Jake W .

First of all, my apologies if this is in the wrong newsgroup.

I need some help finding a way to have my non-Canadian fiance legally
stay with me in Canada for at least two years, and
http://www.cic.gc.ca/ didn't give me enough information.

I am Canadian, born and raised. She is from Japan, visiting Canada on
a Working Holiday Visa, which is good for one year. She has been here
for about six weeks on this visa.

She is living with me right now, and we plan to get married whether
she can stay in Canada or not. Her visa expires next October. I
would like to go to Japan with her and possibly work and live there
permanently, however it will take me about two years to clear my
current debts and save up enough money to do so.

Since we do not wish to live apart for that year after her visa
expires, we would like to apply for her to have permanent residence
here in Canada. Some kind of extension on her visa for another year
might suffice for now (if such an extension is even available),
however I would prefer the option for her to return to Canada with me
in the future if I am unable to get permanent residence in Japan.

All we want to do is build a life together, whether it be in Canada or
Japan. So I would appreciate any advice that might help me find a way
for her to stay here with me until I can go back to Japan with her.
Being apart from each other for a year would be unbearable!

Thanks in advance to anyone who offers their advice!

Jake W.

Andrew Miller

Get married pronto and sponsor her from within Canada - by the time you are
ready to go to Japan she will already be a Canadian Permanent Resident. To
maintain her PR status she must accumulate at least 730 days of residence in
Canada in every 5 years - being abroad while accompanying spouse who is a
Canadian citizen will count as days of presence in Canada.

Jake W .

On Mon, 01 Dec 2003 03:42:54 GMT, "Andrew Miller"
<> wrote:

    >Get married pronto and sponsor her from within Canada - by the time you are
    >ready to go to Japan she will already be a Canadian Permanent Resident. To
    >maintain her PR status she must accumulate at least 730 days of residence in
    >Canada in every 5 years - being abroad while accompanying spouse who is a
    >Canadian citizen will count as days of presence in Canada.

Thanks for the info!

The marriage isn't a problem, we can do that very soon if necessary.

My concern is how she can stay with me after her visa has expired.
From what I've read at http://www.cic.gc.ca/ it appears that she needs
to live here with me in a conjugal relationship for at least a year
before we can even apply for her to have PR. Is that correct? If it
is not correct, can she apply right now and have it done before next
October?

Renee

Once you are married, you can apply immediately (well, once you have your
official marriage certificate anyway).

Good luck!

Renee

Andrew Miller

1. Get married

2. Start inland sponsorship process ASAP - once you are married there is no
requirement to live together for any period before starting sponsorship
process.

3. If by any chance process is not completed before her visa expires simply
apply for extension

Ravi Rao

In article <2Nyyb.220810$jy.29603@clgrps13>, Andrew Miller wrote:

    > maintain her PR status she must accumulate at least 730 days of residence in
    > Canada in every 5 years - being abroad while accompanying spouse who is a
    > Canadian citizen will count as days of presence in Canada.

Wow, really?! Canadian immigration is way cool ...

--ravi, amazed.

Mrben

Originally posted by Jake W .

    > On Mon, 01 Dec 2003 03:42:54 GMT, "Andrew Miller"

    > <> wrote:


    > >Get married pronto and sponsor her from within Canada - by the
    > time you are

    > >ready to go to Japan she will already be a Canadian Permanent
    > Resident. To

    > >maintain her PR status she must accumulate at least 730 days of
    > residence in

    > >Canada in every 5 years - being abroad while accompanying spouse
    > who is a

    > >Canadian citizen will count as days of presence in Canada.


    > Thanks for the info!


    > The marriage isn't a problem, we can do that very soon if necessary.


    > My concern is how she can stay with me after her visa has expired.

    > From what I've read at
    > http://www.cic.gc.ca/http://www.cic.gc.ca/ it appears
    > that she needs

    > to live here with me in a conjugal relationship for at least a year

    > before we can even apply for her to have PR. Is that correct? If it

    > is not correct, can she apply right now and have it done before next

    > October?



If you're trying to clear up your debts, it might be good for you to
know of the fees involved with the sponsorship process. According to
what I've seen, sponsoring your spouse or common-law will cost about
$1,500 CAD.



If you don't care about her status (and only care about her being here
while you wait out the extra year), there may be other visa extension
options to consider. (Don't ask me, I have no idea about them.)



The fees shocked me, and although it's worth it, it's quite steep!

Wade

Just a suggestion for you, if you follow the other folks advice, and get
married, apply for inland sponsorship, extend your wife's visa when needed.
She will of been in Canada for at least one year. You said you two want to
stay in Canada for the next 2 years.

That will accumulate 1.5 years of the needed 3 years to apply for
citizenship. Time before she becomes a PR can count as 1/2 time up to a
maximum of 1 year. Stay in Canada for another 1.5 years, (you can of course
go to Japan to visit after her PR is done.) After she has citizenship, THEN
move to Japan. Providing Japan allows dual citizenship?

My wife is from Thailand, that is exactly what we are in the process of
doing. We have a little over 1.5 years before she can become a citizen,
plus how ever long the citizenship papers take. At that point we are moving
to Thailand for a number of years, probably as long as her elderly father is
still around.

I am NEVER going through the problems and waiting of sponsoring again that
is the main reason for me waiting till my wife has a Canadian passport
before moving overseas. Of course a Japanese passport is easier for travel
then a Thai one, but like I said at first....just a suggestion for you to
think about.

Wade


"Jake W." <> wrote in message
news:...
    > First of all, my apologies if this is in the wrong newsgroup.
    > I need some help finding a way to have my non-Canadian fiance legally
    > stay with me in Canada for at least two years, and
    > http://www.cic.gc.ca/ didn't give me enough information.
    > I am Canadian, born and raised. She is from Japan, visiting Canada on
    > a Working Holiday Visa, which is good for one year. She has been here
    > for about six weeks on this visa.
    > She is living with me right now, and we plan to get married whether
    > she can stay in Canada or not. Her visa expires next October. I
    > would like to go to Japan with her and possibly work and live there
    > permanently, however it will take me about two years to clear my
    > current debts and save up enough money to do so.
    > Since we do not wish to live apart for that year after her visa
    > expires, we would like to apply for her to have permanent residence
    > here in Canada. Some kind of extension on her visa for another year
    > might suffice for now (if such an extension is even available),
    > however I would prefer the option for her to return to Canada with me
    > in the future if I am unable to get permanent residence in Japan.
    > All we want to do is build a life together, whether it be in Canada or
    > Japan. So I would appreciate any advice that might help me find a way
    > for her to stay here with me until I can go back to Japan with her.
    > Being apart from each other for a year would be unbearable!
    > Thanks in advance to anyone who offers their advice!
    > Jake W.