When to get started? And some other questions

[Sakaane]

Hi!

Last week I got engaged. I'm Canadian; my fiancee is British. We plan to marry at the end of May 2019.

I'm curious about when I should get started on the sponsorship application. The CIC website doesn't really make it clear on when it's okay to apply.

A friend of mine who has gone through sponsorship told me that she submitted her application "early" (in advance of her wedding) along with an application for a temporary (six-month) visitor visa for her fiancee. Apparently the way it worked out for them was that the visa was approved first and then by the time the six months was up, they had had their wedding and the CIC gave her husband his permanent status. Two things: he was from the US, and this was a number of years ago, so I have no idea if the same kind of thing is possible in today's world or if it was maybe only possible because of his specific nationality. But boy does that sound like a great way to do it! Has anyone done anything similar?

In my ideal world, I'd like to get the sponsorship application started this month and also apply for a temporary visa for my future hubby that would take effect at the start of May in 2019. That way, if the CIC decides to take 12 months to review and process the sponsorship, a six month visa from May would expire at the end of October, which is roughly 12 months from now.

If it's possible to go about sponsorship that way, would it still be an outbound application? My fiancee doesn't reside in Canada right now. He'll be visiting in February for my birthday (one week stay), but after that I won't see him again until our wedding. There are no dependent children to declare.

Another question: the CIC requires that the sponsor cannot be "on social assistance". I'm employed full-time (15 years at the same company) but I'm hoping to take a leave of absence due to stress for a couple of months. I would receive employer benefits (LTD) while on leave and would still be considered an employee. Would the CIC see this as "social assistance" or are they only talking about people on EI? If I file my sponsorship application while I'm still actively at work, do I have to tell them about my leave if my leave is granted at a later date?

Thanks so much for any advice!

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Hi!

Last week I got engaged. I'm Canadian; my fiancee is British. We plan to marry at the end of May 2019.

I'm curious about when I should get started on the sponsorship application. The CIC website doesn't really make it clear on when it's okay to apply.

A friend of mine who has gone through sponsorship told me that she submitted her application "early" (in advance of her wedding) along with an application for a temporary (six-month) visitor visa for her fiancee. Apparently the way it worked out for them was that the visa was approved first and then by the time the six months was up, they had had their wedding and the CIC gave her husband his permanent status. Two things: he was from the US, and this was a number of years ago, so I have no idea if the same kind of thing is possible in today's world or if it was maybe only possible because of his specific nationality. But boy does that sound like a great way to do it! Has anyone done anything similar?

In my ideal world, I'd like to get the sponsorship application started this month and also apply for a temporary visa for my future hubby that would take effect at the start of May in 2019. That way, if the CIC decides to take 12 months to review and process the sponsorship, a six month visa from May would expire at the end of October, which is roughly 12 months from now.

If it's possible to go about sponsorship that way, would it still be an outbound application? My fiancee doesn't reside in Canada right now. He'll be visiting in February for my birthday (one week stay), but after that I won't see him again until our wedding. There are no dependent children to declare.

Another question: the CIC requires that the sponsor cannot be "on social assistance". I'm employed full-time (15 years at the same company) but I'm hoping to take a leave of absence due to stress for a couple of months. I would receive employer benefits (LTD) while on leave and would still be considered an employee. Would the CIC see this as "social assistance" or are they only talking about people on EI? If I file my sponsorship application while I'm still actively at work, do I have to tell them about my leave if my leave is granted at a later date?

Thanks so much for any advice!

Hi

Don't go back to that friend for advice. You must be either married or common-law when the sponsorship app is submitted. Brits (and Americans) are visa-exempt; they can come to Canada as visitors and are generally granted the standard 6 months visitor status but there is no visitor visa that they can apply for. Your friend is pretty confused about the actual process.

If you are common-law, you can apply now. If you aren't, then you need to wait until May. Your partner can come to Canada as a visitor.

Social assistance = welfare.

 

[Sakaane]

Bummer! Well, this is why we explore and research and double check.

Okay—just means we have to rearrange some plans but it's not a huge deal. We can get married and then he can go back to England for roughly six months, then come back later to visit depending on how quickly things are going with the sponsorship.

Thank you.