Plain Jane Wanting To Immigrate

[kholeyfield]

Hello,

I have been looking into the immigration process for about 5 years, but have had a difficult time getting a straight forward, step by step process on what needs to be done or at least multiple, practical routes to take.

My boyfriend and I have been together for about 6 years now, and we began looking into immigration not long after, but I was in school and wanted to graduate first and I would fly in on winter and summer vacation to visit, but I graduated a year and a half ago and immediately began working to save to immigrate.

However, I am finding it difficult to find a suitable immigration program, as I am not a 'skilled' worker, seeking asylum, going to college - if you're not Canadian already it is astronomical insofar as tuition goes, and we aren't married - we had wanted to be able to live together and get situated before getting married.

I feel like I'm trying to be too practical in saving money, as it's taking some time to do so while obviously still paying rent/bills, etc.

I was directed to check for Canadian jobs and hope someone is willing to issue me a job offer. That being said, what are the chances of that actually happening and them being willing to wait till I can fly up there? I don't have my life on pause to drop it and run up there at a moments notice, because I can't afford to put everything on hold on the hope someone will want to do the paperwork and hire me. I'm constantly working to save money to come there.

My boyfriend and I have already had to make some stark sacrifices due to the distance, but now it's turning into a matter of time. We love each other a great deal, but if the truth of this immigration matter is that we won't be able to be together without being destitute or without actually being together for 10 more years, then I need to know so we can figure out our next practical steps.

Does anyone have any advice or some more solid direction other than apply around and hope? Are there things I need in place for if/when I get a job offer?

Thanks for your time an any help that can be given.

 

[scylla]

Hello,

I have been looking into the immigration process for about 5 years, but have had a difficult time getting a straight forward, step by step process on what needs to be done or at least multiple, practical routes to take.

My boyfriend and I have been together for about 6 years now, and we began looking into immigration not long after, but I was in school and wanted to graduate first and I would fly in on winter and summer vacation to visit, but I graduated a year and a half ago and immediately began working to save to immigrate.

However, I am finding it difficult to find a suitable immigration program, as I am not a 'skilled' worker, seeking asylum, going to college - if you're not Canadian already it is astronomical insofar as tuition goes, and we aren't married - we had wanted to be able to live together and get situated before getting married.

I feel like I'm trying to be too practical in saving money, as it's taking some time to do so while obviously still paying rent/bills, etc.

I was directed to check for Canadian jobs and hope someone is willing to issue me a job offer. That being said, what are the chances of that actually happening and them being willing to wait till I can fly up there? I don't have my life on pause to drop it and run up there at a moments notice, because I can't afford to put everything on hold on the hope someone will want to do the paperwork and hire me. I'm constantly working to save money to come there.

My boyfriend and I have already had to make some stark sacrifices due to the distance, but now it's turning into a matter of time. We love each other a great deal, but if the truth of this immigration matter is that we won't be able to be together without being destitute or without actually being together for 10 more years, then I need to know so we can figure out our next practical steps.

Does anyone have any advice or some more solid direction other than apply around and hope? Are there things I need in place for if/when I get a job offer?

Thanks for your time an any help that can be given.

I assume your boyfriend is Canadian. If so, get married and he can sponsor you for PR immediately through the family class stream.

To answer your questions about the job offer, your chances of finding one are effectively nil. It's next to impossible to find employers willing to go through this process for a foreign worker.

 

[russ6970]

I would say finding a job, as you say you are unskilled will be practically impossible. An employer has to go through a process called LMIA. This costs them money and they have to advertise the job for 4-6 months to make sure no Canadian can do (or want) the job. Is your boyfirend Canadian?

 

[canuck78]

Where are you from? Assume you are under 30. Do you qualify for. IEC?

 

[vensak]

So saving is always a good idea.

Apart of that you did not reveal much information.
We can assume that because you have graduated less than 2 years ago from a high school; you are less then 30 years old.
You did visit Canada at least 2x in the past.
You do not perceive yourself as a skilled worker - however the basic definition is very lenient (you need to speak 1 of the languages - and it seem that you do speak English well; you need to have at least high school diploma - which you have; and you need to have at least 1 year of skilled work experience - your making savings part hints that you most likely work, but difficult to say what is your specialization). So you might actually be a skilled worker now
You have boyfriend - good for you. But no idea where he is now, if you had this long distance relationship all the time or not.

Girl from that you will not get many targeted advices, but you can get lot of different advices (depending what everything people assumed). But most of them might not apply to your case.

So to start with it would help to know (for both of you):
1. Age
2. Education level
3. work experience
4. NOC (your work specialization)
5. languages (like English or French)
6. Your current connections to Canada (family, study, work experience).

With that you will get more aimed advices.

Good luck

 

[kholeyfield]

Sorry about the lack of personal information, I hadn't really thought to go into it. Thanks!

1. I'm 34.
He's 29.
2. College (Associates, working on Bachelors) - had a bit of a late start there.
He has some college.
3. 3-4 years of decent work experience in the administrative/office assistant area.
He's a Veteran and currently in the Commissionaires.
5. English, some French, but I've been working on refreshing my French studies specifically for my move.
He only speaks English.
6. The only connection I have to Canada is him, and it's been long distance from the start.
He's a native born Canadian.
7. And I'm from the US

 

[vensak]

Sorry about the lack of personal information, I hadn't really thought to go into it. Thanks!

