My partner and I are both US citizens. She is planning to apply to a few graduate programs in Quebec and Ontario next spring. We've been together about 2.5 years. However, by the start of the fall semester next year, we will only have lived together in the US for about 8-9 months. I know we need to live together for a minimum of 12 consecutive months to be considered common law partners.
I am self-employed as a programmer in the US. I'd like to accompany my girlfriend while she studies in Canada, and if possible, I would like to be able to eventually receive a work permit as her partner. I understand that as a US citizen, I can stay in Canada for up to 6 months as a visitor without working. I could continue to work for US-based clients remotely and support myself during this time. If I accompanied my partner--her on a student visa and me on a temporary visitor visa--and lived with her in Canada for a few months, would I be able to change my visa to a spouse visa and receive a work permit if I could prove that we lived together for 12 consecutive months in the US and Canada combined? Or is there a better way to do this?
I am self-employed as a programmer in the US. I'd like to accompany my girlfriend while she studies in Canada, and if possible, I would like to be able to eventually receive a work permit as her partner. I understand that as a US citizen, I can stay in Canada for up to 6 months as a visitor without working. I could continue to work for US-based clients remotely and support myself during this time. If I accompanied my partner--her on a student visa and me on a temporary visitor visa--and lived with her in Canada for a few months, would I be able to change my visa to a spouse visa and receive a work permit if I could prove that we lived together for 12 consecutive months in the US and Canada combined? Or is there a better way to do this?
