Skilled worker status approved - bringing partner to Canada

[grobima]

Hi everybody,

I have just found this forum after having done quite some research on my own. I have already received my work permit as a skilled worker and now I´m trying to get the papers for my girl friend. She has already been with me in Canada for 4 month and I don´t want to let any more time pass. When I got my work permit at the border the officer told me that I could just bring her. So, I´m not sure what I have to do know. Should I just leave Canada with her and re-enter. Will all papers be done automatically or do I have to do anything?

I saw something about a statutory declaration of common law. Do I have to fill out this before? Where do I send it too?

Many thanks for the help. By the way nationality is Spanish.
Grobima

[Leon]

If you have lived together for 12 months or more, you can fill out a declaration of common law relationship.  Take it to the border with your $150 and when you re-enter Canada, tell them that she wants to apply for an open work permit based on your work permit.  You can also apply for her work permit without leaving and coming back but then you will have to wait for it.  Here are the forms: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/extend-worker.asp and you would have to send the declaration of common law also and a copy of your work permit.  Applying online is faster and apparently you can upload the forms on there.

If you haven't lived together for 12 months, then she is not your common law and as she is not your wife either, she would not qualify for a permit until you had either lived together for 12 months or gotten married.

[grobima]

Thanks for your quick reply. I have a copy of a rental agreement (in Spanish) and a common bank account in Spain and Canada. Will that be sufficient? Would I have to take this documentation and the filled form (Statutory declaration of common-law union) to the border? Because I read about going to a commissioner of oaths or notary public with that form. That´s why I´m unsure of what I have to do. Thanks again! You are a great help.

[Leon]

You need to get it signed by a commissioner of oaths.  After it has been signed, you can take it to the border.