1. I'm 34.
He's 29.
2. College (Associates, working on Bachelors) - had a bit of a late start there.
He has some college.
3. 3-4 years of decent work experience in the administrative/office assistant area.
He's a Veteran and currently in the Commissionaires.
5. English, some French, but I've been working on refreshing my French studies specifically for my move.
He only speaks English.
6. The only connection I have to Canada is him, and it's been long distance from the start.
He's a native born Canadian.
7. And I'm from the US

Then the answer is really simple:
A. If you managed to live together (under one address) for at least 12 consecutive months somewhere (USA / Canada or other place), then he can start the sponsorship process and state you as a common law. And that living together would be ok even if you were changing address - important is to change them together.
B. If the first is not true all you need to marry him and then again he can sponsor you to Canada.

Problem solved.
Any other way is a bit more complicated. And unlike what you think you might still have a decent shot in Express entry (all would depend on more details and points you can get especially for French).

 

[scylla]

Then the answer is really simple:
A. If you managed to live together (under one address) for at least 12 consecutive months somewhere (USA / Canada or other place), then he can start the sponsorship process and state you as a common law. And that living together would be ok even if you were changing address - important is to change them together.
B. If the first is not true all you need to marry him and then again he can sponsor you to Canada.

Problem solved.
Any other way is a bit more complicated. And unlike what you think you might still have a decent shot in Express entry (all would depend on more details and points you can get especially for French).

I agree that either marriage or common law is the way to go so that you can be sponsored by your boyfriend.

Based on your profile, you will not have enough points to be selected through the Express Entry program. It's possible that you might qualify for one of the provincial programs but would have to spend time researching how to apply and also do everything necessary to get your application together (e.g. language tests, evaluate your education, etc.).

 

[bellaluna]

I tend to agree that Express Entry per se is out of reach for you—I was applying with a similar profile, and it was brutal even with max IELTS and a bachelor’s ECA...-and unless you are some language genius, it’ll take some time to get your French to the level where you can get points in EE for it. I’m not too optimistic either on a PNP for NOC 1241 in general, but stranger things have happened. Common-law or marriage is more straightforward on the strength of your US passport, but unfortunately you wouldn’t be able to work in Canada for a while.

 

[vensak]

I tend to agree that Express Entry per se is out of reach for you—I was applying with a similar profile, and it was brutal even with max IELTS and a bachelor’s ECA...-and unless you are some language genius, it’ll take some time to get your French to the level where you can get points in EE for it. I’m not too optimistic either on a PNP for NOC 1241 in general, but stranger things have happened. Common-law or marriage is more straightforward on the strength of your US passport, but unfortunately you wouldn’t be able to work in Canada for a while.

She can even pull that out.
All she needs is to visit Canada and while visiting start the inland spousal application. After like 3-4 months she can get spousal open work permit. Then she can stay and work until sponsorship is approved.

Of course when doing that visitor part she should not come with all belongings (that is the only down part). She can do real moving of her things once her PR is approved.

 

[kholeyfield]

Thank you guys so much! Why is there a 3-4 month wait on working? Is there a way to get a work permit in the interim?

This has been immensely helpful.

 

[Jets13]

Thank you guys so much! Why is there a 3-4 month wait on working? Is there a way to get a work permit in the interim?

This has been immensely helpful.

Hes talking about an inland spousal, for that you will have to be married first. I thought I had read you wanted to live together first to see if you are compatible. For that you would have to live together for 12 months as stated and you would not be able to work during that time I don't believe. If you get married then yes there is about 3-4 months processing time wait for permit.

Also note that if you apply inland you likely(shouldn't) leave Canada during the duration of that inland process for any long period of time.

 

[vensak]

Thank you guys so much! Why is there a 3-4 month wait on working? Is there a way to get a work permit in the interim?

This has been immensely helpful.

3-4 month is because that how slow the paperwork in Canada is.

Since it was not clear from your previous posts if you did live together for 12 consecutive months or not, I have explained both options you have (depending on that).
Of course marriage is always an option (as long as your bf is not married already).

The risky part about leaving Canada is, that they might refuse to let you in (once the sponsorship application is there, you have revealed your "cards" and you can no longer pretend to be a temporary visitor). However the chances to get rejected at border gets lower in the later stages of the application.

Inland sponsorship process can take anywhere between 6 and 24 months). Outland sponsorship takes anywhere between 6 - 12 months. (exceptionally there are cases that can take longer but they are rare).
Good luck.

 

[scylla]

Thank you guys so much! Why is there a 3-4 month wait on working? Is there a way to get a work permit in the interim?

This has been immensely helpful.

There is realistically no way to be able to work in the interim. If you go the inland route, you must be prepared to sit around for four months without working.

 

[kholeyfield]

Ahh, okay. I see. The 3-4 month wait makes sense with the paper work processing. Why does outland sponsorship take longer than inland?

And no, haha, he's single. If he is married, he did very well hiding it for several months on end for various visits. Also, yes, the original idea was to move in together and me come up through work sponsorship. Not because we aren't compatible, we've lived together for about a year total (just not consecutively), but because he felt it'd be more proper if we lived together, both had jobs, etc before getting married..