Question about visiting

[Remrov]

Hello everybody,

I'm Dutch and I live in the Netherland, and I want to immigrate to Montreal. My boyfriend who lives there is going to be my sponsor.

I'm planning to send the whole application package in the end of July. What I was wondering....

Am I allowed to visit my boyfriend in Montreal for a few months during the process?

Or do I have to stay in the Netherlands until our application is approved?

Hope somebody can help me

Thanks,

Remrov

 

[bally21]

Is there any reason you are waiting until July to apply? If you apply now, the waiting time for 1st stage sponsor approval is approx 3 months, then another few months for stage 2 processing, depending on your visa office. The earlier you apply, the better in my opinion!

You can go and visit him, this is called Dual Intent as you have two intentions. 1) to visit temporarily and 2) to settle permanently (because you have a PR application in process)

You will need to tell the officer at the border that this is a temporary visit, and you have to show you have sufficient ties that you will return home after your visit or if your application for PR is rejected. This could be a job you have to return to, a return flight, a rental lease/mortagage etc.

Hope that helps!

 

[Remrov]

Thank you for your respons!

The reason why I don't apply now is because my boyfriend still lives here with me in the Netherlands. He's moving back to Montreal at the end of june. I go with him then, just to set up things in Montreal, like an appartment for him (and also for me when the whole application is approved).
Then in the end of july I will come back to the Netherlands (my boyfriend will stay in Canada) and then we will start the whole process.

Oke, I will take some proof with me then that I'm only going to stay temporary.

Then only thing I'm wondering about is, what if the CIC sends me mail (to my Dutch adress) while I'm visiting my boyfriend in Montreal. Can that be a problem?

 

[bally21]

Thank you for your respons!

The reason why I don't apply now is because my boyfriend still lives here with me in the Netherlands. He's moving back to Montreal at the end of june. I go with him then, just to set up things in Montreal, like an appartment for him (and also for me when the whole application is approved).
Then in the end of july I will come back to the Netherlands (my boyfriend will stay in Canada) and then we will start the whole process.

Oke, I will take some proof with me then that I'm only going to stay temporary.

Then only thing I'm wondering about is, what if the CIC sends me mail (to my Dutch adress) while I'm visiting my boyfriend in Montreal. Can that be a problem?

If your boyfriend is a canadian citizen, he can be in the Netherlands and still sponsor you. So if you guys wanted, you can apply now. Actually it may be a better idea to apply now as you both live together, whereas once he goes back to Canada, it may be more difficult to prove you are common-law partners. Something to think about.

CIC usually contact you by email first, but it might be an idea to make sure someone can check your post for you.

 

[scylla]

Thank you for your respons!

Then only thing I'm wondering about is, what if the CIC sends me mail (to my Dutch adress) while I'm visiting my boyfriend in Montreal. Can that be a problem?

Someone should check your mail while you're away.

 

[Remrov]

My boyfriend is not a Canadian Citizen. He is American with a Canadian perminant residence card. So that's why he has to go back first.

I'm going to get a lot of proof that we lived here in the Netherlands together for a year and a half. And also attach many photo's etc so I hope that we have enough proof then.

My twinbrother will stay in my appartment while I'm in Canada in July, so I can ask him to check my mail.

 

[bally21]

Ok, good idea. well fingers crossed you get it all sorted out soon

 

[Remrov]

Does anybody know by the way how long I'm allowed to stay in Canada?

I thought that three months is the limit but I"m not sure.

 

[OhCanadiana]

Does anybody know by the way how long I'm allowed to stay in Canada?

I thought that three months is the limit but I"m not sure.

The officer at the border will make that determination. It's usually up to six months, but they have been known to give but a month. Either way, once you are in Canada you can apply to extend your stay.

 

[Remrov]

Okay....so I understand that it's better that I don't get a return ticket for three months later when I buy my planetickets then?

 

[Hnhkrk]

I am in a similar situation, but I am from the USA.

In July I am flying into Montreal and we are getting married. After that, I plan on staying with him as a 'visitor' until our PR is approved. We already have almost everything gathered/filled out, we are just waiting to be married before we send it in. Over the course of my stay I will not be allowed to work but I will be able to be put on his bank account, lease, and any other general bills to help prove our relationship. If my PR isn't accepted within 6 months, I will have to apply for a Visitor's Visa extension. Considering the proof that we have, his financial status, and the clarity of our application I doubt it's going to take over 6 months for me to get PR. Once I am approved, I plan on crossing the border in Rhode Island, and then coming back a few days later to get my PR card and such.

By the way, I'm not sure if I made this clear... but you can apply for PR Outland when you're in Canada. In my application, my mailing address is that of the apartment I share with my boyfriend in Montreal... so if I were you, I would put my Canada address on the application if you plan to be there more. There is no need to wait until you go back to the Netherlands. The only thing you're really going to need from them is the Background Check.

 

[Hnhkrk]

Also, evertime I've gone through customs at Treduea my passport was never stamped with a 'return by' date even though I had a return ticket. This means that I can stay for at least 6 months.... but even if you get approved for less time, you can always apply for a Visitors Extension. When I enter Canada in July, I'm going to have a return ticket but will cancel it once I get through customs. Border Officers don't like it when you don't have a return ticket. Remember, you have to prove that you have the intention of leaving Canada even if you really don't.

 

[Remrov]

Thank you for all your info!

I didn't know that I could also apply PR outland while I am in Canada. I thought that it was a must that my boyfriend would be in Canada and I in the Netherlands.

But anyway....I can't stay too long in Canada anyway. I'm on a benefit here and if I stay away too long they stop my benefit and then I don't have an income anymore and I can't pay the bills here.
And I have a pet parrot to take care of also.

 

[Hnhkrk]

Thank you for all your info!

I didn't know that I could also apply PR outland while I am in Canada. I thought that it was a must that my boyfriend would be in Canada and I in the Netherlands.

But anyway....I can't stay too long in Canada anyway. I'm on a benefit here and if I stay away too long they stop my benefit and then I don't have an income anymore and I can't pay the bills here.
And I have a pet parrot to take care of also.

Ah! I am lucky in the fact that my fiancee makes enough money for us both to live on while I'm unable to work. When I leave this July, I will be canceling my lease, 'quitting' my job, and leaving any furniture I have for me parents to use. I'll have nothing to take care of here.

 

[Remrov]

I find it a bit too riscful to cancel everything here, like my appartment, benefit etc. Because when I get refused, I have nothing left here. I prefer to wait until I have aproval.

I wonder how strict they are anyway. Are there lots of people who get refused?