Hello everyone,
can you help me with this issue? I am not sure whether it is worth applying for a sponsored partner visa because the chances seem low - what is your opinion and what would you recommend to do?
The story:
My Canadian partner and I have been together since October 2011.
We met abroad and always live together while we are in the same spot.
In May 2012 we moved Canada and live together here, but I travel frequently so the problem is that we were not always in the same spot which means we are not common in law - though there is no regulation on how many days one is allowed to be away during that year (quote from the officer on the help line: short absences are ok but couples usually take holidays together).
More in detail:
October 2011: living together in Thailand
November-December 2011: I travel home to see the family.
January-March 2012: I return to Thailand and we live together again.
March 2012: My partner returns to Canada to start a new job, I get my things organised to be shipped to Canada and follow in May.
September 2012: I leave to see my family.
October & November 2012: I am back in Canada, living together with my partner.
December 2012-February 2013: I am out of the country. My partner comes to visit over Christmas & New Years for 2 weeks.
March until mid April 2013: I am back in Canada, living together.
mid April & May 2013: I am out of the country again, my partner comes to visit for 2 weeks.
June- mid July 2013: I am in Canada, living together
mid July-beginning of October 2013: I out of the country. My partner comes to visit in August for 1 week and in September for 1 week.
The immigration officer on the help line also said that I will only know for sure if I apply - but given that the medical check alone is 250$, I'd rather be a bit more sure first.
The officer then said that I am not conjugal because it would be possible for me to apply for an extension of the 6 month tourist visa that I get every time I come to Canada - I am from Austria - and then just stay here for 1 year. This would not be a work permit though.
I have an online business so that would be ok (no work permit required according to the officer).
The reason for my travels are
1. family visits
2. my sport - I freedive and go to spots where I can train. Where we live in Canada, the lakes are either not deep enough, have too much current or do not allow diving. And they are too cold from October-June.
3. my business - most of what I do is online but since my website is in English and German, I have a lot of German and Austrian customers for whom I hold events.
Right now I have a flight booked leaving in 2 weeks time and I will be gone until June - almost 4 months. My partner will come visit in May.
The next trip will be in September until December, 3 months again, and I am completely unsure how to proceed:
Options as far as I can think:
1. do nothing. Be a tourist while here, have an interview every time I enter the country (the one at the airport, after they make a big pink cross on your paper - anyone been there?)
2. extended tourist: I come back in June on a tourist visa, and apply for an extension. Or do I do that once the first 6 months are coming to an end? Then I would have to wait until after the 2nd trip this year, come back in December, wait for a few months until 2015, and then apply for extension, get the total of 12 months together, do shorter trips only - but how short?? - and do it all in 2015.
3. sponsored visa: my partner applies to sponsor my visa, either while I am away or in June when I am back.
What would you do?
Thank you all!
can you help me with this issue? I am not sure whether it is worth applying for a sponsored partner visa because the chances seem low - what is your opinion and what would you recommend to do?
The story:
My Canadian partner and I have been together since October 2011.
We met abroad and always live together while we are in the same spot.
In May 2012 we moved Canada and live together here, but I travel frequently so the problem is that we were not always in the same spot which means we are not common in law - though there is no regulation on how many days one is allowed to be away during that year (quote from the officer on the help line: short absences are ok but couples usually take holidays together).
More in detail:
October 2011: living together in Thailand
November-December 2011: I travel home to see the family.
January-March 2012: I return to Thailand and we live together again.
March 2012: My partner returns to Canada to start a new job, I get my things organised to be shipped to Canada and follow in May.
September 2012: I leave to see my family.
October & November 2012: I am back in Canada, living together with my partner.
December 2012-February 2013: I am out of the country. My partner comes to visit over Christmas & New Years for 2 weeks.
March until mid April 2013: I am back in Canada, living together.
mid April & May 2013: I am out of the country again, my partner comes to visit for 2 weeks.
June- mid July 2013: I am in Canada, living together
mid July-beginning of October 2013: I out of the country. My partner comes to visit in August for 1 week and in September for 1 week.
The immigration officer on the help line also said that I will only know for sure if I apply - but given that the medical check alone is 250$, I'd rather be a bit more sure first.
The officer then said that I am not conjugal because it would be possible for me to apply for an extension of the 6 month tourist visa that I get every time I come to Canada - I am from Austria - and then just stay here for 1 year. This would not be a work permit though.
I have an online business so that would be ok (no work permit required according to the officer).
The reason for my travels are
1. family visits
2. my sport - I freedive and go to spots where I can train. Where we live in Canada, the lakes are either not deep enough, have too much current or do not allow diving. And they are too cold from October-June.
3. my business - most of what I do is online but since my website is in English and German, I have a lot of German and Austrian customers for whom I hold events.
Right now I have a flight booked leaving in 2 weeks time and I will be gone until June - almost 4 months. My partner will come visit in May.
The next trip will be in September until December, 3 months again, and I am completely unsure how to proceed:
Options as far as I can think:
1. do nothing. Be a tourist while here, have an interview every time I enter the country (the one at the airport, after they make a big pink cross on your paper - anyone been there?)
2. extended tourist: I come back in June on a tourist visa, and apply for an extension. Or do I do that once the first 6 months are coming to an end? Then I would have to wait until after the 2nd trip this year, come back in December, wait for a few months until 2015, and then apply for extension, get the total of 12 months together, do shorter trips only - but how short?? - and do it all in 2015.
3. sponsored visa: my partner applies to sponsor my visa, either while I am away or in June when I am back.
What would you do?
Thank you all!