Advice Needed Regarding Moving My Girlfriend to Canada

[ZMoodie]

Hello everyone, this is my first post. My girlfriend and I are looking for the best path for her to move to Canada. I am a Canadian citizen in the middle of a Joint Divorce (just waiting for final notification on the judgement), and she lives in Florida. We have been together since June of last year, have spent plenty of time together, met each others families, and are ready to make the next move. I understand that there are several avenues to go about things, but as I am sure that everyone here knows, it can be a bit overwhelming. We have gotten to the point where she has decided to come and stay with me for 6 months (as she is able to work remotely) while we try to figure out the next steps. As far as I can tell, this is totally ok as she won't be attempting to get a job in Canada as of yet, and still has family, friends, and her job based in Florida. We are actually driving up with a small roof pod in a few weeks.

My questions are regarding the fastest way to go about things so that she will be able to eventually get a work permit, health care etc. We have looked, and although she has a degree, it doesn't qualify for the skilled workers application. I know that a lot of people are hoping for the same information, but the Government websites can be a bit daunting. I am hoping to soak up as much info as people are willing to give.

Thank you so much!

 

[canuck78]

Hello everyone, this is my first post. My girlfriend and I are looking for the best path for her to move to Canada. I am a Canadian citizen in the middle of a Joint Divorce (just waiting for final notification on the judgement), and she lives in Florida. We have been together since June of last year, have spent plenty of time together, met each others families, and are ready to make the next move. I understand that there are several avenues to go about things, but as I am sure that everyone here knows, it can be a bit overwhelming. We have gotten to the point where she has decided to come and stay with me for 6 months (as she is able to work remotely) while we try to figure out the next steps. As far as I can tell, this is totally ok as she won't be attempting to get a job in Canada as of yet, and still has family, friends, and her job based in Florida. We are actually driving up with a small roof pod in a few weeks.

My questions are regarding the fastest way to go about things so that she will be able to eventually get a work permit, health care etc. We have looked, and although she has a degree, it doesn't qualify for the skilled workers application. I know that a lot of people are hoping for the same information, but the Government websites can be a bit daunting. I am hoping to soak up as much info as people are willing to give.

Thank you so much!

Does her employer have any offices in Canada or clients/customers in Canada?

 

[scylla]

Hello everyone, this is my first post. My girlfriend and I are looking for the best path for her to move to Canada. I am a Canadian citizen in the middle of a Joint Divorce (just waiting for final notification on the judgement), and she lives in Florida. We have been together since June of last year, have spent plenty of time together, met each others families, and are ready to make the next move. I understand that there are several avenues to go about things, but as I am sure that everyone here knows, it can be a bit overwhelming. We have gotten to the point where she has decided to come and stay with me for 6 months (as she is able to work remotely) while we try to figure out the next steps. As far as I can tell, this is totally ok as she won't be attempting to get a job in Canada as of yet, and still has family, friends, and her job based in Florida. We are actually driving up with a small roof pod in a few weeks.

My questions are regarding the fastest way to go about things so that she will be able to eventually get a work permit, health care etc. We have looked, and although she has a degree, it doesn't qualify for the skilled workers application. I know that a lot of people are hoping for the same information, but the Government websites can be a bit daunting. I am hoping to soak up as much info as people are willing to give.

Thank you so much!

If she doesn't qualify under the skilled worker program, then likely the fastest route is for the two of you to live together for a year in Canada continuously to become common law and for you to then sponsor her for permanent residency status. This will still leave her living in Canada for around a year and a half without a work permit or health care (she will need to purchase private insurance to cover emergencies).

The alternative would be for her to fine an employer willing to go through the LMIA process in Canada so that she can get a closed work permit.

If her employer in the US happens to have operations in Canada and she is a senior executive or has very specialized skills, there may be other options.

 

[ZMoodie]

Does her employer have any offices in Canada or clients/customers in Canada?

Unfortunately, no.

 

[ZMoodie]

If she doesn't qualify under the skilled worker program, then likely the fastest route is for the two of you to live together for a year in Canada continuously to become common law and for you to then sponsor her for permanent residency status. This will still leave her living in Canada for around a year and a half without a work permit or health care (she will need to purchase private insurance to cover emergencies).

The alternative would be for her to fine an employer willing to go through the LMIA process in Canada so that she can get a closed work permit.

If her employer in the US happens to have operations in Canada and she is a senior executive or has very specialized skills, there may be other options.

Can you not apply for healthcare or a work permit while your application is being processed? I thought I read that somewhere. Unfortunately her employer doesn't operate in Canada.

 

[scylla]

Can you not apply for healthcare or a work permit while your application is being processed? I thought I read that somewhere. Unfortunately her employer doesn't operate in Canada.

You can apply for a work permit but only once you have submitted the spousal sponsorship application.

Assuming you plan to apply as a common law couple, you will need to live together for one year continuously before you'll be able to submit the sponsorship application. You'll include an open work permit with that application. So by the time you factor in the year you have to live together to become common law, plus another six months (more or less) before the work permit is processed, you're looking at her being in Canada for around a year and a half before she will be entitled to a work permit.

If, on the other hand, you manage to get your divorce finalized soon and are able to marry, then you can submit the spousal sponsorship application (along with the open work permit) as soon as you are married. Make sure not to get married until you are fully and legally divorced. In that case you'd likely be looking at somewhere in the range of 6-8 months of waiting for the work permit after she arrives in Canada, you get married, and you submit the application package.