HELP! How can my US girlfriend move to Canada?

[amungar]

Hey there,
So my girlfriend and I have been together for 3 years via long distance relationship (yes, we do plan on getting married some day). We are both Nexus card holders and we visit each other about once a month for a week or so at a time. I am Canadian (born and raised in Ontario) and she is American. She is 21, I am 19. We have been talking about her moving here for quite awhile but have been waiting for her to graduate from University first. We are hoping for her to move next summer but are unsure of what to apply for and the process. We have done research and read MANY different options but don't know what we qualify for.

In approximately one year we want to be living together here. She would like to come to Canada so we can start our lives together. She hasn't looked into jobs yet but is set on wanting to work here in Canada.

SO my main question is.. what do we apply for and how? Any sort of information helps.. thanks!

 

[scylla]

Easiest option is to get married or live together for a full year continuously to become common law. Then you can sponsor her for PR.

She can also look into the SWAP visa program which may allow her to move to Canada temporarily on a work permit.

If the SWAP program doesn't work, then she needs to get a job offer from an employer in Canada to qualify for a work permit. This tends to be quite difficult to do. If the job she gets falls under NAFTA - then she can apply for a work permit at the border. If not, the employer will also need to obtain an approved LMIA before she can get a work permit. LMIAs are difficult to get and expensive/time consuming for employers. Generally speaking, it's very difficult to find employers willing to go through the process.

Yet another option (but an expensive one) would be to continue her education in Canada. She'll need to have a bank balance of at least $25K for this to be possible (to be approved for the study permit).

 

[amungar]

thanks for the feedback. we looked into the living for a year and become common law. just a little confused on the rules / process. i read about the "visitors" request type of option and one said that they are 6 month intervals? like it expires in 6 months but we just request to make it longer... is that how it works? if so, is it easy for her to get this visitor one accepted and can she work here while on that or no?

 

[scylla]

Yes - once she has been here for close to six months she would apply for an extension. Typically these extensions are approved easily.

No - she cannot work while she is a visitor in Canada (visitors are only allowed to visit - working is illegal). She also cannot attend school and won't qualify for benefits like health care.

 

[Rob_TO]

We have been talking about her moving here for quite awhile but have been waiting for her to graduate from University first.

As mentioned above, best option will be SWAP Working Holiday program for a 1-year open work permit in Canada, as it aimed towards recent graduates.

 

[amungar]

Yes - once she has been here for close to six months she would apply for an extension. Typically these extensions are approved easily.

No - she cannot work while she is a visitor in Canada (visitors are only allowed to visit - working is illegal). She also cannot attend school and won't qualify for benefits like health care.

-- on the visitor one, could she work in the US while living with me here in Canada?

 

[amungar]

As mentioned above, best option will be SWAP Working Holiday program for a 1-year open work permit in Canada, as it aimed towards recent graduates.

with the swap program, is she likely to get in? like is it hard to get accepted? and should we start applying now for this

 

[scylla]

-- on the visitor one, could she work in the US while living with me here in Canada?

If you mean crossing the border each day to work in the US - then no. She will likely be able to do this for a short while - but sooner or later you can expect her to be refused entry into Canada since her behaviour will be that of someone living in Canada rather than just visiting.