Visitor visa before or after marriage

[Jeffuk88]

Hi all, quick question... my partner and I will be getting married April 29th. My current IEC visa expires June 5th and I've been told to change my status to a visitor 30 days before it expires.

Would it be better to apply for this change before the marriage or after? I understand I would have to declare her as my spouse/Canadian family member afterwards. We haven't lived together long enough to be common law.

I'm British so visa exempt if that matters

 

[Jalex23]

Hi all, quick question... my partner and I will be getting married April 29th. My current IEC visa expires June 5th and I've been told to change my status to a visitor 30 days before it expires.

Would it be better to apply for this change before the marriage or after? I understand I would have to declare her as my spouse/Canadian family member afterwards. We haven't lived together long enough to be common law.

I'm British so visa exempt if that matters

It is up to you, your specifics and your plans.

 

[Jeffuk88]

Do you think it would change the likelihood of being rejected for visitor visa though since after getting married I'd havever to declare I have a Canadian spouse whereas we haven't lived together 12 months yet so before the wedding I don't have any Canadian family members by their definition

 

[Jalex23]

Do you think it would change the likelihood of being rejected for visitor visa though since after getting married I'd havever to declare I have a Canadian spouse whereas we haven't lived together 12 months yet so before the wedding I don't have any Canadian family members by their definition

But you are from a visa exempt country... you are not eligible for a visitor visa.

 

[Jeffuk88]

I need to apply for a visitor visa if I'm already in the country... visa exempt just means I don't need a visa to enter the country as a tourist on a short term basis

 

[Jalex23]

I need to apply for a visitor visa if I'm already in the country... visa exempt just means I don't need a visa to enter the country as a tourist on a short term basis

Visa exempt means you are not eligible to apply/get a visa of any kind, shape or form. Once in the country visas have no meaning nor purpose.

What you want to do is extend/change-to visitor status.

For this purpose getting married helps your case as you are making obvious your intentions, the purpose of your stay and the relationship with the people hosting you. Nonetheless as a former IEC getting a visitor status is kind of common and expected (former IEC normally want to stay in the country for a few extra months to travel around).

I would suggest applying for the extension after getting married, but there is little difference really.

Good luck.

 

[Jeffuk88]

Thanks for the help!