http://roadtocanada.com/forums/ Thu, 09 Sep 2010 12:23:56 +0000 MyBB http://roadtocanada.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=6376 Wed, 08 Sep 2010 22:03:26 -0500 http://roadtocanada.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=6376
I received an email this afternoon letting me know that my application has been transferred to Detroit. Does anyone have any info on Detroit. I've heard bad things about much longer processing times. I'm kind of bumming. Does anyone know if I can take care of getting my Passport stamped in person there? Any info would be grand!]]>
I received an email this afternoon letting me know that my application has been transferred to Detroit. Does anyone have any info on Detroit. I've heard bad things about much longer processing times. I'm kind of bumming. Does anyone know if I can take care of getting my Passport stamped in person there? Any info would be grand!]]> http://roadtocanada.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=6375 Wed, 08 Sep 2010 20:16:35 -0500 http://roadtocanada.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=6375
We will have the marriage certificate with us. What do we tell the immigration office? I've read that my [then] husband will tell them that we're married, and he would like me to visit while we submit an application for PR. Are there any specific details that we need to give?

The reason I'm asking, is that this past Monday I tried to enter Canada as a 'visitor', and was denied due to insufficient ties to the US.

Thanks for any info you can give me!]]>
We will have the marriage certificate with us. What do we tell the immigration office? I've read that my [then] husband will tell them that we're married, and he would like me to visit while we submit an application for PR. Are there any specific details that we need to give?

The reason I'm asking, is that this past Monday I tried to enter Canada as a 'visitor', and was denied due to insufficient ties to the US.

Thanks for any info you can give me!]]> http://roadtocanada.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=6373 Wed, 08 Sep 2010 10:14:54 -0500 http://roadtocanada.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=6373

Sept7,2010 - Mailed application: xpress post]]>

Sept7,2010 - Mailed application: xpress post]]> http://roadtocanada.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=6372 Mon, 06 Sep 2010 13:08:40 -0500 http://roadtocanada.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=6372 http://roadtocanada.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=6371 Sun, 05 Sep 2010 22:44:55 -0500 http://roadtocanada.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=6371
Been reviewing the forums for quite some time now, it's all been very interesting and helpful and have assuaged my fears somewhat. Now, however, I have a new one.

I am a Canadian who is looking into sponsoring his American spouse on a family visa in the near future (we haven't decided which country we want to live together in just yet...) I don't think our case would be too strange except for the fact that my spouse has a Minor in Possession on her record from Michigan and five years have not passed since that happened, thus she is not eligible for a rehabilitation waiver. I know the key issue is how this offense would be charged in Canada, but I cannot seem to find any information on that. She's never had any problem crossing the border, but obviously a family visa requires a security check and is therefore more closely scrutinized.

Are our chances for her coming here sunk? Any information would be very much appreciated.]]>
Been reviewing the forums for quite some time now, it's all been very interesting and helpful and have assuaged my fears somewhat. Now, however, I have a new one.

I am a Canadian who is looking into sponsoring his American spouse on a family visa in the near future (we haven't decided which country we want to live together in just yet...) I don't think our case would be too strange except for the fact that my spouse has a Minor in Possession on her record from Michigan and five years have not passed since that happened, thus she is not eligible for a rehabilitation waiver. I know the key issue is how this offense would be charged in Canada, but I cannot seem to find any information on that. She's never had any problem crossing the border, but obviously a family visa requires a security check and is therefore more closely scrutinized.

Are our chances for her coming here sunk? Any information would be very much appreciated.]]> http://roadtocanada.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=6370 Sun, 05 Sep 2010 00:55:40 -0500 http://roadtocanada.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=6370 http://roadtocanada.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=6369 Sat, 04 Sep 2010 16:15:54 -0500 http://roadtocanada.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=6369
We have a tax question I was thinking you might be able to assist us with. Basically, the CRA is requesting proof of my wife's world income before they'll issue me my GST credits, and Ontario requires the same with regard to the HST credit.

