Mice in a maze. Common law?

[RedVVR]

Hi!
Oh, thank goodness for this forum! Here's a breakdown of our current situation:
- I've been living happily with my boyfriend (GB, from Austria) in Edmonton Alberta since April 2010 and as of March 2011 we've officially shared a lease and bills (prior to March2011 lease was in a roomate's name). Total 1 year and 5 months.
- We frequently travel together (most recently to Austria where I met his friends and family) but have never shared any large purchases.
- I am a born Canadian and I work in a restaurant some days and a bar the other nights, I expect to further my education September 2012.
- GB was recently granted a new work permit (with an Arborist company that has employed him since April 2010) that expires in January 2012. This past year he has discovered his love for trees resulting in several promotions and is now an active foreman- he will complete his ISA certification by October.
- GB also has a degree in business tourism (his passion) which he has the opportunity to pursue with a friend's tourism company next summer.
- December 2010-March 2011 GB was employed as a driller in the oilfields (his first work permit was open), this employer would also be prepared to offer GB a job offer.
Ultimately GB would like to finish this season with the Arbor company, work on the rigs mid-winter, begin with the tourism company by next summer and be an arborist during the in-betweens all while becoming a permenant resident of Canada (dream big or go home?).
An open work permit or permenant residency is our goal, but the best course of action is unclear.
Should we gather photos, our lease, various bills and plane tickets and apply for common law?
Should GB submit an application for permenant residency through the new skilled worker category as an Arbor foreman? A job offer with the drilling company? or Should he pursue permenant residency through his degree in tourism?
Options are always nice, but sometimes too many can be confusing.
Please offer any opinions, suggestions and guidance. The advice is very appreciated!
Thank you for your time,
Red & GB

[CharlieD10]

Skilled Worker can take a while.

Provided you are committed to living together long-term and you can see yourself accepting being responsible for him for 3 years from the time he is landed, you qualify to apply as common-law.  I would suggest an Outland common-law application through Vienna (timeline 9 months) or Buffalo (timeline 11 months) if he was admitted to Canada initially for a year, as it is faster and he already has a work permit good until 2012, and should have no issues renewing or applying for another with a different employer.

[rjessome]

Ultimately GB would like to finish this season with the Arbor company, work on the rigs mid-winter, begin with the tourism company by next summer and be an arborist during the in-betweens all while becoming a permenant resident of Canada (dream big or go home?).

I was on my way to telling you that perhaps the Alberta Provincial Nominee program might be best for GB until I read the above statement.     It would involve a full-time, PERMANENT job offer so no galavanting around from employer to employer.

I'm assuming his current work permit is tied to a Labour Market Opinion and is closed to one employer.  If that is the case and you apply to sponsor him through the family class, I agree with CharlieD that an overseas sponsorship is probably your best route for PR.  He may have to keep his dreams of working for multiple companies on hold until PR is granted as there is no open work permit option for overseas applicants.  That is only available for inland applicants and takes at least 11 months to be issued if first stage approval is received.  However, applying inland with an open work permit application accompanying the spousal/CL app would keep him in status and allow him to continue working with his current employer or for whomever he has an LMO and work permit with.

First thing to do is organize priorities.  Then decide which route to take.