had enough!
Jan 25th 2013, 9:08 pm
#76
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2011
Location: Somewhere between Vancouver & St Johns
Posts: 19,849
Jan 25th 2013, 9:09 pm
#77
Pictou County Superstar™
Joined: Sep 2007
Location: On top of the Green hill, NS
Posts: 4,219
Jan 25th 2013, 9:12 pm
#78
.
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 20,185
Re: had enough!
You're both focusing on the negatives. 
Jan 25th 2013, 9:15 pm
#79
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2011
Location: Somewhere between Vancouver & St Johns
Posts: 19,849
Jan 25th 2013, 9:20 pm
#81
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Oct 2007
Location: In a darkened room somewhere.............
Posts: 34,033
Re: had enough!
Here legally?
Not sure.
When I first arrived here I had no money to apply for an extension to stay, didn't have any plans to stay, just fix the boat and sail away. But with no money and no work permit, this took 22 months. My partner and I then sailed away heading for Ireland but the weather in the North Atlantic beat us back again. So I put in an application for an extended stay. Never heard back from immigration.
Went back to UK for a quick visit last Easter and when I came back they gave me three weeks, Applied for an extension and still haven't heard back.
Immigration don't seem to have a category to put me in!
Not sure.
When I first arrived here I had no money to apply for an extension to stay, didn't have any plans to stay, just fix the boat and sail away. But with no money and no work permit, this took 22 months. My partner and I then sailed away heading for Ireland but the weather in the North Atlantic beat us back again. So I put in an application for an extended stay. Never heard back from immigration.
Went back to UK for a quick visit last Easter and when I came back they gave me three weeks, Applied for an extension and still haven't heard back.
Immigration don't seem to have a category to put me in!
Jan 25th 2013, 9:48 pm
#83
Just Joined
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 12
Re: had enough!
I was sort of shipwrecked.
After 5 days of being battered by 60ft waves in 150 kph winds the boat was damaged and I was towed in by the coastguard.
I couldn't get permission to stay as I didn't meet the financial requirements but they couldn't refuse me entrance because of international maritime laws regarding distressed sailors. They couldn't make me leave for the same reason.
So I fell between the cracks!
Immigration officers told me to do whatever I needed to do to get my boat fixed and let them know when I was ready to leave......In other words shut up, go away and so long as you keep your nose clean we'll ignore you!
Why doesn't my partner sponsor me for pr?
We don't actually want to stay here permanently. We are preparing to sail away. However since my partner (soon to be wife ) has family here (adult children ) etc. We would like the option to be able to return and stay when not sailing (ie winter )
By the time the application would be approved we would be off somewhere. I would like to able to work here legally when I am here. I am qualified in several trades but always been self employed.
After 5 days of being battered by 60ft waves in 150 kph winds the boat was damaged and I was towed in by the coastguard.
I couldn't get permission to stay as I didn't meet the financial requirements but they couldn't refuse me entrance because of international maritime laws regarding distressed sailors. They couldn't make me leave for the same reason.
So I fell between the cracks!
Immigration officers told me to do whatever I needed to do to get my boat fixed and let them know when I was ready to leave......In other words shut up, go away and so long as you keep your nose clean we'll ignore you!
Why doesn't my partner sponsor me for pr?
We don't actually want to stay here permanently. We are preparing to sail away. However since my partner (soon to be wife ) has family here (adult children ) etc. We would like the option to be able to return and stay when not sailing (ie winter )
By the time the application would be approved we would be off somewhere. I would like to able to work here legally when I am here. I am qualified in several trades but always been self employed.
Jan 25th 2013, 9:55 pm
#84
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Oct 2007
Location: In a darkened room somewhere.............
Posts: 34,033
Re: had enough!
Why doesn't my partner sponsor me for pr?
We don't actually want to stay here permanently. We are preparing to sail away. However since my partner (soon to be wife ) has family here (adult children ) etc. We would like the option to be able to return and stay when not sailing (ie winter )
By the time the application would be approved we would be off somewhere. I would like to able to work here legally when I am here. I am qualified in several trades but always been self employed.
