Immigration options

[Distant lover]

Hi there,

I am hoping someone can help me.

In this wonderful age of technology, I have found myself in a bittersweet predicament

I am a NZ citizen who has fallen in love with an absolutely fabulous Canadian lass and we have developed a very strong relationship.

I should have thought about this side of stuff earlier, but i didn't and now I have to try and figure out my next move.

We want to be together with the option of getting married down the track (she currently isn't divorced)

Being a NZ Citizen, from all i have read I can stay for up to 6 months on a visitors visa, but obviously not be able to work. I would really love to make Canada my forever home.

I know there are sponsorship options available. Pros? Cons?
I have looked at express entry and apparently not eligible for whatever reason
I have just woken up so if anything seems a little vague, please excuse me.

Any further information, I am more than happy to supply

 

[scylla]

To be sponsored by your partner - you need to be either married or common law. Common law means that you have physically lived together for a minimum of one continuous year.

Depending on your age - you may be able to benefit from the IEC/Working Holiday Visa program which will grant you an open work permit and let you live and work in Canada temporarily.

 

[Distant lover]

Thanks for your reply


I am 39 so am to old to benefit from that program

She is happy to support me if we had to go down the common law sponsorship option, but in order to live with her for a continuous year, I would need to be able to stay there for a year first.

Is living with her for a year an option on a visitors visa? I see you can apply for an extension to have the 6 months extended out further

 

[scylla]

Yes - you would need to apply for an extension in order to live there for a year to become common law.

 

[Distant lover]

That's a good start.

Is an extension something they would normally grant in this situation ie:wanting to stay together

I very much appreciate your input here. This has been very stressful the last 24 hrs

 

[scylla]

You'll have no issues getting an extension.

However there's always some risk you may have issues entering the country to start. While you can visit Canada without a visa - this is a privilege and not a right. If CBSA feels you are looking like someone who is trying to move to Canada long term, this can result in a refusal. When you arrive in Canada, I would have a return flight that's only a few weeks out (you don't have to use the other leg). You also need to make sure you pack like a tourist (don't bring everything you own - only take a suitcase or two). Additionally, it would be wise to bring evidence of ties to your home country just in case you run into issues (e.g. property owned, job if you still have one then, utility bills, bank statements, etc.).

 

[Distant lover]

I would pretty much be coming with very little anyway.

That's good solid advice thank you. It's calmed me down a bit knowing that it's not all lost.

I am not looking to be dodgy or anything. I just want to start a new life with the woman I love

 

[Distant lover]

The information that the website has is a little confusing, but While on a visitor visa is there provision where j would be able to change that to a working visa?


I am not the kind of person who wants someone else to look after me and I want to contribute to the country that I hope to call my home one day

 

[canuck_in_uk]

The information that the website has is a little confusing, but While on a visitor visa is there provision where j would be able to change that to a working visa?

I am not the kind of person who wants someone else to look after me and I want to contribute to the country that I hope to call my home one day

No, there is no provision allowing you to apply for a work permit while here as a visitor.

In order to apply for a work permit, you would need a job offer from an employer with an approved LMIA. This is very difficult, as the LMIA process has strict requirements, costs the employer $1000 and can take months to be processed.

 

[Distant lover]

No, there is no provision allowing you to apply for a work permit while here as a visitor.

In order to apply for a work permit, you would need a job offer from an employer with an approved LMIA. This is very difficult, as the LMIA process has strict requirements, costs the employer $1000 and can take months to be processed.

Thank you for that.

That's what I thought. Why do government department websites have to be so vague ha ha

 

[Distant lover]

Yes - you would need to apply for an extension in order to live there for a year to become common law.

I appreciate your input Scylla.

What would be the conditions of getting a visitors visa extended and how many times can you extend them

As I can't work legally, I would obviously be helping out with funds I have brought with me. I am assuming they will look at funds available before granting an extension

 

[Distant lover]

Work wise I currently am an administration supervisor for a food wholesaler. Been with the company 4 1/2 year at time of writing

Due to the nature of the business I hold a current heavy vehicle license and forklift license.

I am currently finishing my qualifications as a personal trainer - qualify October (NOC 5254 I believe it to be)

Previous work experience has been in retail management and working with people with mental health issues, aged care and intellectual disabilities.

Would any of these have a positive bearing on my situation and help me to get residencey?

 

[scylla]

Work wise I currently am an administration supervisor for a food wholesaler. Been with the company 4 1/2 year at time of writing

Due to the nature of the business I hold a current heavy vehicle license and forklift license.

I am currently finishing my qualifications as a personal trainer - qualify October (NOC 5254 I believe it to be)

Previous work experience has been in retail management and working with people with mental health issues, aged care and intellectual disabilities.

Would any of these have a positive bearing on my situation and help me to get residencey?

It's not of any help for spousal sponsorship.

If you are asking whether you can immigrate independently through an economic immigration stream, then this is something you will have to investigate on your own through reading through Canada's immigration programs and/or hiring an immigration lawyer to assist you. Information is here: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/apply.asp

 

[Distant lover]

It's not of any help for spousal sponsorship.

If you are asking whether you can immigrate independently through an economic immigration stream, then this is something you will have to investigate on your own through reading through Canada's immigration programs and/or hiring an immigration lawyer to assist you. Information is here

Thanks for that Scylla. It is something I will definitely look at. I will need to do a CELPIP test by the look of it to get a score to more accurately ascertain this option.


In regards to the visitors visa, how many times would they realistically grant an extension in order to be there for the year needed to become common law?