My 21 yr old US daughter has been living with her fiancé in Ottawa for a year now. They want to marry there. What does she need to do? She has read immigration law but is very confused. Also, she doesn't want a church wedding. She wants the equivalent of an American " justice of the peace in the courthouse wedding. "

Is she already a "common law wife?". Can she work? Can she get PR privileges?:confused:

Thank you for any info you can supply.

She can't work right now and yes she could file as a common law spouse but the application process will be easier after they are officially married.

It would be best to have many people attend the wedding from both sides of the family to show that this is not just a fraud marriage.

Like the US, Canada asks for proof that the couple have known each other and spent a lot of time together before marriage. The application process itself will take 6 months to a year (or more if they decide to investigate the couple further) and costs around $1200-1300 when you add all the charges that will have to be paid.

I live in Canada and my wife is from Florida, we filed in February 2007 and she didn't get her permanent resident approval till November 2007

This might be helpful: Sponsoring your family: Spouses and dependent children