Paul Matthew

Hi Folks, You help on the following Questions would be wonderful.

I am Australian heading to Canada in Dec 2002 to be with my Fiance and
to marry in Canada ealry in the new year.

Firstly can I be in Canada as a visitor while we submit the
application for PR?

And also what should I tell officials when I first enter Canada ie: I
am here as a visitor or I am here to Marry my fiance or what?

Thanks Folks.

The Wizzard

firstly go to www.cic.gc.ca and read the section
on sponsoring family from
within Canada, specificly sponsoring a spouse.
What you say at the border is up to you but if you lie and they decide you
are lying then you will jsut cause hassle for yourself, however stating you
are coming to get married and apply for PR from within Canada can get you
refused as a non genuine visitor. It is a fine line. The inland process is
perfectly official now, however getting into Canada to utilise it is still
tricky unless you come as a visitor and then meet the person and remain in
Canada having no for knowledge of it.
Just be honest but dont tell them anything they dont ask. Tell them you are
visiting your fiancee/girlfriend, if they ask are you getting married just
say yes if they ask are you going to apply for PR from within then either
say yes and hope they are sympathetic or say you havnt decided yet you might
or they may come live in australia.
Onc eyou are inside Canada (and you should be ok as an Australian
commonwealth citizen as you have no real reason to lie and try and remain
illegally) you can then get married etc. Your initial visitor stamp in your
passport will usually be for 6 months unles sthey stamp a specific date. You
then need to file for a visitor cisa extension abour 1-2 months before your
status expires (they say 30 days but current delays mean its taking more
like 60). stating on the applicaiton for extention you are married to a
Canadian and applyinf for PR inland is usually enough to be granted it.
currently it is taking around 7 months to get Approval In Principal (AIP) at
which point youc an apply for an open ended work visa. So be prepared to be
unable to work for that long, it used to take 3 months for AIP, but new law
and currecnt delays have slowed it down a lot.

Drew



"Paul Matthew" wrote in message
news:d605ae40.0209292136-
[email protected]...
    > Hi Folks, You help on the following Questions would be wonderful.
    > I am Australian heading to Canada in Dec 2002 to be with my Fiance and
    > to marry in Canada ealry in the new year.
    > Firstly can I be in Canada as a visitor while we submit the
    > application for PR?
    > And also what should I tell officials when I first enter Canada ie: I
    > am here as a visitor or I am here to Marry my fiance or what?
    > Thanks Folks.

pkjmet

[email protected] (Paul Matthew) wrote in message news:...
    > Hi Folks, You help on the following Questions would be wonderful.
    > I am Australian heading to Canada in Dec 2002 to be with my Fiance and
    > to marry in Canada ealry in the new year.
    > Firstly can I be in Canada as a visitor while we submit the
    > application for PR?
    > And also what should I tell officials when I first enter Canada ie: I
    > am here as a visitor or I am here to Marry my fiance or what?
    > Thanks Folks.


Tell the truth at all times. There is no crime to tell them you are
getting married. When you are married you will have the right to aply
for PR in Canada as the spouse of a Cdn citozen. Chances are you will
not be asked any serous questions by Customs who do the primary
inspection but if yuo are referred to Immirgation expect a few more
probing questions.

Jim Metcalfe , Consultant and former visa officer