Moving Girlfriend to Canada - Correct Visa & Process

[Ultraev]

Hello!

My long distance girlfriend and I have decided to take the next step in our relationship and move in with one another this year. We are looking for the correct information, process, and advice to help make our transition as easy as possible. I have found so much conflicting and circumstantial information that I have decided to start my own thread.

My girlfriend and I had first met 2 years ago while we were both vacationing in Mexico. Myself, a permanent Canadian resident and her of Mexico. In the past 18 months we have made every effort to see each other when work permits and financially able. We have gone on 2 vacations and had 5 other visits ranging from one week to one month together, with everyday contact and plenty of pictures, messages, and travel documents to support this.

Our goal is for her to be able to move to Vancouver with me and begin seeking a new career, but we are unsure what visas we should apply for, or the correct course of action to help facilitate our goals.

Through my reading, I understand we are not eligible for sponsorship until living together for 1 year and becoming common law. She currently does office administrative work with a family business, but recently obtained a 5 year bachelors degree in fashion design. She is open to a career in either field, however I do not believe either of these job types would qualify for quick entry?

I am prepared to sponsor and be liable for her, but if she cannot work for 1 year I am unsure we can support ourselves on only one income. Nor do I think that situation is healthy for a relationship in a transition period as this.

Another option I have read is that she can come on her 6 month visitor visa, and extend her visit another 6 months to become common law. In the mean time, she can seek employment but must obtain an offer until she can apply for a work permit?

Hoping to be guiding in the right direction, any feedback is greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

E

 

[Rob_TO]

Another option I have read is that she can come on her 6 month visitor visa, and extend her visit another 6 months to become common law. In the mean time, she can seek employment but must obtain an offer until she can apply for a work permit?

You can't sponsor her for anything, as you're not married or common-law.

She can apply herself for eTA and then come independently as a visitor here. Most likely she will get 6 months status upon entry, as long as she looks/acts like a "visitor" and not someone wanting to stay here permanent. So she should have at least a return ticket back to Mexico in hand dated for less than 6 months later.

Once in Canada, she can apply to extend her visitor status as needed. Many people do this to become common-law.

In order to work in Canada there are basically only 2 ways:
1. Get an employer to go through LMIA process to get a closed work permit. This involves the company paying a fee ($1000), advertising the job to prove no Canadian could be hired for the role, and getting the LMIA approved from government. This involves lots of time/effort from the company so is usually very hard to get work permit this way unless you are highly skilled.
2. See if the job qualifies under NAFTA, in which case only a job offer is required. However I'm pretty sure her education does not qualify her (see section 3.8 here for list of allowed professions: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/tools/temp/work/international/nafta.asp )

I'm not sure if there's a working holiday/IEC visa available to Mexico citizens to get an OWP for 1 year.

If she is just in Canada as a visitor, then you would need to prepare for her to not work at all during the time qualifying for common-law and then another 4-5 months waiting for OWP from an inland PR app. So at least 16-17 months in total without working.

 

[chiefeile]

Hello!

My long distance girlfriend and I have decided to take the next step in our relationship and move in with one another this year. We are looking for the correct information, process, and advice to help make our transition as easy as possible. I have found so much conflicting and circumstantial information that I have decided to start my own thread.

My girlfriend and I had first met 2 years ago while we were both vacationing in Mexico. Myself, a permanent Canadian resident and her of Mexico. In the past 18 months we have made every effort to see each other when work permits and financially able. We have gone on 2 vacations and had 5 other visits ranging from one week to one month together, with everyday contact and plenty of pictures, messages, and travel documents to support this.

Our goal is for her to be able to move to Vancouver with me and begin seeking a new career, but we are unsure what visas we should apply for, or the correct course of action to help facilitate our goals.

Through my reading, I understand we are not eligible for sponsorship until living together for 1 year and becoming common law. She currently does office administrative work with a family business, but recently obtained a 5 year bachelors degree in fashion design. She is open to a career in either field, however I do not believe either of these job types would qualify for quick entry?

I am prepared to sponsor and be liable for her, but if she cannot work for 1 year I am unsure we can support ourselves on only one income. Nor do I think that situation is healthy for a relationship in a transition period as this.

Another option I have read is that she can come on her 6 month visitor visa, and extend her visit another 6 months to become common law. In the mean time, she can seek employment but must obtain an offer until she can apply for a work permit?

Hoping to be guiding in the right direction, any feedback is greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

E

Hi
I know this has been a while ago but I’m in the same situation. It’s funny my gf is from Mexico and is also a fashion designer.
Anyway I was wondering how it worked out for you??