Canadian wanting to sponsor UK boyfriend

[Jason12345]

Hello
I met my girlfriend (Canadian 20) in Australia whilst traveling and we have been together 7 months traveling the world. My girlfriend wants to continue her studies in Canada and I would like to join her there. I am 24 from the UK.
Firstly I am under the impression that we need to have been together for a year for her to sponsor me is this correct?
Secondly I am looking to move to Canada for 6 months as a visitor. I have money to tie me over I don't need to work however after this 6 months we will have been together over a year.
I guess my question is
1, if we apply for sponsorship do we apply as soon as I enter the country on the 1st of August or wait till December when we have been together a year?
Also by the time December comes round would I have to leave Canada because my visitor visa has run out or because I have a pending sponsorship visa will I be able to stay?
Also what type of money would my girlfriend need to prove to sponsor me as she is only a student?therefore prob won't have a solid fixed income.
Also can traveling together count as time living together? I have proof we did live together such as receipts pictures etc.?

Does this sound realistic me moving or just kind of a dream???

Thanks for your time reading and helping also

We just want to stay together really and are looking for our best options... Would getting a visitor visa be viable or just apply for the sponsorship straight away?

 

[MilesAway]

You will need to be either married or common-law at the time of the application. So no, you cannot submit the application upon your arrival if you haven't lived together for at least 12 continuous months.

You could enter as a visitor then apply to extend your status. If you apply outland, you need to maintain legal status in Canada. If you apply inland, then you generally get implied status, and the possibility of an open work permit after 1st stage approval (6 months usually).

The sponsor doesn't need a minimum income, however they must still show that they can support themselves and you, without resorting to welfare. Have a plan. If it includes living with friends or relatives, get letters from them. If they're working, get letters from employers. Or you can show that both of you have solid job prospects and are employable, and therefore will not need to resort to social assistance.

Read the first post by Leon, it's a sticky. There's a good deal of information in there. Also go through the CIC guides, they tell you a lot about the requirements to sponsor.

 

[Pippin]

What do the experts say? Would the 7 months of travel count toward the common law status? Wouldn't you have to show shared bank accounts or things like that of a more permanent nature than an extended holiday? Just a thought. All the best.

 

[Jason12345]

Thanks for the quick response.

So just out if interest would the time we traveled count towards the year? It's kind of hard to prove apart from pictures/receipts etc but still

Many thanks

 

[amikety]

Thanks for the quick response.

So just out if interest would the time we traveled count towards the year? It's kind of hard to prove apart from pictures/receipts etc but still

Many thanks

It would be the decision of the IO processing your file. There is no 'set in stone' answer here. If you can prove beyond a doubt you two were together all the time, stayed in the same hotel room, traveled on the same planes, it should be okay. Depending on the hotels' reservations and receipts, that can be tricky. (My hotel receipt from one trip shows only my husband's name even though I paid with my credit card.)

Basic rule of CIC - if you can't prove it, it didn't happen.

(You can be apart for short periods of time, but in your case, I think that would only lead to confusion with the IO. It will be hard enough proving common-law while traveling.)

Being from the UK, you can also extend your visitor status inside Canada without having to leave, get another 6 months or a year, and then apply as CL. You can also look for work, just be extremely careful how you go about it and definitely don't go any work until you get an approved work permit in your hands. If that sounds good to you, don't mention it to the IO when you enter Canada. Also, you should look into the working holiday visa (IEC) for the UK. It tends to fill up fast, but I believe you can apply while outside the UK - so if it looks interesting, be prepared to send in your application asap for next year.