Canadian Visa Options - HELP!

[VictorChau]

Hi All,

Can anyone tell me what options are available for someone who wants to come and stay in Canada for a longer period of time (one or two years). The reason why I ask is because my girlfriend, who is from Japan wants to come back to live here with me. We've been together for more then two years now and met while she was here on a student visa. After it expired she had to return to Japan and I would go visit her as often as possible. The two of us are getting a little tired of this now and are trying to establish something a little more permanent.

She's already applied for a holiday work visa in the past before we met so she can't apply for it again. Are there any other options available besides a student visa? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[steaky]

How about a work permit?

 

[VictorChau]

We've looked at that, but in order for her to have a high chance of approval she needs to have a specific skill that we care currently experiencing a shortage/demand for, she would need a sponsorship or already have a job opening available to her before applying. While she might meet the first criteria, we have no been very successful with the other two

We also looked into a temporary residence visa but that only applies to certain countries - Japan not being one of them

 

[steaky]

If you are Canadian citizen or PR, your girlfriend can actually come to Canada as a live-in caregiver (say taking care of your parents or house pet) if she meet the requirements.

Besides, Japan is one of the visa-exempted countries. She won't need a visitor visa to come to Canada!

 

[VictorChau]

Hmmm thanks steaky, I've never thought about the caregiver angle and it's something that I'm going to look into.

While it's true that Japanese citizens do not need to have a visa to visit Canada, they are only allowed to stay for 3 months at a time. I would like her to be here with me for at least a year so that we may apply for common law status.

Thanks for the first point though, sounds that might be worth a shot. Greatly appreciated

 

[PMM]

Hi

Hmmm thanks steaky, I've never thought about the caregiver angle and it's something that I'm going to look into.

While it's true that Japanese citizens do not need to have a visa to visit Canada, they are only allowed to stay for 3 months at a time. I would like her to be here with me for at least a year so that we may apply for common law status.

Thanks for the first point though, sounds that might be worth a shot. Greatly appreciated

I. Japanese are not limited to 3 months, they usually get the normal 6 months that everyone else gets. (unless there is a problem)
2. Before you go galloping off on the Caregiver front, note that is "live-in" position, so that won't help your common-law and she would have to have the qualifications, see: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/caregiver/index.asp

 

[job_seeker]

If she comes for a visit and is given 6 months initially (usually visitors are given 6 months allowed stay, unless as PMM has said, there is a problem), she can then apply to extend her stay for another 6 months or more (but the stay of course is dependent upon whether CPC allows it).

 

[steaky]

Where does it say that a caregiver cannot develop common-law relationship with the employer?

 

[job_seeker]

Where does it say that a caregiver cannot develop common-law relationship with the employer?

Is there a question about the caregiver developing common law relationship? I don't think there is any law against a caregiver developing a common law relationship with his/her employer.