Confused and overwhelmed.

[newmom]

Hi
I am a new mother to a beautiful baby girl born here in Canada, this past March. I'm a US citizen here on a student visa. My long-term partner ( Canadian citizen) and I live near Vancouver, B.C. I have known him and his family for close to 20 years, (his sister was my friend at school.)

It is my expressed wish to become a PR first then apply for citizenship when I am
qualified and able. My concern is that my partner is now having to file for bancruptcy due to the economy and poor choices from his previous marriage (now dissolved) which have left us financially overwhelemd. We have been working hard over the last 18 months to try and get out from this, but sadly bancruptcy seems to be the only way out.

We had been hoping to start the paperwork for sponsorship and my residency this coming year, but now this will not happen. I am quite concerned that my student visa will run out beofre we are able to have this cleared up. Am I going to be deported? That is my greatest fear, since my daughter is only a baby. My visa runs out in early 2011. I have skills that Canada could use, I am a Database Manager. Any help would be great.

 

[Karlshammar]

He won't be able to sponsor you in the middle of bankruptcy, but he will be able to once the bankruptcy is discharged. For your professional qualifications, check out the skilled worker program and the provincial nominee program.

If you are not qualified under another category, you can always apply under the humanitarian and compassionate category. Considering that you would be eligible except for the bankruptcy, and that you have a child together, you may have a good shot. Though I have to admit I'm not expert on the H&C category.

 

[Leon]

Since you are on a long term student visa, I can only assume you are doing some long term studies. You should qualify to apply for a post-grad work permit after your studies are done, see http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/work-postgrad.asp

This would allow you to get a job and work and with 2+ years of studies and 1 year of skilled work, you would qualify to apply for your PR under the Canadian Experience class, see http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/cec/index.asp

If that doesn't work for you, BC has a provincial nominee program where an employer could sponsor you for PR, see http://www.aved.gov.bc.ca/provincialnominee/welcome.htm

There is always a way