We don't actually want to stay here permanently. We are preparing to sail away. However since my partner (soon to be wife ) has family here (adult children ) etc. We would like the option to be able to return and stay when not sailing (ie winter )
By the time the application would be approved we would be off somewhere. I would like to able to work here legally when I am here. I am qualified in several trades but always been self employed.
I still can't see why on earth she hasn't sponsored you? She can do so from anywhere in the world so it doesn't matter if she's 'off somewhere' and once you've got PR then you'd keep it no matter where is the world you are as long as you're with her. She could have sponsored you years ago, you'd gave been able to live normally instead of living and working illegally in Canada, and you'd probably just about be a citizen by now!
The mind boggles, it really does.
Jan 25th 2013, 10:11 pm
#85
Oscar nominated
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Moncton, NB, CANADA
Posts: 50,835
Re: had enough!
I was sort of shipwrecked. After 5 days of being battered by 60ft waves in 150 kph winds the boat was damaged and I was towed in by the coastguard.
Jan 25th 2013, 10:28 pm
#86
Just Joined
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 12
Re: had enough!
I haven't worked illegally!
Jan 25th 2013, 10:35 pm
#87
Born again atheist
Joined: Jul 2005
Location: Europe (to be specified).
Posts: 30,259
Jan 25th 2013, 10:35 pm
#88
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Oct 2007
Location: In a darkened room somewhere.............
Posts: 34,033
Re: had enough!
I assumed that when you said you'd been self-employed, you meant in Canada. Plus the fact that when you arrived you didn't even have enough money to extend your visitor visa, so how have you lived for 5 yrs?
Either way, you're still living there illegally/without status for no apparent reason, which is an odd choice.
But as my mother always says, there's most as queer as folk!
Either way, you're still living there illegally/without status for no apparent reason, which is an odd choice.
But as my mother always says, there's most as queer as folk!
Jan 25th 2013, 11:59 pm
#89
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2004
Location: Looe, Cornwall
Posts: 671
Re: had enough!
As an English/South African who just moved to Montreal a couple of months ago I can speak from first hand experience that everyone I have met in Montreal has been incredibly warm and welcoming. The only problem we have had is socialising too much! We had invitations to spend Christmas eve and day, and NYE with various friends and we haven't felt lonely once. My OH is mainly French with an Irish/Scottish/Lebanese mix as well (yes very international!), so we have a wide variety of friends on both sides of the language barrier. We are a fairly well traveled couple having lived all over the world and we like to invite people over to our house for dinners and parties, because not only do we enjoy it but we find it helps to expand our social circle. And so I think it doesn't matter where you live, because if you are friendly and smile, people can't help but respond in kind 
Jan 26th 2013, 1:31 am
#90
Just Joined
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 12
Re: had enough!
There are ways of earning money without a work permit.
For example some of my income is from writing articles for sailing magazines around the world. I can't write for Canadian magazines as this would be earning money in Canada. However this doesn't pay very well!
We also bought a piece of land to build a house and sold it. That kept me busy for a couple of years.
My partner works full time.
The only way I could get a work permit to work for a Canadian employer (and I have been offered quite a few jobs as I am fully qualified in several trades.) is to leave the country and apply from outside. A process which can take months.
My partner could sponsor me but I have no wish to be a permanent resident or a Canadian.
For example some of my income is from writing articles for sailing magazines around the world. I can't write for Canadian magazines as this would be earning money in Canada. However this doesn't pay very well!
We also bought a piece of land to build a house and sold it. That kept me busy for a couple of years.
My partner works full time.
The only way I could get a work permit to work for a Canadian employer (and I have been offered quite a few jobs as I am fully qualified in several trades.) is to leave the country and apply from outside. A process which can take months.
My partner could sponsor me but I have no wish to be a permanent resident or a Canadian.