Visitor from the Netherlands coming to see Canadian boyfriend

[Aroundtown22]

I am trying to get my girlfriend over here (to Canada, I am a natural born citizen) so that we will be able to live together for a year legally and apply as common law partners for her to get her PR.
The plan is for her to come here for her allotted 6 month time period (she doesn't need a visa as her country is exempt) and I will support her. As the 6 months came to a close she would apply for extension with something from me showing that I am willing and able to support her while she is here. If she got a 6 month extension, then we could apply as common law partners after that.
I was reading about how she might get refused if she says that she is coming to visit me (and she wont have a job when she comes, but her family is in Holland).

I am really wondering how to go about this. Would it be better to tell the border guard up front what her intentions are or would it be better to just say that she is coming to travel or something along those lines? She will have a return ticket booked when she enters the country.

Thanks in advance for your help

[gecko]

Hello,

I find myself in a similar situation.  Did you come over and what was the outcome?  Did they allow your stay for 6 months?

thanks!

[Aroundtown22]

Gecko

When she came in she was very honest about her intentions with the border guard. She told them that she was coming here to visit me. She stayed for her 6 months and we applied for an extension. I've written about what we said and submitted for the first extension on this board. She was approved for her 6 month extension. Our intentions changed (originally we were planning on having a small wedding) and now we're applying as a common-law couple since we've been living together for 1 year.

[atuimi]

hi aroundtown22,

I'm in a similar situation. My boyfriend will be in Canada in 2-3 months and I want to go there with him.

He is almost done with his PR process.

We were thinking to apply as a conjugal partner but it seems we dont qualify.
(We are still checking with his agency and waiting for the reply of the immigration lawyers)

But now I was thinking something easier and plain as you did.

I'm european as your girlfriend, I'm from Barcelona (Spain) so I dont need a visa.

I'm thinking to go there for 6 months and then apply for an extension.
 
After one year living together we will apply for the common law partner.

Sounds great!!! But I have some questions: Now that your applying for a common law couple. Can she work? Can she leave the country if she need it?

I mean I can afford 1 year as a tourist without working because I have some savings and my boyfriend will support me if I need it.

I think this won't be a problem. But I would like to start working after the extension...

When your girlfriend was in the border does she said she was going to visit her BOYFRIEND?

I'm afraid about this things too as you said in your first post because I wont have a job by that time but all my family is in Spain.
I hope this would be enough....It really worked for you guys. Nice )))) So I hope it works for me too!

One more question please, which reasons to stay did you guys give in the letter for the extension?

If you can give me some advice or anyone else that knows about this situatuion I would really appreciate it.

I wish you the best of luck in your common law couple process!!!

Thank you so much!!

[scylla]

atuimi,

Unfortunately you will not be able to work once the common law application is submitted.

If you apply inland, then you will be able to work after first stage processing has completed. First stage processing currently takes 8-9 months.

If you apply outland, then you will be able to work once you are approved for permanent status and land. The time lines for this process depend on which country/regional office your application is processed through.

[atuimi]

Scylla, thank you so much for the info 
Then it will be almost 2 years without working.....bufffff I dont know if this is gonna be good for my resume and my pocket... I need to think about it.

Thanks again for your reply!!! I appreciate it!

[Aroundtown22]

Atuimi,

As stated before, you wont be able to work while you're hear as a visitor even if you have a PR application running. Couple questions for you though... Have you looked into doing a working holiday (info here http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/spain-espagne/youth-jeunesse/index.aspx?lang=eng&menu_id=56&menu=L)? It allows you to live and work in Canada for a period of one year, which would be awesome for you because then during that time you can also build a common-law life together with your bf. At the end of it you could potentially extend it but I am unsure about this. I remember hearing that they do have limits to the number of people the accept for the program so look into it fast.
This is actually how my partner and I met (she was in Canada on the working holiday).

As for entry into Canada as a tourist.... she just told the border guard that she was here to visit me. She had no trouble what so ever.

Any more questions just let me know

[atuimi]

Hi aroundtown22,
I came to know about this program and i think its gonna be the best option for me.
Thank you so much for your reply!!I appreciate it!!!