Our timeline:

Nov. '07 - Married in the U.S. (wife quits job)
Dec. '07 - Returned to Canada (my wife as a legal visitor)
Jun. '09 - Wife attained PR!
Aug.(?) '09 - Wife got first job in Canada--only job since '07, in the U.S.
Apr. '10- Wife returned to the U.S. for the first time, on vacation for a few weeks

2008 Tax Return: My wife did not file in Canada or the U.S., as she had no income to report (at all - in either country), and no S.I.N. The CRA made me pay back the portion of my GST credit I'd already received, as they "could not determine" my wife's world income. I just paid it back, and swallowed it.

2009 Tax Return: My wife, new S.I.N. in hand, filed in Canada for the first time. We reported all her income, honestly, on both our returns. Now the CRA and the Ontario government is requesting proof of her world income, or I/we won't be eligible for GST/HST credits and I'll have to repay nearly $400 I've already received.


So how do I go about proving to the satisfaction of the government that my wife has had no world income since 2007? (It would have been nice if they'd just trusted our returns.)

I have a copy of her last U.S. tax return from 2007, which her mother e-mailed to us. But I'm not sure how that proves she's had no U.S. income since then. Is there something we can request from the IRS listing her last several returns, or something? And I could photocopy her passport, visitor's extensions, etc.--but again, that only (possibly) proves that she wasn't living in the U.S. during 2008 or 2009--not that she had no income.

As always, your help is appreciated beyond measure. Thank you so much.]]>
We have a tax question I was thinking you might be able to assist us with. Basically, the CRA is requesting proof of my wife's world income before they'll issue me my GST credits, and Ontario requires the same with regard to the HST credit.

Our timeline:

Nov. '07 - Married in the U.S. (wife quits job)
Dec. '07 - Returned to Canada (my wife as a legal visitor)
Jun. '09 - Wife attained PR!
Aug.(?) '09 - Wife got first job in Canada--only job since '07, in the U.S.
Apr. '10- Wife returned to the U.S. for the first time, on vacation for a few weeks

2008 Tax Return: My wife did not file in Canada or the U.S., as she had no income to report (at all - in either country), and no S.I.N. The CRA made me pay back the portion of my GST credit I'd already received, as they "could not determine" my wife's world income. I just paid it back, and swallowed it.

2009 Tax Return: My wife, new S.I.N. in hand, filed in Canada for the first time. We reported all her income, honestly, on both our returns. Now the CRA and the Ontario government is requesting proof of her world income, or I/we won't be eligible for GST/HST credits and I'll have to repay nearly $400 I've already received.


So how do I go about proving to the satisfaction of the government that my wife has had no world income since 2007? (It would have been nice if they'd just trusted our returns.)

I have a copy of her last U.S. tax return from 2007, which her mother e-mailed to us. But I'm not sure how that proves she's had no U.S. income since then. Is there something we can request from the IRS listing her last several returns, or something? And I could photocopy her passport, visitor's extensions, etc.--but again, that only (possibly) proves that she wasn't living in the U.S. during 2008 or 2009--not that she had no income.

As always, your help is appreciated beyond measure. Thank you so much.]]> http://roadtocanada.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=6368 Sat, 04 Sep 2010 14:56:58 -0500 http://roadtocanada.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=6368 http://roadtocanada.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=6367 Sat, 04 Sep 2010 14:54:46 -0500 http://roadtocanada.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=6367
I have read many threads in the Family Class forum, and want to thank the many knowledgeable people who post here for their helpful contributions.

That said, I'm off to post my first question...]]>
I have read many threads in the Family Class forum, and want to thank the many knowledgeable people who post here for their helpful contributions.

That said, I'm off to post my first question...]]> http://roadtocanada.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=6365 Fri, 03 Sep 2010 18:41:47 -0500 http://roadtocanada.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=6365
So... I've read up a little on the other forums and NYC has had some problems... so I'm not thrilled :( Has anyone had experience with this visa office? Do you think I'll get an AOR from them? I'll have to mail them my passport as they won't take any 'walk ins', so that sucks!]]>
So... I've read up a little on the other forums and NYC has had some problems... so I'm not thrilled :( Has anyone had experience with this visa office? Do you think I'll get an AOR from them? I'll have to mail them my passport as they won't take any 'walk ins', so that sucks!]]> http://roadtocanada.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=6364 Fri, 03 Sep 2010 14:37:05 -0500 http://roadtocanada.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=6364 I'm an American married to a Wonderful Canadian Woman and applying for Permanent Residency - Outland processing.

