Q: Do I have to get a visitor visa to get married in Canada if I am not staying longer than the visa-free period?
I am planning on marrying a Canadian in Ontario, and then I will be returning to America until we get the spousal visa stuff all sorted and approved. If I am only staying for a few days, would I need to apply for the visitor visa, because of the marriage. I have never applied for one before, and have only ever stayed for visa-free periods.
Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
- (916) 704-3009
- View Profile
- Answered
A:
You do not need a visitor visa to get married in Canada if you are from a visa-exempt country and your stay does not exceed the permitted visa-free period. Since you plan to return to the U.S. after the wedding and handle immigration matters later, your trip would fall under standard visitor rules. Marriage alone does not require a special visa, as long as you are not planning to stay or immigrate immediately.
When you arrive in Canada, you may be asked about the purpose of your visit. It’s a good idea to be honest and let them know you are there for a short trip to get married and will be returning home. Bringing proof of ties to your home country, such as a return ticket or evidence of employment, can help if border officers have any questions.
After the wedding, you will need to follow the proper process to apply for spousal sponsorship from outside Canada. This will allow you to return as a permanent resident when your application is approved. For now, your short stay does not require any extra steps beyond what is normally needed for entry.
Justia Ask A Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get free answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask A Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between Justia and you, or between any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions and you, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask A Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
