Urgent Help Please

[AustoCan]

So many questions....sorry! My partner and I have been planning for me to immigrate to Australia (He is Aussie, I am Canadian). But now circumstances for us have changed and I am wondering what the best way to go about him coming over to stay here in Canada with me.

We are not married or in a common law relationship, but we are engaged and ready to marry if that will help us. He is able to visit me for up to six months at a time, but cannot work and has no access to medical care during this time. I am wondering....If he came here as a visitor, could we marry here and then apply for him to stay here as my partner? If we did that, I understand there is a fairly long wait period to be approved...but correct me if I am wrong here...he can work during the wait time? And have medical coverage too?

I'm sorry but I find out immigration website so confusing! What is the cost for him to apply for this? Thanks in advance for any advice!!

 

[bigredmoose]

So many questions....sorry! My partner and I have been planning for me to immigrate to Australia (He is Aussie, I am Canadian). But now circumstances for us have changed and I am wondering what the best way to go about him coming over to stay here in Canada with me.

We are not married or in a common law relationship, but we are engaged and ready to marry if that will help us. He is able to visit me for up to six months at a time, but cannot work and has no access to medical care during this time. I am wondering....If he came here as a visitor, could we marry here and then apply for him to stay here as my partner? If we did that, I understand there is a fairly long wait period to be approved...but correct me if I am wrong here...he can work during the wait time? And have medical coverage too?

I'm sorry but I find out immigration website so confusing! What is the cost for him to apply for this? Thanks in advance for any advice!!

Yes, he can theoretically visit for up to 6 months at a time. During a visit, though, he can not work and will not be eligible for any provincial health coverage. You can marry during that time, certainly.

Now, I say theoretically because border guards can turn someone away at the border for any number of reasons. He will definitely get turned away if they feel he's moving here (as opposed to visiting) or planning to work.

Your situation sounds similar to ours. I married an Australian while she was on a visit to Canada.

 

[bigredmoose]

Sorry - you asked about cost. All told around $1,500 including medical exam. Not all of it has to be paid upfront, but if you wait for them to request payment it wil add time to the process.

 

[canadianwoman]

He can visit you for 6 months unless the border agents give a shorter time. He can then apply to extend this time about one month before it is up. So he could possibly stay as a visitor in Canada for one year or more, thus making it possible for you to become a common-law couple. You could then apply to sponsor him. You could sponsor him right away if you get married.
If he applies inland, he can get a work permit, but it takes a while to get it.
If he applies outland, he can still stay in Canada with you as a visitor, but the application will be processed in Sydney. Outland is usually much faster than inland.

 

[orly]

Bit unrelated but have you looked at IEC visas? http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/iec/index.asp?country=au&cat=wh

Not sure of age or circumstance however. Program is closed at the moment but it'll open for 2015 before too long.

 

[draxz1289]

Bit unrelated but have you looked at IEC visas? http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/iec/index.asp?country=au&cat=wh

Not sure of age or circumstance however. Program is closed at the moment but it'll open for 2015 before too long.

I second this. My friend and her partner came from Perth on a work/holiday visa for two years.

 

[Panamai]

I would urge you to go outland over inland though. Even though your partner can get an OWP through an inland app, you have to wait for the first stage to be completed, which takes around a year from what I understand. You would very likely be completely finished with the outland process by then.