I got an email today (which I thought confusedly for one short moment was some cruel type of spam) requesting my passport.

Boy I was shocked, because last night we had re-entered Canada after visiting the U.S. for a few days, and the border agent talked me into going to renew my Visitors Permit (due to expire Nov 13, 2010). I went in and they renewed it for one whole additional year. This was a bit depressing to even think I would need that much time.

Anyway the text of the email is as follows...
This refers to your application for permanent residence in Canada. We are now in a position to request your passports for visa issuance.

Please submit your passport(s) before OCTOBER 5 2010. The issuance of your visa(s) is time sensitive so it is important for you to submit your passport(s) as requested.

We require three (3) recent photographs of yourself and each accompanying family member


My questions are
1) Is it true that this almost invariably means they are approving my app and I will soon see "Decision Made" on my online (E-Cas) app status?

2) Is the "time sensitive" reference meaningful? Is there a reason to rush? I intend to go to Buffalo on Tuesday. they say they make "every effort" to return it same day. ( I will wait around for it, I think)

3) Does this mean I should also then get my landing visa (IM-1 ?) when they return my passport?

4) When I land do I have to have a catalog of all the items I wish to bring into Canada? And my car? Where do I get good info on this subject?

Thanx to all here... this is the absolute best forum I have ever found.



2009-08-25 Married the Canadian love of my life in Outer Banks N.C.
2010-02-22 PR/Sponsorship apps mailed
2010-03-18 PR/Sponsorship apps returned - Admonished to use pen not pencil (oops, meant to overwrite with a pen) Apps returned in 1 day
2010-04-20 Sponsorship approved - Advised app sent to Buffalo
2010-05-26 Buffalo confirmed receipt of PR application and gave assigned file number & barcodes for mailings
2010-06-30 Requested payment of RPRF fee No interview needed, No additional docs required. Medical results received
2010-07-30 Confirmed receipt of RPRF $490
2010-09-03 Received email from Buffalo - Submit passport]]> I'm an American married to a Wonderful Canadian Woman and applying for Permanent Residency - Outland processing.

I got an email today (which I thought confusedly for one short moment was some cruel type of spam) requesting my passport.

Boy I was shocked, because last night we had re-entered Canada after visiting the U.S. for a few days, and the border agent talked me into going to renew my Visitors Permit (due to expire Nov 13, 2010). I went in and they renewed it for one whole additional year. This was a bit depressing to even think I would need that much time.

Anyway the text of the email is as follows...
This refers to your application for permanent residence in Canada. We are now in a position to request your passports for visa issuance.

Please submit your passport(s) before OCTOBER 5 2010. The issuance of your visa(s) is time sensitive so it is important for you to submit your passport(s) as requested.

We require three (3) recent photographs of yourself and each accompanying family member


My questions are
1) Is it true that this almost invariably means they are approving my app and I will soon see "Decision Made" on my online (E-Cas) app status?

2) Is the "time sensitive" reference meaningful? Is there a reason to rush? I intend to go to Buffalo on Tuesday. they say they make "every effort" to return it same day. ( I will wait around for it, I think)

3) Does this mean I should also then get my landing visa (IM-1 ?) when they return my passport?

4) When I land do I have to have a catalog of all the items I wish to bring into Canada? And my car? Where do I get good info on this subject?

Thanx to all here... this is the absolute best forum I have ever found.



2009-08-25 Married the Canadian love of my life in Outer Banks N.C.
2010-02-22 PR/Sponsorship apps mailed
2010-03-18 PR/Sponsorship apps returned - Admonished to use pen not pencil (oops, meant to overwrite with a pen) Apps returned in 1 day
2010-04-20 Sponsorship approved - Advised app sent to Buffalo
2010-05-26 Buffalo confirmed receipt of PR application and gave assigned file number & barcodes for mailings
2010-06-30 Requested payment of RPRF fee No interview needed, No additional docs required. Medical results received
2010-07-30 Confirmed receipt of RPRF $490
2010-09-03 Received email from Buffalo - Submit passport]]> http://roadtocanada.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=6363 Fri, 03 Sep 2010 04:29:30 -0500 http://roadtocanada.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=6363
It is important to my fiance, and me as well for me to change my name after the wedding to his. We both believe that it shows a more 'unified' family. However, it definitely screws with my ideal timing to send in my file.

