PLEASE HELP!! Moving to Canada from US

[Buffy2323]

Okay, I am not sure if anyone can help me or not but I have to start somewhere. I hope someone will be able to enlighten me a bit.

I am an American Citizen, 38 years old, with a Bachelor's degree in Education. I currently work in the US part time in an Early Childhood field. My husband and I have decided to separate and eventually divorce but we cannot do this until we are able to live in separate residences. Without going into too many details I am wanting to move to Canada to be with my same sex girlfriend so we can start our life together. Due to obvious reasons she cannot come into the US to live or work. She is an established Canadian Citizen.

I have 2 children who I plan to have part time custody so I would be bringing them there part-time as well.

I guess my question is since I don't have a job offer in Canada yet what would be the best route for me to take to get into Canada to be with my girlfriend and start working as soon as possible? She is currently working in Toronto at a part time job with full time hours. It is not possible for me to move there if I cannot work, my gf cannot sustain the two of us and my kids on her income alone.

Other important facts. MY gf and I have been together now for 17 months though we did not meet for the first time until a week ago. Yes, we met over the internet. We are looking to take our relationship to that next level and eventually marry (once my divorce from my husband is final). We want to live together but financially I MUST be able to help sustain our relationship by contributing financially and I cannot do that living in Canada as a visitor. I'm so frustrated and confused where to begin!!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[CharlieD10]

Hi. As your relationship develops, you will want to document it. If you have chat logs and so on already, great, if not, start keeping them. Other evidence of visits including itineraries, passport stamps, photographs of you together etc.

When your divorce is settled and you and your partner formalise your relationship, the next step will be for her to sponsor you for permanent residence in Canada. Buffalo processes the US outland applications; straightforward cases are being processed in as little as 4-6 months. During the Outland process, it is entirely possible for you to visit with your partner as you are from a visa-exempt country, so you can maintain your relationship and keep your job until you are ready to move.

Meanwhile, you can start reading on the CIC website about the sponsorship process, so you both get an idea of where to start, what documents will be required, and how you go about proving you have a genuine relationship. Also, check out the first thread on this forum, the very first post is a great synopsis of the family class sponsorship process.

Also, you can check out the Buffalo thread for American applicants. They will be able to offer you great advice.

Good luck.

 

[Buffy2323]

Thank you Charlie, I really appreciate the information you put out there for me. I do have documentation of our relationship online and I have pictures and my flight information from this past weekend when we met for the first time. Unfortunately, she is not happy with the information I gave her about how long the process will take and does not seem too keen on waiting for a year or two for me to get my citizenship. I'm so frustrated right now, I really would love to go to Canada now but it's just not possible and I refuse to break the law. As I told her, if we're going to do this it has to be the correct way no matter how long it takes. It's not fair to anyone if we try to cheat the system. In the meantime, I have resumes out there and maybe I'll get lucky and someone will sponsor me so I can go there under a work visa.

 

[CharlieD10]

No problem. I just gave you the basics, there are way more experienced posters around who can give detailed assistance. As I mentioned, the Buffalo thread is a good place for you to start.

Time is definitely something this process is going to take, there's not much way around that. As I said, though, you can take advantage of your visa-exempt status to make visits, and definitely do look into employment if you can get a work visa.

Good luck!

 

[Buffy2323]

Thank you!! I will search for a work sponsor but if that doesn't work then lots of visits if she will allow me. Patience is a virtue!!!!

 

[Buffy2323]

Okay, I am reading further into this. If my partner and I have a long distance relationship while my divorce is being finalized and then we marry immediately in Canada, she can then file to sponsor me right away,, is that correct? Will it be held against us because we didn't officially live together after we got married other than during our "visits". Again, this is strictly a financial reason why I cannot move there and live with her long term. I will need to work to help her support us as she can't do it alone. I plan to marry her but stay in the states while she applies to sponsor me as a spouse. Once I get PR then I would move there and look for work immediately. Is this the best route for us? Could we be denied on the grounds that we didn't live together immediately after we were married? I'm so confused!!

 

[scylla]

Yes - if you get married, then she can sponsor you immediately and there's no requirement to live together first (you can remain in the US while the file is being processed). Make sure that all divorces are finalized before you marry. Also, even if you are married, you should still be including as much supporting documentation of your relationship as you can in your application. You can be denied if they don't believe your relationship is genuine. So the key is to provide as much information as you can that supports the fact that you're a real couple.

 

[Buffy2323]

Thanks scylla!! There is no doubt in our minds that our relationship is genuine but I will DEFINITELY be collecting lots of evidence to prove it. I've already been going back through phone records and chat logs to get those in order. If all else fails I have my soon to be ex-husband who will testify to the genuineness of it. I found out I was gay and there was no way for him to argue that fact. He has been great through it all and my ex and I will continue to be close friends even after the divorce. I am just ready to start this proccess so that my gf and I can be together and start our lives.

 

[BeShoo]

Just make sure it doesn't look like the marriage was merely a formality for immigration purposes. It could be suspicious if it appears to them that you're not too interested in living together after the marriage, even if it's just for a couple of days. Sounds like you havehe evidence you need. Be sure to get pictures of the ceremony, and witnesses/guests, any exception or celebration afterwards, and any honeymoon if there is one.

 

[Buffy2323]

Thanks BeShoo. Oh we ARE interested in living together after the ceremony, that is why we want to apply immediately. The sooner we get through the process the sooner we can live together and start our new lives. It's killing me that we can't just move in together right now but financially that is NOT possible. The next year and a half is going to be pure torture but I will plan as many trip to see her as I can. We need to learn about each other and how life together will be, not just through the internet. The more time we spend together the more comfortable we will be once we move in together full time.

Thank you to everyone for being so helpful, I was very down and overwhelmed at first because it seemed it would take forever but I'm learning that we need to take baby steps and in the end we can and will be together.

 

[ditta]

Along with your application make sure to provide as much evidence as you can. Pictures, chatlogs and proof of your visits are great, but if you plan to have a life together you might want to have a joint bank account, you may want to put her on your life insurance, and both of you might want to provide details about your future plans together. As for visits you should have no problem to come visit her occasionally. Best luck for you!

 

[Buffy2323]

I didn't think about joint accounts and such but it makes great sense. We will look to do that before we file. Of course, once we are married we will do that naturally. We just planned our next visit, I'm flying her here to me in 3 1/2 weeks. It's exciting to be able to spend time together and know that we are working towards the rest of our lives together.

Everyone here has been so wonderful with their advice. Thank you!!

 

[AllisonVSC]

This link will help you put together the evidence of your relationship if you are planning a family class application as the route to Canada.

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

 

[Buffy2323]

Thank you Allison!! I have made note of it.