Question about my situation

[Mandratha]

I met a woman on the Internet.  She's from Canada and I'm from the US.  We've talked on the phone and
this past summer I visited her.  We are in love and she has asked me to move there to be with her.

We've been talking for just at a year now, and we are exclusive to each other.
 
She's going through a divorce, though we don't know how long that will take.  I would marry her in a
minute, but after one rough marriage I don't want her to jump right into another marriage, so I thought
we'd live together first.  I do want to work though, she shouldn't have to pay everything by herself.

I was wondering if anyone could give the best advice on how I should go about migrating to Canada from
the United States and able to work right off.  I am paying off my credit card bills as I don't want that
hanging over our heads when we do start our life together.

Thank you

[Leon]

It depends on what skills you have as well as which province she is in.  If you can get a job offer where she lives and a work permit, you are in.  If you count as a skilled worker, you can get a 2 year permit and then just extend it when it expires or apply for residency through a provincial nominee program or work 2 years and then apply through Canadian experience class.  If you are a low skill worker, except for certain jobs in AB and BC, you do not qualify for permanent residency and will have to leave for 4 months when your 2 years work permit is up.  Of course by then you might have married already and then she can sponsor you.

You should go visit her and look around for jobs at the same time.  If you get an offer, you will have to leave to get your work permit issued so you use that time to go back, pack up and then move when your work permit comes through.

[RobsLuv]

One thing to remember is that the work permit option could take awhile - you have to find an employer willing to sponsor you and they have to get what's referred to as "HSRDC approval" to offer you a job.  What that means is that they have to show the government that there are no qualified Canadian citizen/PR candidates for the position.  If they get HSRDC approval, then they can offer you the job and you can take that job offer, along with an application for a work permit and the accompanying fees, to a Canadian port of entry to try to get a work permit.  (BTW - US citizens ARE allowed to apply for a work or study permit at the border, but some IOs will tell you that you have to go to a Canadian consulate in the States to accomplish this.  So be prepared for a possible hassle.)

Other than that, the fastest route to permanent status in Canada (which gives you the right to work) is being sponsored by a spouse or common-law partner.  I agree that it's not wise to jump into marriage, especially just to facilitate coming to Canada, but don't make the mistake of trying to come to Canada as a visitor for six months with the idea of extending that visit for another six months to qualify as a common-law partner.  First of all, that goes against the intent of the six month "rule", and secondly, it only puts you in a position of not being able to work legally for the entire first year - and then again for however long it takes you to finally get the PR application approved . . . which is a minimum of six months - and could be much longer (up to 2 years) if you make the mistake (as a US citizen) and file inland. 

Anyway - I'm probably getting way ahead of you on this, but just for information's sake, take a look at the US2Canada website and you'll get a better idea of what's involved in the sponsorship process.   

[Mandratha]

Thanks for your answers .  I don't qualify as a skilled worker under some assesment tests I've had, but
if I had a job offer I would.  I'm headed up there for New Years so I'll look then and see what the job
market looks like.

I really do appreciate your help .