Attempting to sponsor a business owner. Is it a dead end?

[Leosmel]

It has been a year and two days since I met my boyfriend on the Internet. He's an Australian citizen. For a year, we have exchanged countless skype hours, over 2400 emails, telephone conversations, letters. In July we spent ten amazing days together. Now we are ready to start the immigration process, but we don't know under which category apply.

a) Conjugal partner? There's no immigration barrier. He doesn't even need a visa to enter Canada.

b) Marriage? He's a business owner, so coming here and marrying me would mean he won't be able to work until he gets his permanent resident status, which means, he'd lose his business if he can't work.

We don't know what to do.

Is there a c) option?

Thank you for your help.

[locolynn]

1. Get married
2. Apply Outland - so his paperwork is processed in australia rather than Canada
3. He stays in Australia until his papers are finalised
4. He comes to Canada and is able to relocate his business or find work.

In the meantime he could visit you in Canada and you him in Australia, or you could go to Australia and hang with him for the visa processing. Check the Outland processing times I can't imagine it would be that long.

Hope that helps.

Lynn

[scylla]

If you want to sponsor him, your only options are marriage or common law. For common law, you would have to live together for a year first.

Otherwise he would have to qualify for immigration independently. This is typically much harder and takes much longer.

[scylla]

Just to add...

He doesn't have to come to Canada to get married. You can go to Australia.

[clubcanada]

There might be another option: If he's under 30 and has an australian passport, he might be eligible for a work&holiday visa which allows him to stay and work at least 12 months.