Please help...Im so confused

[DarkDragons91]

I been staying in canada for almost 8 months now as a visitor with my boyfriend in Canada. We plan on getting married later in life as it is too soon for us to settle down and get married. I been in a relationship with him for almost 8 years but it would be hard to prove it as it was all computer based until last year. I just got an extended stay for another 6 months a week or so ago and would love to be able to live and stay here with my boyfriend and work. But as a visitor I can not do that.

His mother advised me to go to school but I am worried because I already owe a school back in America where I was born a lot of money. I am out of the 6 month window that I can go back to school before I had to make payments on it. I couldn't get a job right out of school so I came to stay with my boyfriend instead in hopes to use my degree here only to find out that my degree is not really accepted in canada. So I was wondering that if I did sign up for school, will me owing a school in America not allow me to enter a school here??

I am really alone on this one as no one has immigrated in my family before or in his? Can someone please help me?

 

[amikety]

In order to return to school you will most likely need a study permit. Anything over six months study. You will need to show you have funds to pay for it. Some Canadian unis are Title 9 accredited (US federal aid) but I don't know if you'd qualify since you defaulted previously.

After one year living together your boyfriend can sponsor you as common law partners. Then you can get your resident status and work or study like a Canadian.

As far as proof goes, chat logs count as proof too. I'm sure you have more than you realize

I'm also American and I'll help you the best I can.

 

[Leon]

I been staying in canada for almost 8 months now as a visitor with my boyfriend in Canada. We plan on getting married later in life as it is too soon for us to settle down and get married. I been in a relationship with him for almost 8 years but it would be hard to prove it as it was all computer based until last year. I just got an extended stay for another 6 months a week or so ago and would love to be able to live and stay here with my boyfriend and work. But as a visitor I can not do that.

His mother advised me to go to school but I am worried because I already owe a school back in America where I was born a lot of money. I am out of the 6 month window that I can go back to school before I had to make payments on it. I couldn't get a job right out of school so I came to stay with my boyfriend instead in hopes to use my degree here only to find out that my degree is not really accepted in canada. So I was wondering that if I did sign up for school, will me owing a school in America not allow me to enter a school here??

I am really alone on this one as no one has immigrated in my family before or in his? Can someone please help me?

As long as your boyfriend is Canadian or a PR, he can sponsor you as a common law partner once you reach the mark of 12 months of living together as a couple.

If you want to enroll in a course before that, you will have to pay international student fees that are higher and you will need a study permit. As a visitor, you are allowed to take short courses, up to 6 months in length that do not give college credits. You could also volunteer at a food bank, animal shelter, hospital or where you want. Having done something like that will look good on your CV because you will not have been sitting at home for the whole time.

Bad credit does not follow you around between countries so the school in Canada will not know that you owe a school in the US unless you tell them.

 

[DarkDragons91]

Thank you both for responding to me. It makes me feel much better that someone out there is willing to help me out. You guys are amazing. . I wanted to volunteer my services to anyone around me as I don't have the money to bus places like hospitals and such. But they said I will need to get a police background check before I can start volunteering. In my many months of being here I really haven't even seen a police car so I can not ask a policeman on how to go about it. Do either of you know how to get a police background check in canada??

I am glad those loans will not follow me around and let me go to school. Sadly I don't have any money to really pay for it so its a good thing to think about if I am able to do anything. My boyfriend only works in the summer because he is majoring in two courses so he don't make much money. Will he still be able to sponsor me even if he does not make a lot of money?? We still live with his mother who works every day but makes only around 20-40,000 a year. Will she be able to co-sponsor me as it is her home that we live in and she buys the food and pays the bills???

 

[amikety]

Thank you both for responding to me. It makes me feel much better that someone out there is willing to help me out. You guys are amazing. . I wanted to volunteer my services to anyone around me as I don't have the money to bus places like hospitals and such. But they said I will need to get a police background check before I can start volunteering. In my many months of being here I really haven't even seen a police car so I can not ask a policeman on how to go about it. Do either of you know how to get a police background check in canada??

I am glad those loans will not follow me around and let me go to school. Sadly I don't have any money to really pay for it so its a good thing to think about if I am able to do anything. My boyfriend only works in the summer because he is majoring in two courses so he don't make much money. Will he still be able to sponsor me even if he does not make a lot of money?? We still live with his mother who works every day but makes only around 20-40,000 a year. Will she be able to co-sponsor me as it is her home that we live in and she buys the food and pays the bills???

Mom can't co-sponsor you - but you don't need her to. She can write a letter stating she lets you live at her house and gives you support (food). Your boyfriend can submit the income he does have. You can also write a letter about the types of jobs you can work when you're a PR too. There have been people approved to sponsor their spouse/partner with no jobs (students) with letters from their parents. You will do just fine as long as you include letters.

I've never done a Canadian police check either, but I googled it and found this. Hopefully it's right. If not, I'm sure Leon will know what you need to do

http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cr-cj/fing-empr2-eng.htm

 

[DarkDragons91]

Thanks for the link amikety, I will have to find a police station somewhere around here. This really helped a lot. Thank you. It also says that I have to specify what I am volunteering for so I guess I need to go walking around and find someplace to volunteer at so I can specify what I am doing. The problem with what specific jobs I can do is I never had a job for personal reasons so now that I am older it is tough to get a job when I don't have any experience. So it is going to be really hard to write a letter about the jobs I can work in. I got a degree in america for medical assisting but I found out that it may not work here under the fact that Canada is social and has a whole different health care program. >.<

 

[amikety]

I would be careful with volunteer work. Make sure it's with a reputable charity or organization - someone that normally has volunteers. Especially if its close to your line of work. People have "volunteered" for a company while really working for cash so CIC can be suspicious.

Try animal shelters (if you like animals), nursing homes, or schools.

 

[SenoritaBella]

Very good points by amikety. In addition make sure it really is volunteer work i.e. something that is not normally paid. Did you look at other areas you can transfer skills? Some hospitals have positions for nursing aides, personal care workers, medical transcriptionists, etc. Some physicians with a private practice hire receptionists and someone with your background could do well in the position.

I think volunteering in a hospital would be a good start. You get your foot in the door, meet new people, network(very important) and you should find paid work even without prior work experience.

 

[DarkDragons91]

hello Senorita

I found this place that seems to be really close to where I live. I need to make sure that it is close to where I live because I can not afford to bus around everywhere. There isn't a animal shelter or hospital really close to where I live but this food bank is. Its called britanniawoods.

Have either of you heard of it? I plan on monday going to go check it out and see if there is anyone that I can talk to about volunteering there. There is also some elementary schools and a middle school nearby also. I think I might be able to volunteer what I learned in the medical office in the schools if they have one. But, I really don't know until I talk to someone.

 

[SenoritaBella]

I haven't heard of it but think it's awesome that you can go in person. This way you get a good feel for it and see what goes on. Best wishes in all you do.

 

[DarkDragons91]

You too Seorita Bella.

 

[DarkDragons91]

I was wondering about work permits? Do I have to wait till I get a common- law relationship or can I try to apply now?

 

[amikety]

I was wondering about work permits? Do I have to wait till I get a common- law relationship or can I try to apply now?

What basis are you applying for a work permit?

 

[DarkDragons91]

Just to work anywhere, maybe as a cashier or something

 

[amikety]

You'll need to find an employer with authorization to hire a foreign worker or one willing to get that authorization. (A LMO.) There's no option to just apply for a work permit. You have to meet criteria - a job offer is one. Not even being married to a Canadian changes that. Trust me. I know

If you have a bachelors degree or better, you might have better options.