Long Distance Relationship

[enicaste]

Looking for some advice and help:

I have a long distance partner in the USA, we are going on 2 years and have a serious commitment to each other.

I want us to have a plan for the future where we can be educated and successful and lead a prosperous life in Canada.

I would live in the USA but due to heavier restrictions and economic issues I would prefer to stay in Canada and my partner is just fine by that.

I have no idea where to start, what application to apply for and I am having a hard time finding the answers I need.

I understand that one of the best ways to get into Canada is to have a skilled trade but unfortunately my partner does not take interest in any of them and both of us are just beginning to figure out what we want to do with our lives (we are 20) and we want to grow together instead of apart and although it would be easier for us both to be educated and move together when we are say, 25, it is emotionally taxing and upsetting to the both of us.

Currently we are both working mediocre retail job and able to take some time off every 6 or so months to visit one another.
We would love to do more but it's expensive and retail can be demanding in terms of when you can take time off.

I was wondering if sponsoring him as a conjugal partner would be the way to go or perhaps provincial nominee but I have not yet looked into that one in detail. I know the main thread at the top says conjugal is the hardest to prove but there is no other category for us. We have 2 years worth of elaborate Skype logs, text messages, pictures, plane tickets, family/friend testimonials if needed and we dedicate all of our time to one another. We are not the type of couple that has a phone call maybe once a week, we are connected 24/7 one way or another and a fantastic partnership.

I also want to know if he is allowed to work and receive care if needed while the application is being processed or if it's only after. Also, is he able to apply for PR after 3 years? I have no idea how this works but my goal is for us to live together and for him to be able to work, study or both and eventually become a citizen unless he is allowed dual citizenship or can remain a US citizen.

Thank you for any assistance.

 

[Fencesitter]

Consider the obligations to sponsor a spouse or common-law partner. You will need to have a job to earn enough money to be able to support your spouse / common-law partner for 3 years from the date she lands in Canada. There is no minimum income requirement to be approved as her sponsor, but you cannot go on government assistance and must show evidence that you will be able to support her during the first 3 years.

If you don't get married, your best option would be to sponsor her as a common-law partner. There are application kits available to download on the official CIC website. Go through all the forms and start putting your application together. Then come back here with any questions you may have...and like all of us, I'm sure you'll have some questions!

Think of the evidence you have and how it will help to prove that your relationship is genuine and continuing. You'll need letters from family and friends stating they know your relationship to be real, etc....

FS

 

[missmini]

true but to sponsor as common-law they first need to live together for one continous year which means one of them will move to the other one probably with a visit visa (in Canada they could get it for 6 months and then they'll try to extend it for another 6)....being with visit visa u cannot work.....

conjugal route (not common-law nor married) is the hardest of all - u need to show consistent proof of why u cannot get married (or strong reasons of why u don't marry right now, not being ready is not the answer they search) and also of why u cannot move to each other (visa restrictions could b a reason but does not apply to u, job or school r not good enough reasons); still the conjugal route is not impossible (follow the AllisonVSC case)

 

[scylla]

I would forget about conjugal. There are no immigration barriers stopping you from living common law or getting married (unfortunately financial barriers aren't considered as a reason). If your relationship is really that serious - what about marriage?

To answer the rest of your questions, I would recommend that you read the first post in the following thread. It provides a great summary of the process and options:

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/spousal-sponsorship-t46995.0.html

 

[Sunshine87]

I was strangely in the exact situation as you are. I met my American husband online and we were in a long distance relationship for a year and a half, seeing each other every 3 months or so. I was hesitant about moving to the US for the same reasons. After about a year, we started to look at just about every route to get him to Canada. After exhausting everything, and still not able to come up with a solution.. we started to think about marriage.

It sounds like marriage might be something to consider or maybe he can get a work visa.. or even a student visa? I know with working retail, a work visa is a slim chance and money is limited.

Just know that any route you chose, will take time, money, sacrifices and a whole lot of patience. I was in your shoes this time last year, looking for answers and trying to figure things out. Good luck to you!

 

[enicaste]

Thanks so very much for all of your input everyone! I really appreciate it.

I understand conjugal partnership better now, and I definitely won't be going that route.

I find it pretty ridiculous that the sponsor has to actually support their partner for 3 years. Is there no way for the partner to acquire a working visa?

 

[mc1234]

Thanks so very much for all of your input everyone! I really appreciate it.

I understand conjugal partnership better now, and I definitely won't be going that route.

I find it pretty ridiculous that the sponsor has to actually support their partner for 3 years. Is there no way for the partner to acquire a working visa?

