megarhandi

My question is this: my boyfriend is currently on the IEC 2012 visa. Unfortunately he was not able to get the 2013 one. His 2012 expires in June. If we were to get married, how long would the application process take? And would he have to go back to the UK in the meantime or is there some way he can stay here while waiting and continue to work?

Jim Humphries

Get that sponsorship in asap if you are married or have lived together for at least a year and can prove it. Once it is in he can apply to change his status to temporary resident and remain but he could not continue to work.

megarhandi

Right now,we're just shy of a year living together. Also, he is not on the lease and we've just opened up a joint bank account so there really isn't any proof that we've been living together for a year. Do we need to be together for a full year before applying for a marriage visa?
Also, he is living here in Canada so is the process more complicated than i he was in the UK?

Jim Humphries

If you are not married then you have to have been living together for at least one year prior to submitting the spousal sponsorship and PR applications.

megarhandi

That would be the common law one, no? We're not married yet, but we would be. So applying for the marriage one, not the common law, then we just need a marriage certificate right?

Jim Humphries

Wedding pictures with friends and relatives etc and you are clear to go.

SchnookoLoly

In either case you generally have to provide proof that you're in a genuine relationship - common-law you have to provide more because you have to prove you've lived together for a year in a marriage-like relationship and not just as roommates. There are quite a few parts of the application where they ask for proof of relationship, things like when did you meet important people in each other's lives, the progression of your relationship - how you met, how you decided to move in together, trips togehter, etc, and photos from your relationship. CIC just wants to know it's an actual relationship and not a marriage of convenience.

Former Lancastrian

So are you getting married because he wants to stay in Canada or that you love each other

megarhandi

We want to get married for the same reasons every other couple want to get married

orly

options:

1) Once living together past the year mark send in application. Note you need to continue living together so he would convert to visitor status and remain in Canada (not working)

2) Get married. Send in application. He either stays in Canada as a visitor or goes back to UK.

Apply outland to London (via Mississauga). Should take <9 months total if everything is fairly routine.