Changing my name is going to take a few weeks (from what I've read). We ideally wanted to send our file in the day after we get back from our honeymoon/wedding. Since we'll only have 6 months from the time we come back, we'd like to get it done ASAP. I'm sure you all understand.

I have a few questions. Can we send in the immigration file, and change my name as soon as it's final in the US? What kind of delay could this cause?

Should we just do the name change, and THEN send in the file with my new married name?

Thanks in advance!]]>
It is important to my fiance, and me as well for me to change my name after the wedding to his. We both believe that it shows a more 'unified' family. However, it definitely screws with my ideal timing to send in my file.

Changing my name is going to take a few weeks (from what I've read). We ideally wanted to send our file in the day after we get back from our honeymoon/wedding. Since we'll only have 6 months from the time we come back, we'd like to get it done ASAP. I'm sure you all understand.

I have a few questions. Can we send in the immigration file, and change my name as soon as it's final in the US? What kind of delay could this cause?

Should we just do the name change, and THEN send in the file with my new married name?

Thanks in advance!]]> http://roadtocanada.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=6362 Thu, 02 Sep 2010 22:39:09 -0500 http://roadtocanada.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=6362
We have no reason to contact them... but could we email them to somehow request that they contact us visa email in the future?

I just want to make things quicker should they need more info...]]>
We have no reason to contact them... but could we email them to somehow request that they contact us visa email in the future?

I just want to make things quicker should they need more info...]]> http://roadtocanada.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=6361 Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:49:12 -0500 http://roadtocanada.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=6361
A couple of weeks after that, I got the strange email that I asked about on this forum, which turned out to be an AOR, but they just used the wrong form letter (the one for FSW class). I emailed them and they corrected it, but said that was my correct file number and that my file was in process. Ecas changed the following week (last week) to in process as of the day they had sent me the emails.

Here's my question- should I expect an AOR in the mail? It's been over a week and I've yet to receive it. I had changed my address to our Canadian mailing address (visiting here during the process). The original mailing address was to my parents in the US. However, the original residential address was elsewhere. I set up mail forwarding from there, but only for a few months. When I emailed to change my addresses, I changed my mailing address to the Canadian one and my residential address to my parents.

There is no mailing or residential address listed under my information on ecas, but it is listed under my sponsor's information.

I'm just kinda paranoid that they would send my AOR to my old residential address, even though I never listed it as my mailing address... Buffalo is making mistakes everywhere these days, so I wouldn't be surprised. But since I emailed them and said they could contact me by email from now on, was that original email the only AOR I'm going to get? If they need anything else from me will they just email me?

Thanks :)]]>
A couple of weeks after that, I got the strange email that I asked about on this forum, which turned out to be an AOR, but they just used the wrong form letter (the one for FSW class). I emailed them and they corrected it, but said that was my correct file number and that my file was in process. Ecas changed the following week (last week) to in process as of the day they had sent me the emails.

Here's my question- should I expect an AOR in the mail? It's been over a week and I've yet to receive it. I had changed my address to our Canadian mailing address (visiting here during the process). The original mailing address was to my parents in the US. However, the original residential address was elsewhere. I set up mail forwarding from there, but only for a few months. When I emailed to change my addresses, I changed my mailing address to the Canadian one and my residential address to my parents.

There is no mailing or residential address listed under my information on ecas, but it is listed under my sponsor's information.

I'm just kinda paranoid that they would send my AOR to my old residential address, even though I never listed it as my mailing address... Buffalo is making mistakes everywhere these days, so I wouldn't be surprised. But since I emailed them and said they could contact me by email from now on, was that original email the only AOR I'm going to get? If they need anything else from me will they just email me?

