How to stay in Canada

[Emilypink]

I am currently in Canada with my Canadian boyfriend visiting his parents and we have decided we want to stay here, as he is a Canadian citizen he is fine to stay, does anyone know what I have to do to stay in the country, I have only been here for 5 weeks so far.  We have a return ticket booked for the end of August but we dont want to use it.  Can anyone provide me with information that can help?

[Leon]

If you and your boyfriend have lived together for 12 months or longer, or you get married, he can sponsor you for PR.

If that is not an option, you could apply to extend your visitor status before it expires but you would not have health care or be allowed to work.

If you want to get legal temporary status, you would need to find an employer who applies for an LMO for you so you can apply for a work permit.

[Emilypink]

Can I get sponsorship for PR and a work visa at the same time?  Would it increase the chances of PR if I have a job offer?

[Leon]

Can I get sponsorship for PR and a work visa at the same time?  Would it increase the chances of PR if I have a job offer?

You can apply for both at the same time but they are independent from each other.  Getting PR based on sponsorship depends on proving that your relationship is genuine and has nothing to do with having a work permit whatsoever.  To get a work permit, you must prove that you will not overstay and that can however be tricky if you are also applying for PR at the same time but if you are in Canada anyway, especially if you are visa exempt, it is not a big deal.

[Emilypink]

Thanks for the information.  If I had a job offer so I had an income would that make a difference with the PR application for sponsorship for common law partnership or would I then have to go down a different route for PR?  Or say I was offered a work visa that would only come into action if I was offered PR?  Sorry im finding everything very confusing and im not sure of the best way to go about it...

[Leon]

Thanks for the information.  If I had a job offer so I had an income would that make a difference with the PR application for sponsorship for common law partnership or would I then have to go down a different route for PR?  Or say I was offered a work visa that would only come into action if I was offered PR?  Sorry im finding everything very confusing and im not sure of the best way to go about it...

Like I said before, getting sponsored for PR by your spouse has nothing to do with being or not being on a work permit.  They are completely unrelated processes.  If you were on a work permit, you might have more options to apply for PR but you can still apply through common law.

You would never be offered a work visa that is dependent on you getting PR because if you got PR, you don't need a work visa.