disneyloo

Hello. I have recently received Permanent Residency after living in Canada for 3 and a half years. My English boyfriend who I originally met in Canada 2 years ago is living in England and we have just started the ball rolling in regards of me sponsoring him. We hope to submit by October.

1. Does anyone here have experience of the timeline for us please?
2. My boyfriend has some medical issues that we are worried about. He is currently taking olanzaphine which is an antipsychotic in the treatment of bipolar and schizophrenia though he has not officially be diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Would this prevent him from being able to move to Canada? He has not ever been detained in a hospital or had any history of violence to anybody?

I would appreciate any advice whatsoever. Thanks so much for your help!

Jim Humphries

This would be a difficult case and require careful presentation and a full psychiatric report with prognosis. There is also his prior stay in Canada and any events at that time.

mandymoochops

Are you going down the common law route or the conjugal route?

Apparently conjugal can be very difficult to prove.

disneyloo

He was here on a 1 years work visa in 2010 and then lived with me as a 'visitor'. Yes we are going down the conjugal route. I have a rental tenant agreement in both our names and signed by both of us from July 2011, bills such as TV/internet, family photos with both of us in as well as photos of us cooking, during Vancouver's 125 birthday celebrations with the olympic cauldron in the background for further proof amongst others.

The doctors said to him there shouldn't be a problem with him getting residency but not sure if they have all said that to put his mind at rest!

mandymoochops

I think you may be getting the two routes confused.

Conjugal I believe is for couples that physically cannot be together, eg one of them is married and divorce is illegal in their country, same sex relationships where the country of origin outlaws this. You won't be able to apply for conjugal as there is nothing stopping you from being together.

I think you are applying for common law, unless I am mistaken. If I am I apologise. Just wanted to make sure you were clear as to which route you are going down.

disneyloo

Thanks for your reply, but it is definitely conjugal as we have not lived together for a total of 12 months as yet. We are unable to be together as he cannot be in Canada as he doesn't have a permit.

PMM

Hi


Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but as mandymoochops says there is nothing stopping your from living together for a year or marriage. Visitor in either country. IMHO you are just wasting your money and time applying for conjugal.

christmasoompa

Not a valid reason for conjugal I'm afraid. As you could live together (in the UK, on a visitor visa etc) or could marry, you wouldn't qualify.

As has been said above, conjugal is for people that cannot be together at all.

disneyloo

Thanks for the replies but not what I wanted to hear of course! Although I am using an immigration consultant and she seems to think we have a case. She represented me and was successful as I got my PR.

Initially I was worried about the medical issues. Immigration is just so tough

victorfoxtrot

See the definition of Conjugal Partner on Cic.gc.ca website. I'm sorry but as others have said you will just be wasting your time. Your boyfriend should come over and you should start getting a years worth of living together as common law first. Or you can get married. Be very careful what your immigration lawyer suggests. Just because your boyfriend would have to come here and live as a visitor and not work is not considered a valid reason for you not being able to live together.

"Conjugal partner category is for foreign national partners of Canadian or permanent resident sponsors who would normally apply as common law partners but are unable to live together continuously for one year, due to circumstances beyond their control, such as immigration barrier, religious reasons, marital status, or sexual orientation.

In most cases, the foreign partner is also not able to marry their sponsor and qualify as a spouse. In all other respects, the couple is similar to a common-law couple or a married couple, meaning they have been in a bona fide (genuine) conjugal relationship for a period of at least one year.

However, a significant degree of attachment and mutually interdependent relationship must be demonstrated between both partners for this category. They must also provide proof of what obstacles (or restrictions) exist that prevent cohabitation or marriage."