Moving/Living/Working in Canada from US (with my boyfriend)

[a_cluv]

I am an 18 year old US citizen looking to eventually move in with my boyfriend (he is 20) in Canada and spend my life there. I have no clue what the best possible way to achieve this would be or who to reach out to for advice. I want to make it happen as soon as possible although I understand it is a long process. I would be okay with visiting for 6/12 months while figuring out another way to get residency. The issue with that is that I need to be working and getting income while I am staying in Canada. I have done a bit of research but it is an overwhelming amount of information and I just need help sorting through my options. From what I gather, after living with your significant other for one year you become common-law partners, correct? Would there be any way I could live with him for 12 months (even if it isnt consistently), and then after that could he sponsor me for PR? Do I need to get temporary residency before that could be a possibility? I've read that it is difficult to get TRP because you need a valid reasoning and I don't think my reasoning for coming to Canada would qualify. Can I apply for an open work permit with TRP if I were somehow able to obtain it? I would also be open to getting a study permit and living with him temporarily through that while working on obtaining some other form of permanent residency. Is there any way I would be able to work with a study permit in Canada? I had some troubles with my high school, my parents moved me around constantly and I went into foster care in 2018, I do not have a good transcript, and I am finishing my high school credits currently through a program. So, I don't know if I would be able to be accepted into a community college there after I get my diploma because of my bad grades. I also wanted to see if it would be possible to just switch to a program like the one I am currently doing, in Canada, and get a study permit for that while living with my boyfriend. After that I would probably be attending community college first because of my high school grades and then university. I just want to see what my options are, and what the quickest way I could get there would be (even if it is just on "visitation", I just have to be able to work through whichever option I choose.) My boyfriend works full-time currently and lives with his family still. His family is very supportive of me and want to do what they can to help. If anyone could help me or even guide me to another source it would be extremely appreciated. I have very little help here and have very little insight on the best possible way for me to move to Canada to end the distance and start my new life.

I am looking to study/work/live in Canada, eventually permanently.
I am 18, boyfriend is 20.
The province I am interested in is Ontario.
I only have 2 years of work experience as a cashier.
I have no family ties to anyone in Canada at all.
I have no criminal record.
I am in good health.
I have visited the place I want to live on a US passport for 21 days in 2019.

 

[Jets13]

I am an 18 year old US citizen looking to eventually move in with my boyfriend (he is 20) in Canada and spend my life there. I have no clue what the best possible way to achieve this would be or who to reach out to for advice. I want to make it happen as soon as possible although I understand it is a long process. I would be okay with visiting for 6/12 months while figuring out another way to get residency. The issue with that is that I need to be working and getting income while I am staying in Canada. I have done a bit of research but it is an overwhelming amount of information and I just need help sorting through my options. From what I gather, after living with your significant other for one year you become common-law partners, correct? Would there be any way I could live with him for 12 months (even if it isnt consistently), and then after that could he sponsor me for PR? Do I need to get temporary residency before that could be a possibility? I've read that it is difficult to get TRP because you need a valid reasoning and I don't think my reasoning for coming to Canada would qualify. Can I apply for an open work permit with TRP if I were somehow able to obtain it? I would also be open to getting a study permit and living with him temporarily through that while working on obtaining some other form of permanent residency. Is there any way I would be able to work with a study permit in Canada? I had some troubles with my high school, my parents moved me around constantly and I went into foster care in 2018, I do not have a good transcript, and I am finishing my high school credits currently through a program. So, I don't know if I would be able to be accepted into a community college there after I get my diploma because of my bad grades. I also wanted to see if it would be possible to just switch to a program like the one I am currently doing, in Canada, and get a study permit for that while living with my boyfriend. After that I would probably be attending community college first because of my high school grades and then university. I just want to see what my options are, and what the quickest way I could get there would be (even if it is just on "visitation", I just have to be able to work through whichever option I choose.) My boyfriend works full-time currently and lives with his family still. His family is very supportive of me and want to do what they can to help. If anyone could help me or even guide me to another source it would be extremely appreciated. I have very little help here and have very little insight on the best possible way for me to move to Canada to end the distance and start my new life.

I am looking to study/work/live in Canada, eventually permanently.
I am 18, boyfriend is 20.
The province I am interested in is Ontario.
I only have 2 years of work experience as a cashier.
I have no family ties to anyone in Canada at all.
I have no criminal record.
I am in good health.
I have visited the place I want to live on a US passport for 21 days in 2019.

Unfortunately you are not allowed to just move to Canada and live here. You are correct that you can come as a visitor (as a US citizen you do not need a visa you can just show up) and then extend your stay to 12 months after which you would be common law and he could sponsor you. Catch with that is that during the 12 months as a visitor you cannot work nor would you have access to health care. You also cannot take major breaks in that 12 months, the 12 months would have to be continuous. A week here or there is probably fine but you would otherwise have to be living together. After the 12 months he could sponsor you for pr and then you can get a work permit, probably takes another 3 months to come in, so at least 15 months without legal work. Also your boyfriend would sign that in case anything happens to your work or relationship he is willing to take care of you for 3 years.

If you get a study visa I believe you would still qualify as an international student, and international students pay considerably more for school than local residents. So if you can afford it that could be a possibility, I would search the student section of this forum.

