Common-Law? Conjugal? Neither?

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Hi, I've been staying with my girlfriend in BC for a few months now, and it is looking like I can't seem to get a work permit (lack of places willing to sponsor a "non-skilled" worker), a study permit isn't panning out (too much money for tuition). I'm currently with my girlfriend who I've known for over five years, and we have been dating for a year now. When I drove through, my passport was not stamped. I know that I'm able to stay here for six months. I've looked through old posts and they seem to indicate that we don't qualify as conjugal spouses, because I technically do have the ability to get sponsored/hired and live here, it's just unlikely. Am I mistaken? Would she be able to sponsor me as a common-law spouse? We can't technically co-habitate for one year if I can't stay for an entire year, right? Am I misunderstanding something? Would marriage solve all of this, or could we apply as common-law spouses?

Thanks in advance.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Hi

Conjugal will never be a possibility and you are not yet common-law, so also not a possibility right now.

Before your 6 months is up, you can apply for an extension of your visitor status to stay in order to become common-law and then apply for sponsorship.

Or you can get married. You can then apply for sponsorship as soon as you have your marriage certificate.

 

[scylla]

We can't technically co-habitate for one year if I can't stay for an entire year, right? Am I misunderstanding something?

You can very easily co-habitate for one year. You just need to extend your visitor visa for another six months towards the end of your visit.

The fact you can marry or easily co-habitate to become common law is the reason why you can never qualify as conjugal. However as explained above, you need to cohabitate for a full year to apply as common law - so you still have quite a while to wait before this will be possible.

If you get married, then you can certainly be sponsored as a married spouse.

 

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Thanks for the timely assistance, both of you!