Can I get my girlfriend here as a student?

[recalescence]

Hey everyone, thanks for taking time out your day to help me out.

I'm currently in Canada as a visitor, just applied for my study permit and I'm 100% certain I'll get it. I wanted my girlfriend of 5 years to join me here, unfortunately she was turned down a visitor's visa (even though her parents have, which is probably irrelevant anyway).

I would love to get her here when I do get my study permit as I understand she'll be eligible for a work permit and she'll also like to go to school here.

We'll be staying at my sister's house (who is a Canadian citizen). Is the best option for me to return home before I start school and marry her and let her reapply for a visitor's visa? Or is there a better option to get her here?

Thanks in advance for any advice, have a great day!

 

[scylla]

Sure - you can certainly go home and marry her - and then she can try applying for an open work permit based on your study permit. As with the TRV, there is no guarantee this open work permit will be approved. If she was refused for the TRV then she will likely face similar problems with the open work permit. Having said that, you can certainly try.

If she gets the open work permit - it will only authorize her to work (not go to school).

 

[recalescence]

Thank you for your quick response!

So you think the best bet is to marry her, and have her apply for an open work permit and hope for the best? I would hope that marriage and me already having my study permit would make her a shoe-in for an open work permit and TRV.

Canadian immigration laws are very strict so any advice is much appreciated.