Visitor visa → inland spousal sponsorship plan (PR sponsor)

[polad]

Hi everyone,

I’d appreciate some clarity on our situation and whether our plan makes sense.

I recently became a PR and am currently doing a soft landing in Canada. I’ll return to my home country shortly and plan to relocate permanently later this year.

I have a partner (currently girlfriend, looking to get married soon) who was not included in my PR application.

Our priority is to move to Canada together, after which I plan to apply for her PR inland. Our main priority is being physically together and allowing her to work legally as soon as possible - the speed of her getting a PR doesn't matter as much.

We’re considering the following approach:

• She applies for a visitor visa.
• While I’m back in my home country over the next ~6 months, we get married there.
• We travel to Canada together (or I return first and she joins shortly after using her visitor visa).
• Once in Canada, we apply for inland spousal sponsorship along with an open work permit.

Broadly speaking, does this approach seem reasonable?

For those who’ve gone through something similar, would you recommend this route, or is there a better strategy we should consider?

Any thoughts, experiences, or pitfalls to be aware of would be really helpful.

 

[Naturgrl]

The issue is for her to be approved for a TRV. She needs to show family ties (has none), economic ties (job letter with approved leave, business, income property etc.), strong travel history and cash in the bank (personal funds of at least $10k). If refused, then you apply outland when you return to Canada.

 

[whiterabbit]

She applies for a visitor visa.

This is the tricky part. For TRV, the officers need strong evidence that she is not going to overstay and use it as a ground for something else, which she obviously will do. Look at this from an officer's point of view: a young lady with no real ties with her home country applies for a visitor's visa to the place where her boyfriend lives: what are the chances she will just travel and go back?

And if you try to hide this fact and "I just want to randomly travel to Canada and see Niagara Falls" - well, just don't do it

The more realistic scenario here is to get married, apply for the sponsorship, and after at least sponsor's eligibility is passed (~2 months) apply for a dual intent TRV with AOR and sponsor's approval letter, stating you are waiting for the final decision and want to physically be together.

I have an example when people managed to get a TRV with the explanation they are going to get married in Canada, but it's been 3 years since then and I'm not sure if it can be a valid approach.

I totally understand you, been in the long distance relationship for 2+ years and just keep flying back and forth every couple of months. But if you check my signature - you will see what happens when you try to invent a shortcut instead of just getting married and apply as a family lol

 

[whiterabbit]

Also, to sponsor her you will need to show that you are established in Canada, have a job (or another legal source of income) etc. You just landed, so there's no notice of assessment from CRA for you yet. To be eligible as a sponsor, you essentially need to demonstrate you're capable of taking care of her without federal support.

Also, you mentioned you want her to be able to work legally ASAP after she's in Canada - she can get an OWP after you applied for the sponsorship which brings us to square one: you gotta be able to sponsor her.

So I totally understand how painful it is for you, but the realistic scenario I can see (just my personal opinion) is coming to Canada closer to the end of year, getting a job, working and getting your NoA and payslips after probation, becoming eligible as a sponsor and applying for the sponsorship, then for TRV. This is the safe route which will require closer to a year of being apart. If you want shortcuts or take some risks - better speak to an immigration lawyer and see if there are any viable options - there's a big chance I overcomplicate things. Just trying to explain the safest and the most "official" way