Canadian BF, Pregnant American GF - Visa Question?

[changeahead]

Hi, I am American and my BF is Canadian. I wasn't sure where to go to ask this question but I figured someone here might have some insight on what my options are. I have looked up visa information but I cannot find anything suitable for my situation.

I am currently 8 weeks pregnant with my Canadian BF's baby. He lives in Canada, I still live in America and have a child already so whatever visa we got would have a dependant. We are tight on money but obviously visa's cost money.

My boyfriend is on financial assistance in Canada, and works for his family at a shop downtown. I am currently unemployed in America. I am unsure if either of our families could sponsor the other if it came down to it, that is a possibility.

My question is, what would be the easiest route to be together? He wants to be around for the birth and upbringing of our child and we would like to be together.

I'm not sure if moving there would be easiest or him moving here and we aren't sure which visa would be suitable for our needs or how to go about it/length of time it takes, prices etc.

Any help would be great. Thank you ahead of time and I am sorry if I posted this in the wrong section. If so, maybe someone knows a website I could post it to?

Thank you again.

 

[scylla]

We can assist you with your questions about moving to Canada.

For questions about moving to the US, you should join this US immigration forum:

http://forums.immigration.com/forum.php

If you decide to live in Canada, then the best route would be for your boyfriend to sponsor you through family class. In order to do this, you must either be married or common law (common law means you have lived together for at least one full year). You also mentioned that your boyfriend is currently on financial assistance. I'm assuming you mean welfare / social assistance. If so, then unfortunately this disqualifies him from sponsoring you. He will have to get off social assistance and remain off social assistance if he wishes to sponsor you. You can find more discussions about this sponsorship process here:

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/spousal-sponsorship-t46995.0.html

Hope this helps.

 

[changeahead]

Is it possible to have a co-sponsor as well? I know in the US you can be a sponsor but have a family member co-sponsor if funds aren't enough on your own. and if that was the case of having a co-sponsor, could he still be on financial assistance himself?

 

[scylla]

Is it possible to have a co-sponsor as well? I know in the US you can be a sponsor but have a family member co-sponsor if funds aren't enough on your own. and if that was the case of having a co-sponsor, could he still be on financial assistance himself?

No - it's not possible to have a co-sponsor in Canada for spousal sponsorship application. (The rules for Canada are quite different than those in the US.)

He cannot be financial assistance if he wants to sponsor you. There is no way around this.

 

[scylla]

Just to add... Any chance he's on disability assistance rather than straight social assistance / welfare?

 

[changeahead]

No. He works for a family owned shop downtown but its part time so he receives financial assistance until it picks up during the summer season.

 

[scylla]

OK.

Then what I said before stands firm. He cannot be on social assistance if he wants to sponsor you. Unlike the US, there is no minimum income he must be making. However he cannot be on social assistance.

You should check with him to make sure he is really on social assistance / welfare and not EI (employment insurance). EI is OK (i.e. he can still sponsor). Social assistance / welfare is not.

 

[changeahead]

I just asked and hes on financial aid. so thats not EI, thats welfare?

 

[scylla]

I just asked and hes on financial aid. so thats not EI, thats welfare?

I can't tell you that unfortunately. He'll need to find out what kind of financial aid he's on. He's either on EI or he's on social assistance / welfare.

 

[changeahead]

thank you for your help.