Thanks :)]]> http://roadtocanada.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=6359 Thu, 02 Sep 2010 06:50:40 -0500 http://roadtocanada.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=6359
Thanks]]>
Thanks]]> http://roadtocanada.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=6358 Wed, 01 Sep 2010 20:01:58 -0500 http://roadtocanada.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=6358 neither was a violent, drug related crime, will it affect my PR application?. (Canadian born/bred wife & 2 Irish born kids)who are Canadian through mother)]]> neither was a violent, drug related crime, will it affect my PR application?. (Canadian born/bred wife & 2 Irish born kids)who are Canadian through mother)]]> http://roadtocanada.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=6357 Tue, 31 Aug 2010 23:06:53 -0500 http://roadtocanada.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=6357 I have a few questions. First off I am American my Boyfriend is Canadian we are working on getting things in place to start this whole proecess. When he sponsors me due I really have to put down every single job since 18 cuz it will be like 80 freakin pages long!!!! Not to mention it is hard to remember:o) Also is it every address that I have resided for 6 months or more???? I did send out for the FBI backround check last week.]]> I have a few questions. First off I am American my Boyfriend is Canadian we are working on getting things in place to start this whole proecess. When he sponsors me due I really have to put down every single job since 18 cuz it will be like 80 freakin pages long!!!! Not to mention it is hard to remember:o) Also is it every address that I have resided for 6 months or more???? I did send out for the FBI backround check last week.]]> http://roadtocanada.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=6356 Tue, 31 Aug 2010 15:58:26 -0500 http://roadtocanada.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=6356 http://roadtocanada.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=6355 Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:02:15 -0500 http://roadtocanada.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=6355
I am trying to sponsor my 'common-law spouse' from the US for PR in Canada. We have submitted all our paperwork and application to CIC 4 months ago. I have been approved as the 'sponsor'. We've received a letter a few weeks ago stating that there was no interview required at this time. Thinking that was a positive step. However, today received letter stating that we didn't have enough evidence of a 'common-law' relationship, on financial, social, and emotional basis - even after we've submitted banks statements, pics, emails, etc. She had to come and go due to visitation rules of 6 months, and we've been 'cohabiting' for quite a few years (added all the time she's been in Canada) -- does it need to be ONE year non-stop or can she be back and forth?

There was another requirement for 'immigration visa' to be submitted or satisfy officer that we are able to obtain one, under Section 11(1), don't know what this means...does it mean that they require the above to be satisfied and hence an immigration officer will also be satisfied?

Please help!

===============
Here's the letter:

Subsection 12 (1)...foreign national may be selected as a member of the family class on the basis of their relationship as the spouse, common-law partner...Pursuant to subsection 1(1)...a common-law partner means...an individual who is cohabiting with the person in a conjugal...having so for period of at least one year. (does it need to be consistently for one year or can it be broken up as it was with our case?)

you and your sponsor have not maintained for at least one year as per section R2 of the IRPA, based on the evidence provided....combined affairs economically, socially, emotionally, physically...please note, you have provided evidence or a long-distance dating relationship which dates longer than one year.....

Subsection 11(1) of the act provides that a Foreign National must, before entering Canada, apply to an officer for a visa or any other document required by the regulations. the visa or document shall be issued if, following an examination, the officer is satisfied that the foreign national is not inadmissable and meets the requirements of this act. The onus is on you to satisfy me that an immigration visa can be issued to you. I would therefore request that you send any information or documents which you consider might respond to this issue....

** do they need the proof that we are indeed co-habiting? or some other special requirements ?


===== PLEASE HELP!!

Thanks in advance.]]>
I am trying to sponsor my 'common-law spouse' from the US for PR in Canada. We have submitted all our paperwork and application to CIC 4 months ago. I have been approved as the 'sponsor'. We've received a letter a few weeks ago stating that there was no interview required at this time. Thinking that was a positive step. However, today received letter stating that we didn't have enough evidence of a 'common-law' relationship, on financial, social, and emotional basis - even after we've submitted banks statements, pics, emails, etc. She had to come and go due to visitation rules of 6 months, and we've been 'cohabiting' for quite a few years (added all the time she's been in Canada) -- does it need to be ONE year non-stop or can she be back and forth?

There was another requirement for 'immigration visa' to be submitted or satisfy officer that we are able to obtain one, under Section 11(1), don't know what this means...does it mean that they require the above to be satisfied and hence an immigration officer will also be satisfied?

Please help!

