Questions about crossing border & sponsorship

[Lnley]

Hello all.

I am new to the forums here, but I need some help or opinions. I apologize if this is a bit long or confusing.

I am a US citizen and my bf/fiance is a Canadian. We have been dating for the past year long distance. We want to live together and begin our life with each other, and hopefully get married in the next 6 months. Our plan right now is for me to go "visit" him by plane, and while there I would try and find a job, so I could receive a work permit that allows me to stay longer than the 6 month period. If I am unable to find an employer willing to hire me, we would most likely just go ahead and get married and then file for Sponsorship, and ask for an extension for my visitors visa.

The questions I have are:

1) When going through customs at the airport during my "visititation" trip, what do I tell the officers? (I will most likely not have a return ticket. Will they find that suspicious? I could bring a paystub from my job from before I quit, would that be a good thing, if they ask for proof that i will be returning?)

2) From people with experiance, Would it be best to just get married and do the sponsorship, then file for an extension to stay while the paperwork is processing? Or go the work permit route?

-Additional details that might help.

- We both currently have fulltime jobs, although I will be leaving mine when I go there.
- I have a 2 year degree from a University, but its not in a major 'skill' field.
- We both have been saving money to support ourselves during this time.

This whole process just seems terribly daunting and scary at times. Both myself and my fiance are so nervous about this. So any opinions would be greatly appreciated. Just let me know if you need anymore information in order to give me advice and I'll get it too you.

Thank you.

 

[amikety]

1) Tell them you're visiting. Just FYI, one of my two flights into Canada, they verified I had a return ticket before allowing me on the plane (they did this to all non-Canadians). You might want to get a refundable ticket just in case. Have information on where you're staying, including address.

2) If you manage to get a work permit, you'll be extremely lucky. Unless you fall under NAFTA or have skills in specific areas Canada is looking for, work permits aren't easy to get. Convincing an employer to hire you is difficult. Being American seems to be a disadvantage in this case (in my opinion).

If you're ready to get married, it would be the best route.

PS: You get work visa, PR visa, but no visitor visa. The stamp on your passport will be your entry document. You won't be issued at visa as a visitor. If you extend your stay online, you'll be issued a Visitor's Record. It's a useful piece of paper to have. I needed it in several circumstances (open my own sole bank account, apply for healthcare).

What province are you going to? What degree do you have? (They would call it a diploma here - degree is 4 years and above.)

 

[Lnley]

Thank you for you answers.

Ok, so the best thing would be to get a refundable return ticket for a later date.

I will be going to Ontario, and I have a Associates Degree (2 year degree) in General Studies. (Meaning no major area of study) I've looked at the list of skilled jobs and I do not believe I qualify for any of them. I do have 6 years experience in the administration/management field, but I don't know if that helps.

 

[amikety]

Thank you for you answers.

Ok, so the best thing would be to get a refundable return ticket for a later date.

I will be going to Ontario, and I have a Associates Degree (2 year degree) in General Studies. (Meaning no major area of study) I've looked at the list of skilled jobs and I do not believe I qualify for any of them. I do have 6 years experience in the administration/management field, but I don't know if that helps.

It's very doubtful you'll find a job in admin assist/management as a foreigner, but you can try. Generally speaking, there's plenty of people in Ontario (and Canada) that are qualified for that job. No need to hire a foreigner. Unless your fiance has a connection, I wouldn't expect to find a job, but you can certainly try. It may work out for you.

The good news is, if you get married and file for the PR visa, I believe in Ontario, you can get healthcare after Stage 1 approval.

To get a job, you'll need an employer with a LMO (Labour Market Opinion). That's their permission from the government to hire a foreigner. Once you get the LMO, then you apply for a work permit. To get an idea of the job market in your target area, go to www.kijiji.com. Select your nearest target city, then type "LMO" in the search field. You'll probably see a few nanny jobs, maybe a few fast food jobs, and lots and lots of ads begging for a LMO job.

Your issue won't be your education or experience. Both of those are good. The issue will be convincing an employer and then the government there's a need to hire a foreigner. You'll need to become familiar with the LMO process so you can educate employer on the process.

 

[Lnley]

It's very doubtful you'll find a job in admin assist/management as a foreigner, but you can try. Generally speaking, there's plenty of people in Ontario (and Canada) that are qualified for that job. No need to hire a foreigner. Unless your fiance has a connection, I wouldn't expect to find a job, but you can certainly try. It may work out for you.

The good news is, if you get married and file for the PR visa, I believe in Ontario, you can get healthcare after Stage 1 approval.

To get a job, you'll need an employer with a LMO (Labour Market Opinion). That's their permission from the government to hire a foreigner. Once you get the LMO, then you apply for a work permit. To get an idea of the job market in your target area, go to . Select your nearest target city, then type "LMO" in the search field. You'll probably see a few nanny jobs, maybe a few fast food jobs, and lots and lots of ads begging for a LMO job.

Your issue won't be your education or experience. Both of those are good. The issue will be convincing an employer and then the government there's a need to hire a foreigner. You'll need to become familiar with the LMO process so you can educate employer on the process.

Ok, I will definitly research more on the LMO process.

We are ready to get married, it was just more of us wanting to live together first. Our major concern was me getting across the border fine. But I will definitly do the things you have suggested in that case. Hopefully everything will go well.

 

[amikety]

Ok, I will definitly research more on the LMO process.

We are ready to get married, it was just more of us wanting to live together first. Our major concern was me getting across the border fine. But I will definitly do the things you have suggested in that case. Hopefully everything will go well.

More than likely, border crossing will go fine. Don't say you're moving or going to live together to test out the relationship. You're a visitor, so you're visiting. Whatever happens after that isn't the IO's business. Don't take household items as that will give it away

Just don't expect the IO to smile. They seem stuck in grumpy.

 

[Lnley]

More than likely, border crossing will go fine. Don't say you're moving or going to live together to test out the relationship. You're a visitor, so you're visiting. Whatever happens after that isn't the IO's business. Don't take household items as that will give it away

Just don't expect the IO to smile. They seem stuck in grumpy.

Haha, Isn't that the truth!