They would be a PR, meaning that they are able to work, go to school, and live in Canada. What they mean by support is that during those first three years, it is very hard to become established in Canada. By signing to be a sponsor, you are saying you will take care of all costs for their basic needs (so that they do not become a liability of the Canadian government)

 

[enicaste]

I was strangely in the exact situation as you are. I met my American husband online and we were in a long distance relationship for a year and a half, seeing each other every 3 months or so. I was hesitant about moving to the US for the same reasons. After about a year, we started to look at just about every route to get him to Canada. After exhausting everything, and still not able to come up with a solution.. we started to think about marriage.

It sounds like marriage might be something to consider or maybe he can get a work visa.. or even a student visa? I know with working retail, a work visa is a slim chance and money is limited.

Just know that any route you chose, will take time, money, sacrifices and a whole lot of patience. I was in your shoes this time last year, looking for answers and trying to figure things out. Good luck to you!

I'd like to know a bit more about your story if you're willing to share!
Mainly your experience with time, money, sacrifices and patience and you said, and did you get married? How is everything now?

Thanks so much

 

[enicaste]

They would be a PR, meaning that they are able to work, go to school, and live in Canada. What they mean by support is that during those first three years, it is very hard to become established in Canada. By signing to be a sponsor, you are saying you will take care of all costs for their basic needs (so that they do not become a liability of the Canadian government)

But can't one only apply for PR in Canada after 3 years of living there?
I definitely understand the income expectation and why it's implemented but I'm just wondering what the person coming to Canada is allowed to do; does the acceptance of the application allow them to live/work/study right away? Or once accepted, they apply to become established and then they are permitted to live/work/study? I just can't see it being productive to have someone live in Canada for 3 years, unable to do anything.

 

[mc1234]

But can't one only apply for PR in Canada after 3 years of living there?
I definitely understand the income expectation and why it's implemented but I'm just wondering what the person coming to Canada is allowed to do; does the acceptance of the application allow them to work/study/receive care right away? Or once accepted does one have to apply to become establish and then they are permitted to live work and study?

After you submit the application for PR for your spouse, from the day they "land" which is essentially activating their visa, they are a permanent resident of Canada. As a permanent resident, you are able to work anywhere within the country, study, and live full time in Canada.

 

[enicaste]

After you submit the application for PR for your spouse, from the day they "land" which is essentially activating their visa, they are a permanent resident of Canada. As a permanent resident, you are able to work anywhere within the country, study, and live full time in Canada.

I apologize for being confused about this,
When you sponsor someone does that application entitle them to PR or are they two separate applications that get submitted at the same time?

 

[mc1234]

Sponsoring a member of family class is a way for your spouse, common-law or conjugal partner to become a permanent resident. They aren't two different applications..its one application. To make it simple: You marry your BF and then you sign an undertaking (sponsorship) for him, you fill out the forms, provide the supporting evidence, and submit the application. This is all so that your BF can become a permanent resident.

In Canadian immigration, there are a variety of ways one can become a permanent resident of Canada, one of which is that your spouse signs an undertaking for you (to provide their basic needs for three years). That's why its called sponsorship, but in the end all routes lead to the same place, permanent residence.

The first thing I would suggest to you is read the guide so that you become more knowledgeable as to when you do sign your name on that paper, you know exactly what it entails and also how the process works. Sponsorship is a big deal, and shouldn't be taken lightly. All the best to you!

 

[locolynn]

I apologize for being confused about this,
When you sponsor someone does that application entitle them to PR or are they two separate applications that get submitted at the same time?

You are confusing permanent residency with citizenship. You can apply to sponsor your husband/wife as a permanent resident. You are responsible for them for 3 years - mostly if they go on assistance you will have to pay it back. A PR has almost all the same rights and responsibilities as a citizen - they just don't get to vote or hold a passport (as well as a couple of other small differences).

To become a citizen you have to have physically and legally been in Canada for a set number of years before you can apply.

Good luck to you.

LYnn

Lynn

 

[enicaste]

Sponsoring a member of family class is a way for your spouse, common-law or conjugal partner to become a permanent resident. They aren't two different applications..its one application. To make it simple: You marry your BF and then you sign an undertaking (sponsorship) for him, you fill out the forms, provide the supporting evidence, and submit the application. This is all so that your BF can become a permanent resident.

In Canadian immigration, there are a variety of ways one can become a permanent resident of Canada, one of which is that your spouse signs an undertaking for you (to provide their basic needs for three years). That's why its called sponsorship, but in the end all routes lead to the same place, permanent residence.

The first thing I would suggest to you is read the guide so that you become more knowledgeable as to when you do sign your name on that paper, you know exactly what it entails and also how the process works. Sponsorship is a big deal, and shouldn't be taken lightly. All the best to you!

Thank you very much!!

 

[mc1234]

Your welcome. Good luck!