Looking into visas

[aerogurl87]

My boyfriend and I have decided to start looking into visas a bit more seriously since our 1 year anniversary is coming up pretty soon. :bunny: So far we think the conjugal visa for me to Canada from the USA may be our best bet as I can't get a job in my field there until I can show the association responsible for registering me that I have Canadian residency. Anyway I was wondering if anyone knows anything more about that visa or knows anyone who has successfully gotten approved for it. So far I keep reading that it's really hard to get but we want to be together soon so we're thinking of taking a chance and applying for it still.

[You'reasian]

Conjugal visa for a conjugal visit....sorry, couldn't help myself

[aerogurl87]

Conjugal visa for a conjugal visit....sorry' date=' couldn't help myself [/quote']

 

Lol, well we have had quite a few of those. I'm thinking of just going to visit him for 6 months then apply for a study visa to live there another 6 months so I can apply under the common law visa.

[folieadeux]

How exciting!

 

I don’t have any personal experience with these particular visas but I know it will be a lot easier for you to relocate to Canada than for your SO to move here. It’s really hard to get into the States unless you have a work sponsorship in a very specialized field or if you’re getting married. My SO has friends and family in the UK that want to move over and it’s been an uphill battle.

 

At any rate, both options seem viable, but they really depend on what your situation will be at the time of your move. The Common Law route is only an option if you’re planning on living together and sharing expenses (they require a lot of proof that you’re managing a household together). Also, if you’re planning on getting married soon, I believe they recommend you not apply for the Conjugal visa and wait until after you get married and go for the Common Law instead.

[aerogurl87]

How exciting!

 

I don’t have any personal experience with these particular visas but I know it will be a lot easier for you to relocate to Canada than for your SO to move here. It’s really hard to get into the States unless you have a work sponsorship in a very specialized field or if you’re getting married. My SO has friends and family in the UK that want to move over and it’s been an uphill battle.

 

At any rate, both options seem viable, but they really depend on what your situation will be at the time of your move. The Common Law route is only an option if you’re planning on living together and sharing expenses (they require a lot of proof that you’re managing a household together). Also, if you’re planning on getting married soon, I believe they recommend you not apply for the Conjugal visa and wait until after you get married and go for the Common Law instead.

 

Yeah after doing more research I'm seeing that getting a conjugal visa will be near impossible for us because there's really no major thing that's stopping us from getting married and I heard that the Canadian government is pretty strict on who gets those visas. We did want to go the common law route anyway which was the original plan. I'd get a temporary work visa after staying there a few months since American citizens can stay there up to 6 consecutive months. But finding a job, even a menial one, is really hard so we're not sure if that'll work now. Just looking at all the options though because this distance is driving us both nuts.

[folieadeux]

Yeah after doing more research I'm seeing that getting a conjugal visa will be near impossible for us because there's really no major thing that's stopping us from getting married and I heard that the Canadian government is pretty strict on who gets those visas. We did want to go the common law route anyway which was the original plan. I'd get a temporary work visa after staying there a few months since American citizens can stay there up to 6 consecutive months. But finding a job, even a menial one, is really hard so we're not sure if that'll work now. Just looking at all the options though because this distance is driving us both nuts.

 

I hear 'ya all too well. That's really great that you can stay there up to six months though. I believe for most other countries the limit is three.

[aerogurl87]

I hear 'ya all too well. That's really great that you can stay there up to six months though. I believe for most other countries the limit is three.

 

Yeah, well I think it's 6 months every visit since you don't have to have a visa to enter. So theoretically I could stay 5 and a half months, come back to the US, then go back for another 6 months or so, but I think the border patrol would be leery of that. Anyway today I just named my boyfriend as my power of attorney. I think that's a step in the right direction as he said we really should try for the conjugal visa. He's putting his old car in both our names soon and so we're trying to get more evidence that we've commingled our lives as best as we can from a distance. We already both have access to each other's bank accounts but that's kinda hard to prove at the moment.

[folieadeux]

Yeah, well I think it's 6 months every visit since you don't have to have a visa to enter. So theoretically I could stay 5 and a half months, come back to the US, then go back for another 6 months or so, but I think the border patrol would be leery of that. Anyway today I just named my boyfriend as my power of attorney. I think that's a step in the right direction as he said we really should try for the conjugal visa. He's putting his old car in both our names soon and so we're trying to get more evidence that we've commingled our lives as best as we can from a distance. We already both have access to each other's bank accounts but that's kinda hard to prove at the moment.

