plan a little ahead. I figure I have these options:

1. Find a job and get a work permit before my tourist visa expires in late June.
As mentioned, this might turn out to be harder than expected, and it is not something I can control.

2. Apply for an extension of my tourist visa
Do these usually get approved on the first time requests? When should I send in the application? If I send it right before my 6 months are up, can I stay in Canada while it is being processed? How long is it normal to ask for? Do you think it hurts to ask for a loooong time like 9 or 12 more months? I mean, can they say "You won't get the 12 months you asked for, but we'll give you 7 months", or is it more black and white where you either get the time you asked for or not? What does a stamp in your passport mean? Is it considered a tourist record? Can I go back to Norway right before my time is up, and then come back to Canada 4 weeks later and get another 6 months?

3. Have my gf sponsor me as common-law
This would be great, but I am not sure what proof I need to present. We have lived together since August 2009, but have no shared bills or any other payments. I could write my landlord in Australia and ask her to testify that we lived together, but do not know if Customs would accept her word for it?

4. Apply to become a live-in caregiver.
My uncle married a Canadian girl a long time ago, and they have two kids. We have not really talked about it, but they have said they would sponsor me. I do not however want to hassle them, and would prefer to get this sorted differently.

Other information: I have more than enough money to take of myself without working for the next 5 years; I have no crimial record or medical problems and as noted earlier I have a master degree. What is my best course of action here?

PS. When I picked up the unaccompanied baggage I got hassled by the IO, and she was asking me if I had reported this when at my point of entry, and I also got asked a bunch of questions when coming back from a visit to the Buffalo in the US. I am planning on going to Vegas in addition to visiting my girlfriend's family in Bermuda before my tourist visa expires. Does this seems like a bad idea? I'm just a bit nervous to get denied entry at the border as they always seem to be so suspicious of me, and I do not know what rights I have to leave and come back to Canada with just this stamp in my passport.

[Baloo]

I figure I have these options:
1. Find a job and get a work permit before my tourist visa expires in late June.
As mentioned, this might turn out to be harder than expected, and it is not something I can control.

My view FWIW.
Like you, I doubt you would have enough time.

2. Apply for an extension of my tourist visa
Do these usually get approved on the first time requests? When should I send in the application? If I send it right before my 6 months are up, can I stay in Canada while it is being processed? How long is it normal to ask for? Do you think it hurts to ask for a loooong time like 9 or 12 more months? I mean, can they say "You won't get the 12 months you asked for, but we'll give you 7 months", or is it more black and white where you either get the time you asked for or not? What does a stamp in your passport mean? Is it considered a tourist record? Can I go back to Norway right before my time is up, and then come back to Canada 4 weeks later and get another 6 months?

You can do this for $75 http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/extend-stay.asp
It has to be at Vegreville at least 30 days before your visa (visitor record) expires.
What you ask for, and what you get are variable, some people get more time, some get less.
Once you have applied, you are on implied status until a decision is made (I believe leaving the country terminates the implied status).
I doubt that returning 4 weeks later would please them, but I cannot know that as fact.

3. Have my gf sponsor me as common-law
This would be great, but I am not sure what proof I need to present. We have lived together since August 2009, but have no shared bills or any other payments. I could write my landlord in Australia and ask her to testify that we lived together, but do not know if Customs would accept her word for it?

You could do, I expect it may need to be notarized. I would think you need more proof. You may get a better answer from someone else here.

You could get married and have your wife sponsor you http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/fc.asp

4. Apply to become a live-in caregiver.
My uncle married a Canadian girl a long time ago, and they have two kids. We have not really talked about it, but they have said they would sponsor me. I do not however want to hassle them, and would prefer to get this sorted differently.

I have no idea on this, but it sounds like a last resort...

Other information: I have more than enough money to take of myself without working for the next 5 years; I have no crimial record or medical problems and as noted earlier I have a master degree. What is my best course of action here?

PS. When I picked up the unaccompanied baggage I got hassled by the IO, and she was asking me if I had reported this when at my point of entry, and I also got asked a bunch of questions when coming back from a visit to the Buffalo in the US. I am planning on going to Vegas in addition to visiting my girlfriend's family in Bermuda before my tourist visa expires. Does this seems like a bad idea? I'm just a bit nervous to get denied entry at the border as they always seem to be so suspicious of me, and I do not know what rights I have to leave and come back to Canada with just this stamp in my passport.

Once you are flagged you can expect a conversation at immigration, but now you have done it once the mystery is gone huh?

What does the visitor record say you can do?

[job_seeker]

My view FWIW.
Like you, I doubt you would have enough time.

You can do this for $75 http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/extend-stay.asp
It has to be at Vegreville at least 30 days before your visa (visitor record) expires.
What you ask for, and what you get are variable, some people get more time, some get less.
Once you have applied, you are on implied status until a decision is made (I believe leaving the country terminates the implied status).
I doubt that returning 4 weeks later would please them, but I cannot know that as fact.

You could do, I expect it may need to be notarized. I would think you need more proof. You may get a better answer from someone else here.

You could get married and have your wife sponsor you http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/fc.asp

I have no idea on this, but it sounds like a last resort...
Once you are flagged you can expect a conversation at immigration, but now you have done it once the mystery is gone huh?

What does the visitor record say you can do?

Looks like he was not given a Visitor Record, just a stamp on his passport. Anyway to qualify as live in caregiver you must have 6 month certificate of care giving training course or one year paid experience as a nanny/caregiver (http://www.liveincaregiverprogram.com/).

[FairWay]

You sad you have a lot of money, hence hire a consultant.
Overall you'll save more than wasting time by getting wrong info here for free...