Hi Everybody!
I'm currently in Alberta under a single-entry visitor visa (expires in late Aug-2013) living with my sweetheart. We met through the internet many years ago, and we met in person for the first time this past month of May and have been living together happily ever since. We want to get married asap, and we are trying to figure out how we could stay together in Canada. I have been researching online while he's at work, and am not sure what to do! I'll explain:
1. I don't know if I should pick inland or outland. While outland would be hard because I would have to go back to my country (Mexico) and wait over a year living in solitude while it's processing, (also is it true he needs to fly here for an interview if so?) I have read a number of inland horror stories where it can take two full years to receive a final decision, during which time I cannot work to help with our expenses, nor travel together outside of the country (and we both love to travel and really looked forward to it). If I'm already a visitor in Canada can I still go back and apply from Mexico after getting married here (if I go that route)? Or will the CIC official go "Why did you not apply inland if you were already here?" and reject me just because of that fact.
2. Also, regarding the so-called “Open work permit” in an inland application, I am totally confused. The CIC website has some very confusing information about who is eligible for this:
cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?q=177&t=17
I do see that on that webpage it says: “5. You have a temporary resident permit valid for at least six months” however my visitor visa only has 2.5 months left! Even though it was originally a 6 month visa. Does this mean that I am not eligible for this? Nowhere on that list does it say anything like: “You are eligible if you have applied for spousal sponsorship and your sponsor is a Canadian citizen” or anything like that. Yet, so many people here who applied for spousal sponsorship seem to keep mentioning their open work permits, as if that fact alone made them eligible! How did they do that? What is the real deal on open work permits in inland applications?
3. Another question I have is, does anybody know if the first stage approval makes it easy to get an Alberta driver's license? Will I be unable to drive until I get the full PR, more than a year later? I learned about International Driver's Permits, but the insurance on them is insane (about $1,500 a month!) and besides I'd have to go back to Mexico to get one anyway (That's what I was told).
4. Another big concern I have is the following. We are going to get married without our parents knowing (gay marriage), quite simply because both sides are too conservative/religious for it! We don't want to be disowned. How hard would it be to explain this to the CIC? (by the way, we are both in our late 20's).
5. Another thing is, my mate does not have an actual rental agreement for his house, he simply shares a house with the owner, and he pays a monthly fee for this. Is this a problem and if so, how to fix it?
6. For the CIC, what does “place of residence” mean exactly? The thing is, we live in a tiny town, and since my career is in the IT industry, I may have to work in the nearest big city, 30 minutes drive away, or possibly have to live away in a major city 3 hours away and come visit him on the weekends. Would this be an issue? Or will I have to ruin my career and just grab whatever low-paying job I can find locally, in order to satisfy the CIC about living together as a couple? We have long term plans to move out together in a few years, but he has some debt to pay first & he needs to save up some money before we can do that.
I don't know if this is true, nor do I have any personal views on this, but... from what I've been reading online, it's starting to seem to me like the mission of a CIC immigration official is to try hard and find an excuse to not let someone immigrate, instead of trying to do a balanced assessment! Is this really the way it is?
Some more info: He has a good paying (but tough) non-skilled job, he's never been on welfare, and neither of us have ever been in trouble with the law in any country. Also, I have never overstayed in Canada, and neither of us have any medical conditions, past marriages or kids.
Any advice of any kind will be EXTREMELY appreciated!!!
Thanks in advance!
I'm currently in Alberta under a single-entry visitor visa (expires in late Aug-2013) living with my sweetheart. We met through the internet many years ago, and we met in person for the first time this past month of May and have been living together happily ever since. We want to get married asap, and we are trying to figure out how we could stay together in Canada. I have been researching online while he's at work, and am not sure what to do! I'll explain:
1. I don't know if I should pick inland or outland. While outland would be hard because I would have to go back to my country (Mexico) and wait over a year living in solitude while it's processing, (also is it true he needs to fly here for an interview if so?) I have read a number of inland horror stories where it can take two full years to receive a final decision, during which time I cannot work to help with our expenses, nor travel together outside of the country (and we both love to travel and really looked forward to it). If I'm already a visitor in Canada can I still go back and apply from Mexico after getting married here (if I go that route)? Or will the CIC official go "Why did you not apply inland if you were already here?" and reject me just because of that fact.
2. Also, regarding the so-called “Open work permit” in an inland application, I am totally confused. The CIC website has some very confusing information about who is eligible for this:
cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?q=177&t=17
I do see that on that webpage it says: “5. You have a temporary resident permit valid for at least six months” however my visitor visa only has 2.5 months left! Even though it was originally a 6 month visa. Does this mean that I am not eligible for this? Nowhere on that list does it say anything like: “You are eligible if you have applied for spousal sponsorship and your sponsor is a Canadian citizen” or anything like that. Yet, so many people here who applied for spousal sponsorship seem to keep mentioning their open work permits, as if that fact alone made them eligible! How did they do that? What is the real deal on open work permits in inland applications?
3. Another question I have is, does anybody know if the first stage approval makes it easy to get an Alberta driver's license? Will I be unable to drive until I get the full PR, more than a year later? I learned about International Driver's Permits, but the insurance on them is insane (about $1,500 a month!) and besides I'd have to go back to Mexico to get one anyway (That's what I was told).
4. Another big concern I have is the following. We are going to get married without our parents knowing (gay marriage), quite simply because both sides are too conservative/religious for it! We don't want to be disowned. How hard would it be to explain this to the CIC? (by the way, we are both in our late 20's).
5. Another thing is, my mate does not have an actual rental agreement for his house, he simply shares a house with the owner, and he pays a monthly fee for this. Is this a problem and if so, how to fix it?
6. For the CIC, what does “place of residence” mean exactly? The thing is, we live in a tiny town, and since my career is in the IT industry, I may have to work in the nearest big city, 30 minutes drive away, or possibly have to live away in a major city 3 hours away and come visit him on the weekends. Would this be an issue? Or will I have to ruin my career and just grab whatever low-paying job I can find locally, in order to satisfy the CIC about living together as a couple? We have long term plans to move out together in a few years, but he has some debt to pay first & he needs to save up some money before we can do that.
I don't know if this is true, nor do I have any personal views on this, but... from what I've been reading online, it's starting to seem to me like the mission of a CIC immigration official is to try hard and find an excuse to not let someone immigrate, instead of trying to do a balanced assessment! Is this really the way it is?
Some more info: He has a good paying (but tough) non-skilled job, he's never been on welfare, and neither of us have ever been in trouble with the law in any country. Also, I have never overstayed in Canada, and neither of us have any medical conditions, past marriages or kids.
Any advice of any kind will be EXTREMELY appreciated!!!
Thanks in advance!