Common law partner

[Llenlleawc]

I am currently looking into taking a position with my company in Vancouver. This would be a long term appointment, lasting at least two years. As far as I understand, should I be offered the position, I will not have any issues getting a temporary work permit as the job falls in skill types O, A or B. I would be looking to move to Canada around October due to commitments I have in the UK until then.

However, I would want my girlfriend to come with me. We have been living together for 6 months currently (and therefore will have been living together for a year by the time I come to move). Will she be able to apply for an open work permit as a common law partner even though, at the moment, we have not been living together for a year? If the answer to this is no, would I be able to go out there in October and for her to apply then, based on the fact we will have been living together for a year, with her following me shortly after?

[Leon]

Unless you want to marry her, you will have to go with her following you shortly after.  She can't get a work permit now as a common law when you are not common law yet.

[Llenlleawc]

Thanks - obviously there is a risk involved there if her application is rejected once I have already accepted a job and moved out to Vancouver. Are there likely to be any major hurdles to overcome? In particular will it be an issue that we are no longer living together if I have already moved out to Canada when they are processing her application? Without the obvious things that could cause problems (such as criminal convictions, etc), what are the chances of her application being rejected after mine has been accepted?

[Leon]

I don't think it's likely that she would be denied.  I know a few guys who have done the same thing, guy coming first, then getting work permit for girlfriend when he sees that he likes it and wants to stay a while