 

Definitely a big step! Your avatar is adorable by the way.

[aerogurl87]

Definitely a big step! Your avatar is adorable by the way.

 

Yep it is, but we're ready for it. And thanks, I just took it a few days ago when I was visiting my boyfriend.

[aerogurl87]

I feel somewhat stupid but happy at the moment. I just remembered I work for an international company and that one of my company's stores is like 30 minutes from where my boyfriend lives. So I called today regarding a transfer and the manager told me if I can get a referral she may be able to give me a job. :bunny::bunny:

[folieadeux]

That's great news Aero!!!! Knowing you have secure employment before you move is half the battle right there. Best of luck!

[Varadium]

I did a fair amount of research on immigration as well, but it's hard to verify the information that you find. Here are some of the notes I took... tell me what ya think... I'm pretty sure that my information is actually out of date because I couldnt find a newer book. So you dont have to go looking for my old topic, i'll restate my position as well. We are coming up on our second anniversary in February. I am 18 and in Canada. She is 16 and in the US.

 

So... what I think I found:

-Visa- an application of landing. In this case, sponsored by a Canadian citizen.

-Spouse/Fiance has a higher chance of success then conjugal.

-Conjugal seems to be interpreted differently depending where you look. What proof you need is also hard to find.

-If you are getting married with 90 days of the application, then you must apply for spouse when you are married.

-If you apply for sponsorship under the family class, then the applicant must intend and show permanence to the relationship.

-Marriage must be legal in the country it took place for spousal sponsorship to be valid.

-There is supposedly a pre-application questionaire you can try if you are applying as an independent.

-Independant applications have a low chance of success without some kind of job lined up as a skilled worker.

-As an immigrant you cannot put a burden on social services or it may be grounds for removal.

-When in Canada physically, you are protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

 

My questions:

-Is the Charter relevant as a tool to stay in Canada?

-Can you apply for change of status within Canada?

-Do the sponsors relatives play a part in the determination of your financial well being? (ex. could the applicant live in a residence not owned by the sponsor?)

 

Again, I am not sure what points of mine might have been incorrect. Any legal professionals on the board... by chance?

[aerogurl87]

That's great news Aero!!!! Knowing you have secure employment before you move is half the battle right there. Best of luck!

 

Yep I'm so happy now! Now I gotta go into work tomorrow and hunt down my boss and tell her I want a transfer.

 

I did a fair amount of research on immigration as well, but it's hard to verify the information that you find. Here are some of the notes I took... tell me what ya think... I'm pretty sure that my information is actually out of date because I couldnt find a newer book. So you dont have to go looking for my old topic, i'll restate my position as well. We are coming up on our second anniversary in February. I am 18 and in Canada. She is 16 and in the US.

 

So... what I think I found:

-Visa- an application of landing. In this case, sponsored by a Canadian citizen.

-Spouse/Fiance has a higher chance of success then conjugal.

-Conjugal seems to be interpreted differently depending where you look. What proof you need is also hard to find.

-If you are getting married with 90 days of the application, then you must apply for spouse when you are married.

-If you apply for sponsorship under the family class, then the applicant must intend and show permanence to the relationship.

-Marriage must be legal in the country it took place for spousal sponsorship to be valid.

-There is supposedly a pre-application questionaire you can try if you are applying as an independent.

-Independant applications have a low chance of success without some kind of job lined up as a skilled worker.

-As an immigrant you cannot put a burden on social services or it may be grounds for removal.

-When in Canada physically, you are protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

 

My questions:

-Is the Charter relevant as a tool to stay in Canada?

-Can you apply for change of status within Canada?

-Do the sponsors relatives play a part in the determination of your financial well being? (ex. could the applicant live in a residence not owned by the sponsor?)

 

Again, I am not sure what points of mine might have been incorrect. Any legal professionals on the board... by chance?

 

Hey Varadium, I tried to private message you but I couldn't (guess because your not an established member). Anyway your information is right about the spousal visa. Although if your girlfriend is 16 and your 18 and you want to move her to where you live now you probably would have a good chance to do so under the conjugal visa. According to the official Canadian Immigration website one of the reasons the conjugal visa was set in place was for people who have impediments to living together either common law or getting married. Her age would be a valid reason that neither one could happen if you wanted to go with that.

