Planning to move to Canada to be with my boyfriend.

[Kaitcha]

So my boyfriend and I have been making plans for me to move to Canada in a little over a year, and I have a few questions about the process.
We just started dating 6 months ago, although we have know each other for a couple of years now. The basic plan is approximately May 2017, I will move there and live with him a year to satisfy the common law requirements, I am a US citizen, so I know I won't need a visa initially to visit but will have to apply for an extension at a later date.
I also know that I won't be allowed to work while I am there, but I am wondering since I am a freelance artist in the US if I would still be allowed to accept private commissions and sell my work on web pages like Etsy and Society6.
Also I currently have 1 dog and 1 cat, what would be the recommend action for bringing them with. Both are up to date on rabies. Would it be easier for me to fly them with me, or have my boyfriend take them back up with him when he drives down to pick up a few of my essential belongings like my drafting table and art supplies.
I have to say I was very nervous about this entire process but after finding this forum and reading a lot of the posts, this whole entire moving to another country thing is far less scary
Hopefully you guys can help me out with my questions.

 

[scylla]

You can continue to freelance while in Canada as long as you don't tell to anyone in Canada (i.e. all of your sales have to be to people from outside of Canada).

It would be better if your boyfriend brings your pets to Canada without you. If you bring them, it make raise concerns you have plans to live in Canada. Ideally you should look like a visitor when you enter Canada and not someone who is trying to move here.

 

[Kaitcha]

Thanks, that's pretty much what I figured but wanted to put feelers out there to the forum.
The very rough plan at the moment is for my boyfriend to drive down and bring up a few essentials like my drafting table and my pets. I am planning on having his name added to their vet records so it will be easier for him to cross with them.
It's going to be pretty nice in some ways to have a year to focus on my art and not have to juggle it with a full time job, lol. It's going to be a long year trying to figure everything out but worth it in the end.

 

[krishnalynn]

Thanks, that's pretty much what I figured but wanted to put feelers out there to the forum.
The very rough plan at the moment is for my boyfriend to drive down and bring up a few essentials like my drafting table and my pets. I am planning on having his name added to their vet records so it will be easier for him to cross with them.
It's going to be pretty nice in some ways to have a year to focus on my art and not have to juggle it with a full time job, lol. It's going to be a long year trying to figure everything out but worth it in the end.

Just FYI, it's probably going to be closer to two years not working. One year to satisfy common law, then another 8-12 months to get your application processed.

 

[Ponga]

Here are a few similar threads:

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/confusion-about-selling-things-online-without-a-working-permit-t105160.0.html

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/-t294936.0.html;msg4322776#msg4322776

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/does-this-count-as-work-t280327.0.html;msg4248541#msg4248541

 

[TracyCa64]

Just FYI, it's probably going to be closer to two years not working. One year to satisfy common law, then another 8-12 months to get your application processed.

Yep!! In April 2016 it will be 2 years here in Canada for me with no job. When I came here in April 2014 I brought both my cats on the plane via Cargo (not inside the plane with me) I was lucky because the border agent looked at my cat's vet records and didn't say anything about me bringing them to visit. I have a friend who travels to France every year with both her cats on the plane, so maybe it is a normal thing, who knows? I am just glad that it wasn't a problem. I guess you just never know what kind of border agent you will get. lol