Canadian Fiance sponsoring me (Questions) - Explain Like I'm 5 Edition

[Noekh]

Hey folks, hope it's going well for ya. I have some questions, because I'm so confused, I couldn't punch my way out of a paper bag right now.

[Backstory]: My Canadian Fiance and I have known each other since we were about 19 years old. I'm 32, he's 31. We have been in an on-again, off-again relationship for most of our adult lives. Obviously, when breakups occurred, things got deleted, items got thrown away. I still have some pictures in my Photobucket of he and I from previous trips I took to Canada, and trips we took to the states.

We have some new chatlogs on Battle.net since we play World of Warcraft together, logs on Skype, old Facebook posts, etc.

I really don't have much more than that, neither does he, and we both wish we did. These things could be used for sufficient evidence of our relationship. I suppose I could always get my bank to print out ledgers from 2008-2011, as well.

So, now that we're old enough (in our opinions), and have finally decided, "Eff it, we've done this song and dance enough in our lives, let's take the plunge", we want to be married.

Here's the tricky part.
Right now, he doesn't have a job, and has been trying to make an independent entrepreneur career that hasn't quite lifted off yet. He says if it comes to it, he will get a job while he works on it, and balance both. I don't know how much he needs to be making, or if there is a minimum income requirement. We read about LICO, but It's all confusing.

He's only sponsoring me. We have no kids yet. I'm an American, so we're hoping the process will be simple enough, what with no additional paperwork.

The other tricky part is we're not sure HOW to go about this.

Do I go visit, get past the border, marry him in the country, and then we apply for inland and sponsorship stuff? Do I even need a visa as an American?

Should we apply for outland?

What the heck do we do? He is dead set on marriage, as am I, so we don't want to go Common Law, or Conjugal.

Also, when I used to visit, I would sometimes stay for months. Usually 6, because I read on the CIC site this was the legal limit. Hence, I'm asking about the visa, because I didn't need one then.

He has family that can vouch for knowing us, brother, sister, mother.

My family is all dead or gone. I am a legal orphan. I'm thinking about affadavits here if we need them.

I've gone over the sites, but I suck at reading legalese. Can someone please explain to me like I'm 5 how to marry, and immigrate to my wonderful, life-long man?

Thank you for your time.

 

[shalenabennie]

Hey ! So you can definitely apply for visit visa abd then apply for an INLAND. sponsorship takes around 12 months, but when you visa expires at 6 months you cab apply to extend it for another 6. You application will be considered based on the genuineness of your relationship. You guys known each other a long enough time, you have proof of relationship, your familys know about each other, its a great start. Get married, take pics, and apply. The forms are really straightforward. Good luck

 

[canuck78]

All depends if you need to work for the next 4-6 months.

 

[Noekh]

Hey ! So you can definitely apply for visit visa abd then apply for an INLAND. sponsorship takes around 12 months, but when you visa expires at 6 months you cab apply to extend it for another 6. You application will be considered based on the genuineness of your relationship. You guys known each other a long enough time, you have proof of relationship, your familys know about each other, its a great start. Get married, take pics, and apply. The forms are really straightforward. Good luck

I deeply appreciate you getting back to me. Thank you. My only other MASSIVE concern is this: If I have a visitor's visa and I am crossing the border, doesn't that sound the alarm bells for the officers? Do I have to tell them I'm getting married? They terrify and intimidate me anyway.

I'd hate to travel all the way from Pennsylvania to Ontario, just to be turned away from the border.

 

[canuck78]

I deeply appreciate you getting back to me. Thank you. My only other MASSIVE concern is this: If I have a visitor's visa and I am crossing the border, doesn't that sound the alarm bells for the officers? Do I have to tell them I'm getting married? They terrify and intimidate me anyway.

I'd hate to travel all the way from Pennsylvania to Ontario, just to be turned away from the border.

You can't actually move any stuff you would just be crossing over like any visitor. You can get married as a visitor.

 

[Noekh]

You can't actually move any stuff you would just be crossing over like any visitor. You can get married as a visitor.

That's wonderful news. I don't own anything, anyway; I basically live out of travel luggage. Minimalist.

So, is this something I need to declare at the border, or should I keep it quiet? As well, one more thing, do I absolutely need a visa for this, and how long does the marriage license take to procure?

Thank you!

 

[canuck78]

That's wonderful news. I don't own anything, anyway; I basically live out of travel luggage. Minimalist.

So, is this something I need to declare at the border, or should I keep it quiet? As well, one more thing, do I absolutely need a visa for this, and how long does the marriage license take to procure?

Thank you!

As a US citizen you are usually allowed to stay in Canada as a visitor for 6 months. You can apply for an extension online. Marriage license and certificate vary between locations. You should research what is required in your area. If your future husband isn't making money and you are not working anticipate having to show savings or promise of family support and their financial records. You need to show that you can support yourselves. With inland applications you can apply for an open work permit which would take 4 months. depending on the province you may not have health coverage for many months so you should look into private policies.