Road To Canada Forums

Hi! I'm new here and have some questions that I've been having a hard time finding clarification on.

I am a United States citizen and my boyfriend lives in Nova Scotia. We have known each other for about ten years but became a couple about a year and a half ago. We don't qualify for common law as we have not lived together for a year.

So my question becomes...I am from a visitor visa exempt country. I guess I can still only stay for 6 months upon date of entry into Canada and I would still have to file an extension to stay an additional six months. ( I get that, PLEASE correct me if I am wrong in any way)

When I apply for an extension to stay-what are the odds it will be denied? I have heard Canada is very welcoming to people but I cannot find clear information. I know I cannot work or anything for the year time and that is fine, my boyfriend has a good job and is willing to support us along with the money I bring. I just want to make that year mark so we can apply for common law and I'm trying to be as sure as possible it won't be rejected. I have a two year old son so I don't want to be moving him back and forth multiple times.

Any and all information would be GREATLY appreciated.

Thank you in advance!! :)

I can only relate my experience.

I applied for and received visitor records before I was married, and we were also not common law and never had any issues.

I find they are pretty nice at extending a stay 1 time without being in a relationship that qualifies so long as you dont mention intent to immigrate before you in a eligible relationship.

I can only speak from my experience
we did not get married & I was here for 2.5 yrs before we filed
We would not have qualified for common-law if I hadn't
we didn't file any extensions or get a visitor's record

Again i can only speak from my Case.. i arrived and got a visa exempt stamp in passport.. 6mths later i filed for extension.. then i filed for my 2nd extension claiming that DH and i had lived together over 12mths and wanted to give birth my my CL baby in Canada...they granted.. :)

hehe two totally different replies. One of you filed and one didn't yet both were granted. So I guess that shows that it's very rare they deny requests?

lilaussie-there's such thing as a "visa exempt stamp"?

What exactly did you write as a reason for extending the stay AWA? Because that's all it would take is just the one extension for us to qualify as common law.

Thank you so much for your replies so far! Now we can both have a better feeling about this whole transition!