Post
by tidymonkey81 » Mon Jan 04, 2010 7:35 pm
Happy New Year. This is my first post!
I'll cut to the chase. I am a 28 year old secondary school physics teacher with 4 years experience teaching in the UK. My Canadian girlfriend (in Montreal, QC) and I have been dating for 3 1/2 years and have, in the past, spent at least a year living together in London. My gf has returned to Canada (August, 2008) to continue with her studies and with the good hope of getting into a Medical college in Canada (or, if my visa/work permit app fails, the UK). We wish to live together in Canada where fees will be cheaper and as such I require a work permit to work there. I am criminally inadmissible due to a DUI, the sentence of which ended on 19th September, 2007. This is my only conviction. Thus, I can apply for rehabilitation on 19th September, 2012.
In August I travelled to Canada knowing that my inadmissibility would prevent me from getting a PR permit at that time. I hired a lawyer known to us through family who advised of a slim chance of getting a TR permit which, if given for a period greater than 6 months, could allow me to apply for a Work Permit concurrently. This had been done in the past under a particular case similar to my own. We entered the country together via the Lacolle, QC border from the States. However, as expected, the border official would not issue this TR permit. I am still considering applying for the TR permit, more officially, through the Canadian mission in London explaining our situation with the hope of getting it for more than 6 months and then going on to apply for a work permit. I am unsure how this will pan out.
I am also going to apply for a PR permit knowing that it will (eventually) get declined on inadmissibility grounds. There appears to be a route after denial of the permit whereby the applicant and sponsor can appeal the decision on compassionate grounds, and this should be done within 30 days of receiving the denial response. I am looking for any advice or experience on this matter, however I also have some particular questions.
Does the term 'compassionate' apply to myself and my gf?
Who applies? Sponsor or sponsee?
How/where is the appeal made?
There are interviews mentioned on the appeal division website. Where are these interviews conducted / who needs to be present?
I am currently not using the services of a lawyer for the sponsorship app process but would consider employing these services at the appeal stage if it might be useful. Can anyone suggest where to look?
There are other questions, but, this has been long enough already. (If it's too long I can take out the waffle and repost - please advise)
Regards,
Kevin Carter