What is the longest ........
 

time you have ever spent in Canada as a tourist?!

Re: What is the longest ........
 

We have been to Alberta three times so six weeks in total. :)

Re: What is the longest ........
 

5mths over 2 periods in the same year. During the second trip I applied for a TWP, and have been here ever since (close to 4yrs).

Re: What is the longest ........
 

Is it easy applying for a temporary work permit (TWP)? do you need to have work or a job offer in order to be able to apply for one?

How long do they take to be processed?

That gives me hope that my husband will be able to go back to the UK after a few months in Canada, and return again.

So many questions!!

Re: What is the longest ........
 

I spent several months at a time in Toronto when I was in my early twenties (and dating a Canadian), I think the longest time was 5 months.

Recently it's only been a week or two at a time due to the constraints of work and children...........ah, to be young again!

Re: What is the longest ........
 

No, it's not easy (particularly given the current economic climate), to get one. You do need a job offer, and not only that but the potential employer also has to get something called a LMO - which is basically proof that they have advertised the job across Canada and been unable to find a Canadian to do it.

Finding a job can take the most time, then the LMO takes from 6-12 weeks. So all in all, usually about 6 months. Have a read of the Wiki (on blue bar at top of page) for more info about TWP's.

Hoep that helps. :)

Re: What is the longest ........
 

You need to start reading the Wiki: http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Tempor...Permits-Canada

My TWP application was processed at the border within a couple of hours, but I didn't take a typical route to gain residency here (I started my own business), so it's not representative of most people's experiences.

Be aware that it's at immigrations discretion whether or not to permit you into the country as a tourist. There are no guarantees.

Re: What is the longest ........
 

So its totally feasible then that my husband can stay out in Canada with me for at least 5 months at a time while we get our lives over there sorted and without us having to be separated for months on end.

That was the answer I was looking for!

He can afford not to have to work for 3 years or more, however, from what I gather it is down to the Canadian authorities to decide how long he gets to stay in Canada given our spousal application situation cf. just tourists.

Re: What is the longest ........
 

That's not the answer you got, though. It's not 'totally feasible'.

If immigration perceive your husband to be using Canada as his primary place of residence, then it's perfectly likely he could be refused entry. A cycle of staying here for months on end, popping back to the UK for a few months, then returning to Canada could well raise suspicions, and lead to refusal of entry. As I said before, it's at immigration's discretion.

The brother of a friend of mine was refused entry in January, having spent the last 3yrs flying between the UK and Canada. He's now got the problem of a houseful of possessions over here, a distraught fiance and no right to return.

Re: What is the longest ........
 

As Rich said, it's not guaranteed. But hopefully he'd be granted the normal 6 months tourist visa - just make sure he doesn't look as if he's planning on staying longer i.e. don't turn up with all his worldly possessions and make sure he can show ties back to the UK.

Why can't you just apply for spousal PR in the UK if you don't want to be separated, and wait for that before moving? Are you a Canadian citizen?

Hopefully you'll have your spousal sponsorship sorted quite quickly anyway, best of luck.

Re: What is the longest ........
 

Oh heck! well we're just going to have to face the harsh reality of months apart having just got married.

This was the part I was dreading and the part my fiance was dreading.

So is it official that Canada is one of (if not THE) hardest country to get into as an immigrant??

Re: What is the longest ........
 

Nope, just try the US, it wins that title hands down! :lol:

Re: What is the longest ........
 

No, I'm not a Canadian citizen, I'm British, and as I understand it, the principal applicant has to stay in Canada continuing with the application.

Re: What is the longest ........
 

Ah, I see. If you were a citizen then you could apply whilst still in the UK and have it all processed without setting foot in Canada! So you got PR status before you got married?

Re: What is the longest ........
 

I don't know how you make that judgment, it's so dependent on your skills, qualifications, and many other variables. I think the requirements demanded for immigration here are on the whole reasonably fair, though the process is perhaps not always very efficient.

Re: What is the longest ........
 

Well I've been granted PR status as a Skilled worker.

The entire process from start to finish has taken 4 yrs - a VERY long slog.

So yes, my fiance has always known that Canada was in the pipeline and finally its upon us.

I read in the spousal sponsor guidance notes that the principal spouse has to be in Canada to start the application process.

I have already started putting together my application as a sponsor here in the Uk, and asked my fiance to start gathering the relevant docs he needs to submit his application so by the time May comes around, we will be ready to submit both applications.

Also, I have read that the couple has to provide evidence of some kind of asset in Canada, whether it be property deeds, a property they are renting over there, job offer, college course offer. That is, if we return to the UK for a few months.

Re: What is the longest ........
 

Was he not on your original application then? And I thought you had to declare him if he was your common-law partner or spouse before your PR was granted? :confused:

Is he your fiance or husband (as you've referred to him as both)?

Sorry, not being nosy but just wondering how it didn't affect your PR application!

Re: What is the longest ........
 

Depends on status at time of application when my OH was going trough PNP we were advised not to have me on the application as we were not offically living together even though we were engaged this was due to job requirements. I was still allowed sponsorship after we married.

If you are married you can apply for sponsorship from inside Canada then your OH can come straight over and get a TWP for work. Only problem with this is he cannot leave Canada till he has his PR status.

Re: What is the longest ........
 

My OH was here for a little short of two years, with frequent short trips back to the US. This became progressively more nerve racking so she then took a course in order to obtain a study permit. The study permit gave her a year of residency during which I sponsored her for PR. The problem with this method was the cost, there was tuition to pay and she couldn't work while on the study permit.

Re: What is the longest ........
 

Fourteen months. We came on a visitors visa - got two extensions because of our family needing support. We applied for another and our PR came through just before the last six months were up. I think most of my grey hair appeard during this time!:D

Re: What is the longest ........
 

My OH is still my fiance until 4th July then he will be my husband!

I applied for a Skilled worker PR visa long before I knew my fiance, and when the forms came through to update the CHC London with change of jobs, addresses and other vital new info we had become engaged. However, being engaged doesn't interest the CHC, being married does!

Ah, and I have checked out the Wiki section of the site - very helpful.

So, a few more questions have arisen from all this:-

1) OK, so we know that once myself and my fiance arrive in Canada mid-May, that we're going to submit the spousal application. We are info gathering now in readiness.

BUT when we return to the UK 2 weeks later, we will still not have an address in Canada. My brother and S-I-L have kindly let us use their address for my PR card, but they suggested that this could also be considered to be a 'mis-representation' because it isn't our home address but a relative's address. ALSO, how does one get the address that is on the PR card changed to a permanent address once we have found a place to live in Calgary? Is it straightforward or complicated to change the address on the PR card??

Not only that but I will be asking my brother and S-I-L to mail the PR card to me in the Uk once it has arrived at their address so that I can return to Canada as a PR.

Is it possible that they can continue forwarding immigration mail to us in the UK so that we can continue earning and await the PR status?? OR is this an absolute no no.

2) Secondly, post 4th July, I should have found out whether or not I have been approved as a sponsor, then we'll have the 6-8 month wait to find out whether my OH has been granted PR status.

In the meantime what are the options for him to stay in Canada as my spouse??

There is the tourist option
There is the TWP, although this appears to have several restrictions, one being, he has to have a job offer??

What other options are there for him to stay in Canada where it may be necessary to apply for an extension?

Thanks.

Re: What is the longest ........
 

Study permit. (As noted above).