Girlfriend and child outside country, how to bring to live in Canada

[Rocko]

Hi All,

Looking for help in regards to this matter, I have a girlfriend that lives in Colombia and we are soon expecting a child together. I plan on living there for several months on parental leave when the child is born. I am looking for the best and fastest possible way to bring her and our child to live in Canada. I am a Canadian citizen.

I have heard that spousal sponsorship is our best option, we plan on getting married. Their in Colombia by signing the papers to speed up the process. I am also wondering what the process is for bringing the child. I have read the child does get the Canadian citizenship from me, but I will have to apply for a citizenship certificate in Colombia and the process I hear can take up to 18 months. My stay in Colombia would only be near 10 months I need to return to work back in the country to be able to support them and want them to come with me.

What could I do to bring my child into the country without the long wait time for the citizenship certificate?
What is the fastest process to bring my girlfriend and child to live in Canada?

 

[DimT44]

Hi All,

Looking for help in regards to this matter, I have a girlfriend that lives in Colombia and we are soon expecting a child together. I plan on living there for several months on parental leave when the child is born. I am looking for the best and fastest possible way to bring her and our child to live in Canada. I am a Canadian citizen.

I have heard that spousal sponsorship is our best option, we plan on getting married. Their in Colombia by signing the papers to speed up the process. I am also wondering what the process is for bringing the child. I have read the child does get the Canadian citizenship from me, but I will have to apply for a citizenship certificate in Colombia and the process I hear can take up to 18 months. My stay in Colombia would only be near 10 months I need to return to work back in the country to be able to support them and want them to come with me.

What could I do to bring my child into the country without the long wait time for the citizenship certificate?
What is the fastest process to bring my girlfriend and child to live in Canada?

Apply for both citizenship certificate and temporary passport for the child. The passport will allow him to travel asap.

For your wife you have to decide whether you want to apply inland or outland.

Inland allows her to stay in Canada and opens the option for work while waiting. (She has to be here first though - on TRV for example.) No appeal is allowed in this application type.

Outland is usually seen as faster, though not always true. The advantage in this application is that if denied you can appeal. She can also come to Canada on visits, if able to obtain TRV.

I'm over simplifying and cutting corners in my explanation, but research it more and you will see what I mean.

 

[armoured]

I agree with the above overall - but would just note that first step is to apply for TRV for the girlfriend. Do that now. If she gets it, you have more choices; if she doesn't, well you go from there.

 

[Rocko]

I agree with the above overall - but would just note that first step is to apply for TRV for the girlfriend. Do that now. If she gets it, you have more choices; if she doesn't, well you go from there.

If the TRV gets denied will I have further issues applying for the spousal sponsorship in the future?
Would I have difficulties proving she will stay temporarily if we plan on getting married soon and also have the child together?

 

[armoured]

If the TRV gets denied will I have further issues applying for the spousal sponsorship in the future?
Would I have difficulties proving she will stay temporarily if we plan on getting married soon and also have the child together?

1. No
2. Yes

 

[Rocko]

Apply for both citizenship certificate and temporary passport for the child. The passport will allow him to travel asap.

For your wife you have to decide whether you want to apply inland or outland.

Inland allows her to stay in Canada and opens the option for work while waiting. (She has to be here first though - on TRV for example.) No appeal is allowed in this application type.

Outland is usually seen as faster, though not always true. The advantage in this application is that if denied you can appeal. She can also come to Canada on visits, if able to obtain TRV.

I'm over simplifying and cutting corners in my explanation, but research it more and you will see what I mean.

Hi thanks for the response,

I am also wondering if it is possible that we can do a conjugal sponsorship, from now as apposed to waiting a few more months from now to get married then apply for spousal sponsorship. We did have barriers such as covid that prevented us from being together earlier in the relationship. Also to pay for a wedding now with the child on the way is a little difficult. I don't want to have to leave her and my child alone to return to canada to work to be able to support them.

 

[DimT44]

Hi thanks for the response,

I am also wondering if it is possible that we can do a conjugal sponsorship, from now as apposed to waiting a few more months from now to get married then apply for spousal sponsorship. We did have barriers such as covid that prevented us from being together earlier in the relationship. Also to pay for a wedding now with the child on the way is a little difficult. I don't want to have to leave her and my child alone to return to canada to work to be able to support them.

You don’t qualify for conjugal in this situation as the barriers are not strong enough. Either get married sooner or apply now as common law if you qualify.

It’s not clear to me why you have to leave them? As a citizen you can sponsor her while outside Canada.

One other thing, how did you obtain citizenship? Were you born outside Canada and got it through your parents? If yes, in that situation your child won’t get citizenship unless they’re born in Canada.

 

[Rocko]

You don’t qualify for conjugal in this situation as the barriers are not strong enough. Either get married sooner or apply now as common law if you qualify.

It’s not clear to me why you have to leave them? As a citizen you can sponsor her while outside Canada.

One other thing, how did you obtain citizenship? Were you born outside Canada and got it through your parents? If yes, in that situation your child won’t get citizenship unless they’re born in Canada.

The baby will be due in a month and a half, I am currently still here in canada while she is in colombia, I plan to go there at the start of next month. There isnt really much time, thats why i was wondering if i can start the application as conjugal from here in Canada now. We dont qualify for the common-law.

I will stay with her in Colombia over the next few months but will have to return back to Canada to work and support my girlfriend and child while the applications for her spousal sponsorship/ or conjugal which ever we would qualify for and the citizenship certificate go through. I am worried if it takes longer than the amount of time I can stay there with her due to expenses.

I was born here in Canada,

 

[DimT44]

The baby will be due in a month and a half, I am currently still here in canada while she is in colombia, I plan to go there at the start of next month. There isnt really much time, thats why i was wondering if i can start the application as conjugal from here in Canada now. We dont qualify for the common-law.

I will stay with her in Colombia over the next few months but will have to return back to Canada to work and support my girlfriend and child while the applications for her spousal sponsorship/ or conjugal which ever we would qualify for and the citizenship certificate go through. I am worried if it takes longer than the amount of time I can stay there with her due to expenses.

I was born here in Canada,

Yeah that makes sense. Unfortunately you don’t qualify for conjugal sponsorship, many others are in your shoes too and there’s no way around it. You must be either apply for inland or outland spousal sponsorship.