Sponsoring common-law partner from USA while living abroad?

[beeelythe]

Hi there everyone!

I have a question.  I'm a 29 year old Canadian citizen, born and raised.  I live in Chicago, IL currently while I finish school.  I'm here on a student visa at the moment and I will be graduating in May.  Then I have the possibility of staying in the United States for an additional year under the OPT program.  This allows me to work in the United States in my field of study for one year (kind of a work experience thing).  Which means I would legally be allowed to stay in the United States until May of 2013.

I have been living with my 26 year old boyfriend, common-law, for what will be two years in June of 2012.  I would like to sponsor him as a permanent resident.  We're close enough in age, no previous marriages or kids, no religious differences, etc. 

Here's my question:

Can I apply to sponsor him, and be a sponsor, while I'm still living in the United States?  Do I have to live in Canada to apply to be a sponsor?  We would like to not have to be separated while the application process is going on and I could potentially start it now while I'm still here on my student visa, but I want to make sure that is allowed.  As soon as he gains his PR status we definitely want to move to Vancouver (my hometown) ASAP.

Thanks for the guidance!

[YorkFactory]

Yes, you can sponsor him from the U.S.  You do have to show that you plan to move back to Canada once he is approved.

[beeelythe]

Great! That is such a relief!  But do you know exactly how we are to prove that we are moving to Canada?  I'm not sure what documentation would show that. 

We're looking to move to Vancouver as soon as possible after I graduate.  I do have that option of staying here and working for a up to a year and we could do that while we wait for his PR to come through.  Then we would pack up our things and leave for Canada.

I was just worried that maybe I couldn't be a sponsor while I am on a student visa in another country.