He could come live with you for a year and then you could get common law that way, in that case you could work and but he might not be able to.
You could also get married and he could sponsor you that way right away. But at your age not sure you want that. (probably your quickest solution if serious)
Not to familiar with other options so hopefully others have a better solution.

 

[scylla]

I am an 18 year old US citizen looking to eventually move in with my boyfriend (he is 20) in Canada and spend my life there. I have no clue what the best possible way to achieve this would be or who to reach out to for advice. I want to make it happen as soon as possible although I understand it is a long process. I would be okay with visiting for 6/12 months while figuring out another way to get residency. The issue with that is that I need to be working and getting income while I am staying in Canada. I have done a bit of research but it is an overwhelming amount of information and I just need help sorting through my options. From what I gather, after living with your significant other for one year you become common-law partners, correct? Would there be any way I could live with him for 12 months (even if it isnt consistently), and then after that could he sponsor me for PR? Do I need to get temporary residency before that could be a possibility? I've read that it is difficult to get TRP because you need a valid reasoning and I don't think my reasoning for coming to Canada would qualify. Can I apply for an open work permit with TRP if I were somehow able to obtain it? I would also be open to getting a study permit and living with him temporarily through that while working on obtaining some other form of permanent residency. Is there any way I would be able to work with a study permit in Canada? I had some troubles with my high school, my parents moved me around constantly and I went into foster care in 2018, I do not have a good transcript, and I am finishing my high school credits currently through a program. So, I don't know if I would be able to be accepted into a community college there after I get my diploma because of my bad grades. I also wanted to see if it would be possible to just switch to a program like the one I am currently doing, in Canada, and get a study permit for that while living with my boyfriend. After that I would probably be attending community college first because of my high school grades and then university. I just want to see what my options are, and what the quickest way I could get there would be (even if it is just on "visitation", I just have to be able to work through whichever option I choose.) My boyfriend works full-time currently and lives with his family still. His family is very supportive of me and want to do what they can to help. If anyone could help me or even guide me to another source it would be extremely appreciated. I have very little help here and have very little insight on the best possible way for me to move to Canada to end the distance and start my new life.

I am looking to study/work/live in Canada, eventually permanently.
I am 18, boyfriend is 20.
The province I am interested in is Ontario.
I only have 2 years of work experience as a cashier.
I have no family ties to anyone in Canada at all.
I have no criminal record.
I am in good health.
I have visited the place I want to live on a US passport for 21 days in 2019.

Your options for moving to Canada in the immediate / short-term are extremely limited. They are:

1) Student Visa - This will require you to have an available bank balance of at least $25,000. You'll need to show you have at least this amount to get the visa approved.
2) Marriage & Spousal Sponsorship - You and your boyfriend get married and he sponsors you for permanent residency as his spouse.

 

[scylla]

I am an 18 year old US citizen looking to eventually move in with my boyfriend (he is 20) in Canada and spend my life there. I have no clue what the best possible way to achieve this would be or who to reach out to for advice. I want to make it happen as soon as possible although I understand it is a long process. I would be okay with visiting for 6/12 months while figuring out another way to get residency. The issue with that is that I need to be working and getting income while I am staying in Canada. I have done a bit of research but it is an overwhelming amount of information and I just need help sorting through my options. From what I gather, after living with your significant other for one year you become common-law partners, correct? Would there be any way I could live with him for 12 months (even if it isnt consistently), and then after that could he sponsor me for PR? Do I need to get temporary residency before that could be a possibility? I've read that it is difficult to get TRP because you need a valid reasoning and I don't think my reasoning for coming to Canada would qualify. Can I apply for an open work permit with TRP if I were somehow able to obtain it? I would also be open to getting a study permit and living with him temporarily through that while working on obtaining some other form of permanent residency. Is there any way I would be able to work with a study permit in Canada? I had some troubles with my high school, my parents moved me around constantly and I went into foster care in 2018, I do not have a good transcript, and I am finishing my high school credits currently through a program. So, I don't know if I would be able to be accepted into a community college there after I get my diploma because of my bad grades. I also wanted to see if it would be possible to just switch to a program like the one I am currently doing, in Canada, and get a study permit for that while living with my boyfriend. After that I would probably be attending community college first because of my high school grades and then university. I just want to see what my options are, and what the quickest way I could get there would be (even if it is just on "visitation", I just have to be able to work through whichever option I choose.) My boyfriend works full-time currently and lives with his family still. His family is very supportive of me and want to do what they can to help. If anyone could help me or even guide me to another source it would be extremely appreciated. I have very little help here and have very little insight on the best possible way for me to move to Canada to end the distance and start my new life.

I am looking to study/work/live in Canada, eventually permanently.
I am 18, boyfriend is 20.
The province I am interested in is Ontario.
I only have 2 years of work experience as a cashier.
I have no family ties to anyone in Canada at all.
I have no criminal record.
I am in good health.
I have visited the place I want to live on a US passport for 21 days in 2019.

Note that you do not qualify for a TRP. A TRP is a special type of visa for individuals who are inadmissible to Canada - typically due to a crime.

You could certainly come to Canada as a visitor with the plan to live here for a year to become common law. However working during that year will not be possible.