Conjugal Sponsorship help

[Taylorkrystyna]

Hello everyone, I've been reading a lot about Conjugal sponsorship and hope this could reply to my boyfriend and I.

Our background: We started dating online when he was 16 and I was 20. We have been dating for a year. I came to visit him when he was 17 back in June and we've been visiting back and forth since. We could not have lived together for a year because he was a minor. I'm going to graduate from University this year and would like to finally join him as he is turning 18 soon. We don't marry because him and his family don't believe in marriage his parents have been together for 25 years and haven't married. I am and Christian and he is atheist and my religion or church does not approve marriages with atheists he would have to convert to christianity first. We have been sending each other letters (which I have copies of ), emails, we have plane ticket documents, we've been sending each other money over paypal and are trying to currently open a joint back account. We send each other gifts etc. We are very serious and we do want to spend our lives together. We plan to apply in June but want to gather as much information as we can. Does anyone have any tips for being accepted or helping to make our case stronger? We have pictures we have family members and friends willing to write letters. Is there anything else we need?

 

[taffy7]

Conjugal is not going to work for you . This is a misconception that people think if you can't live together or get married you can apply conjugal. Conjugal is for people who can not live together for reasons of being prosecuted for example gay couples in countries where it is forbidden, or for couples of the Philippines where they can not live together or divorce.
You have two options.
1) live together for 1 full year
2) get married
You don't have to get married in a church and you don't need a big wedding. And as far as his parents don't believe in being married, i suggest you do what you both want to do and not what his parents do.

 

[scylla]

I assume you are the Canadian. Where is he from?

Based on the information you have provided so far, it doesn't sound like you qualify as a conjugal couple.

Is there any reason you can't live together for a year now to become common law? Is there any reason you can't get married in a court marriage (rather than church marriage)?

 

[Taylorkrystyna]

He personally doesn't believe in marriage he sees no reason to be married. He wants to spend his life with me just not get married. He lives in Canada, I live in the U.S. he is still a minor so he cannot get married without parental approval since he is 17 and I am 21. I personally am religious, and don't know how I feel about getting married in a court or anything of that sort. We are trying to decide what is best for us. If he never wants to get married I can understand that I just fear the government won't.

 

[Taylorkrystyna]

We want to live together when he turns 18 but he refuses to get married, he said the government shouldn't force us to just for immigration when we truly want to be together.

 

[Rob_TO]

Read here, under the various conjugal sections to see what CIC will and won't accept for conjugal apps. Basically unless there is an immigration or legal reason you can't possibly live together for 12 months to become common-law, a conjugal app will not succeed. US and Canadian are visa-exempt to each others countries so there is no barrier to you.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/manuals/op/op02-eng.pdf
5.45. What is a conjugal partner?

Because of Supreme Court decisions, the choice not to marry is a constitutionally protected
choice. Thus, CIC cannot require couples to marry in order to immigrate. However, if they are not
married, they must be common-law partners. There is NO provision for fiancé(e)s or “intended
common-law partners” in IRPA. If a Canadian and a foreign national can get married or can live
together and establish a common-law relationship, this is what they are expected to have done
before they submit sponsorship and immigration applications

 

[scylla]

You definitely don't qualify for conjugal in that case. You don't have to get married. But there is nothing stopping you from living together for a year to become common law. Once he is 18, you can start living together. Once you have lived togethre for a year, you can classify yourselves as a common law couple and he will be able to sponsor your for PR.

Again, conjugal will absolutely not work. If you try to apply, you'll end up being refused.

You need to change your plans.

 

[Ponga]

We want to live together when he turns 18 but he refuses to get married, he said the government shouldn't force us to just for immigration when we truly want to be together.

I totally understand his point of view, but as others have said...there's no way that a conjugal sponsorship will be approved.

Looks like `living in sin' for at least a year is the only option.

Just curious...what about what YOU want? Do YOU ever hope to be married?

 

[Taylorkrystyna]

Growing up I hoped to be married, but the more time we are together the more I've accepted not being married. I've seen more unhappy marriages than long term couples who never marry. I just want to be with the one I love ultimately. He is currently living at home, and his parents told me I can only live with them if I have job, which what I'm studying I could not get a work permit for I have been looking at jobs up there but no success yet. He'd have to find a place as soon as he turned 18.

 

[scylla]

Growing up I hoped to be married, but the more time we are together the more I've accepted not being married. I've seen more unhappy marriages than long term couples who never marry. I just want to be with the one I love ultimately. He is currently living at home, and his parents told me I can only live with them if I have job, which what I'm studying I could not get a work permit for I have been looking at jobs up there but no success yet. He'd have to find a place as soon as he turned 18.

Unfortunately none of this changes the answer. If he wants to sponsor you, the only two options are getting married or living together for a year to become common law.

If you are currently in school or have very recently finished school - you should look into the SWAP visa.

Good luck.

 

[Ponga]

Since you are the one that will be applying for sponsorship, you should see if you can find a job that qualifies under NAFTA. If you can come to Canada with authorization to work, it will make life a lot easier for you...and him as well.

 

[Taylorkrystyna]

I was thinking as coming as common law but then I wouldn't have insurance and I suffer from Sjogrens syndrome and have to regularly see doctors and get my medication. I don't think travel insurance would cover this? And i've never heard of the SWAP program before I just looked it up sadly nothing in Quebec though

 

[Ponga]

I was thinking as coming as common law but then I wouldn't have insurance and I suffer from Sjogrens syndrome and have to regularly see doctors and get my medication. I don't think travel insurance would cover this? And i've never heard of the SWAP program before I just looked it up sadly nothing in Quebec though

You will be coming to Canada as a visitor, in the hopes of establishing the required one year of cohabiting to then be deemed as a Common-Law couple. You cannot legally `move' to Canada until you have applied for sponsorship and have been approved (which will be a long time for you).

Having the medical issue only complicates the situation even more.

Good luck!