===============
Here's the letter:

Subsection 12 (1)...foreign national may be selected as a member of the family class on the basis of their relationship as the spouse, common-law partner...Pursuant to subsection 1(1)...a common-law partner means...an individual who is cohabiting with the person in a conjugal...having so for period of at least one year. (does it need to be consistently for one year or can it be broken up as it was with our case?)

you and your sponsor have not maintained for at least one year as per section R2 of the IRPA, based on the evidence provided....combined affairs economically, socially, emotionally, physically...please note, you have provided evidence or a long-distance dating relationship which dates longer than one year.....

Subsection 11(1) of the act provides that a Foreign National must, before entering Canada, apply to an officer for a visa or any other document required by the regulations. the visa or document shall be issued if, following an examination, the officer is satisfied that the foreign national is not inadmissable and meets the requirements of this act. The onus is on you to satisfy me that an immigration visa can be issued to you. I would therefore request that you send any information or documents which you consider might respond to this issue....

** do they need the proof that we are indeed co-habiting? or some other special requirements ?


===== PLEASE HELP!!

Thanks in advance.]]> http://roadtocanada.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=6354 Mon, 30 Aug 2010 10:28:36 -0500 http://roadtocanada.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=6354
I'm a gay guy from Canada, and over the past few months I've entered into a relationship with a guy from the U.S. It started over the internet, but we have now spent time with each other in person a couple of times and the relationship is getting serious. We're at the point where we'd like to try living together.. We think that this could work and progress to either a common-law relationship or marriage, but we'd like to make sure by living together for a period beforehand.

I'm not sure what options are available for him to live here with me in Canada for a period. I've reviewed the CIC website and they make it clear about the "Family Class" methods to acquire permanent resident status. In our case, if we lived together for a year as a couple we would qualify as common-law partners (along with the other criteria, but those won't be a problem).

But that sounds like a paradox.. because to live together for a year, we'd have to be in the same country, in the same house.. so how does he get into this country so that we can actually live together for at least a year? How can two people from different countries ever meet the criteria for a common-law relationship? We're not against the idea of marriage at some point, but by the same token we don't want to be forced to get married just so that we can gain citizenship for him. Plus, we wouldn't want to do that until we've tried things out for a while, and there is no same-sex marriage in his state (NV) so he would have to live here anyway for us to even be able to get married.

Can he just come up here as a visitor for a 6-month period and live with me (I know he wouldn't be able to work here but that would not be a problem for us), go back and then come back again? Or will the border agents try to block something like that? Is there any paperwork or anything we could get in advance? The CIC publications mention a "long-stay visa" but then they don't seem to say anything else about it on the site. Plus, visas are not required for U.S. citizens to come into Canada. So how do we do this?

Thanks for any help you can offer me! ^_^]]>
I'm a gay guy from Canada, and over the past few months I've entered into a relationship with a guy from the U.S. It started over the internet, but we have now spent time with each other in person a couple of times and the relationship is getting serious. We're at the point where we'd like to try living together.. We think that this could work and progress to either a common-law relationship or marriage, but we'd like to make sure by living together for a period beforehand.

I'm not sure what options are available for him to live here with me in Canada for a period. I've reviewed the CIC website and they make it clear about the "Family Class" methods to acquire permanent resident status. In our case, if we lived together for a year as a couple we would qualify as common-law partners (along with the other criteria, but those won't be a problem).

But that sounds like a paradox.. because to live together for a year, we'd have to be in the same country, in the same house.. so how does he get into this country so that we can actually live together for at least a year? How can two people from different countries ever meet the criteria for a common-law relationship? We're not against the idea of marriage at some point, but by the same token we don't want to be forced to get married just so that we can gain citizenship for him. Plus, we wouldn't want to do that until we've tried things out for a while, and there is no same-sex marriage in his state (NV) so he would have to live here anyway for us to even be able to get married.

Can he just come up here as a visitor for a 6-month period and live with me (I know he wouldn't be able to work here but that would not be a problem for us), go back and then come back again? Or will the border agents try to block something like that? Is there any paperwork or anything we could get in advance? The CIC publications mention a "long-stay visa" but then they don't seem to say anything else about it on the site. Plus, visas are not required for U.S. citizens to come into Canada. So how do we do this?

Thanks for any help you can offer me! ^_^]]>