 

Also no a sponsor does not have to meet a certain financial requirement to sponsor a family member other than not being bankrupt or being on welfare. I'm going to be being sponsored by my boyfriend next year if I can live with him in Canada for one year with a temporary work visa (will get into that shortly) and he still lives at home. But the government wouldn't and couldn't use that against him in sponsoring me. One of Canada's big immigration points is that they are focused on reuniting families. Hence why you have a better chance of getting your girlfriend there quicker and easier if you sponsor her under the family category.

 

As for me I'm trying to get a temporary work visa under the NAFTA trade agreement through a intra-company transfer as a worker with "specialized knowledge". Therefore, I don't have to go through getting my job to get a labour market opinion (basically research to tell the Canadian government they could find no one to fill my position so it's ok to hire me). Instead I can skip that, transfer my job, and go work in Canada temporarily. I'm going with the "specialized knowledge" category because I don't qualify for the managerial or executive categories. But since "special

knowledge may involve a person’s familiarity with a product or service which their company makes. Advanced knowledge is complex - again, not necessarily unique or known only by a few individuals (proprietary), but advanced", I'm going to go with that since I've been at my job for about 3 years and know how to do everything there almost.

 

If you want more info go to http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/

 

That site really helped me out and you can find me there under the same name as here: aerogurl87

[Els]

I feel somewhat stupid but happy at the moment. I just remembered I work for an international company and that one of my company's stores is like 30 minutes from where my boyfriend lives. So I called today regarding a transfer and the manager told me if I can get a referral she may be able to give me a job. :bunny::bunny:

 

This is awesome! Keeping my fingers crossed for you, AG.

[LittleTiger]

I feel somewhat stupid but happy at the moment. I just remembered I work for an international company and that one of my company's stores is like 30 minutes from where my boyfriend lives. So I called today regarding a transfer and the manager told me if I can get a referral she may be able to give me a job. :bunny::bunny:

 

Great news!

 

Keep us posted.

[folieadeux]

Random question, do you work at Aeropostale? I think they have international locations and I'm just guessing based off of your user name on here too. Anywho, I love that store...one of the only places I can find jeans that fit.

[aerogurl87]

Random question, do you work at Aeropostale? I think they have international locations and I'm just guessing based off of your user name on here too. Anywho, I love that store...one of the only places I can find jeans that fit.

 

Haha no I don't but that is actually where I got my username from. I love that store a little too much and if I worked there I probably wouldn't have any money left over after my paycheck, lol. No but actually I work at TJ Maxx here in the States and I'm trying to transfer to their sister store Winners, up in Canada.

[folieadeux]

Haha no I don't but that is actually where I got my username from. I love that store a little too much and if I worked there I probably wouldn't have any money left over after my paycheck, lol. No but actually I work at TJ Maxx here in the States and I'm trying to transfer to their sister store Winners, up in Canada.

 

Best of luck again, that store's awesome too.

[aerogurl87]

Today I found out my job transfer was approved.:bunny: So now all I have to do is wait for the other job in Canada to call me back and send me a written job offer/letter stating I can transfer and then apply for my work visa and hope it gets approved. So looks like I may be able to move in January if all goes well.

[Citizen Erased]

Great news! :bunny:

[folieadeux]

Congrats!!!!!!!!!! :bunny:

 

How long will the work visa take to get approved?

[aerogurl87]

Thanks everyone, I'm so happy right now! Now I just hope they approve my visa which I think they will.

 

Congrats!!!!!!!!!! :bunny:

 

How long will the work visa take to get approved?

 

It'll only take a month so if it gets approved I'll start working in Canada on January 25th.

[folieadeux]

Thanks everyone, I'm so happy right now! Now I just hope they approve my visa which I think they will.

 

 

 

It'll only take a month so if it gets approved I'll start working in Canada on January 25th.

 

The news just keeps getting better!! That really isn't a bad time frame at all. For some reason, I just assumed it took longer.

[aerogurl87]

The news just keeps getting better!! That really isn't a bad time frame at all. For some reason, I just assumed it took longer.

 

It depends on the visa. I'm getting a temporary work visa so it just takes 1 month to be approved. If I were applying for permanent residency through a working class visa it would take like a year and a half. So our plan is to have me come work there a year if we can manage it, then apply for me to live there as his common law wife after living together one year, and then have me move there permanently with him sometime in 2012.

 

But nope it's great timing and if it gets approved right away we'll get to be together on our one year anniversary.

[aerogurl87]

So I got the job offer in Canada (they had to fax me the actual contract)! And now after about two weeks of running around trying to get different documents plus bothering my managers to write me a letter of recommendation, I have all the stuff I need for my visa application. Sending it off tomorrow in the mail and hoping it'll get approved.