PLEASE HELP. :(

[jshep]

My boyfriend currently resides in the UK, and wants to move to Ontario to live with my best friend and myself. He has no criminal record, 19 years old, has a steady job as a server/host, he has distant family in Canada as well. He would like to work and study here, and immigrate permanently, but we've no idea what to start with, or what to do to get him here. How do we apply? How long will it take to get visas? How long until he can apply as a permanent resident and become a citizen here? He did the online eligibility but it said he was not legible to apply, apparently that has happened to a lot of people though. We are desperate for help and appreciate anything we can get.

 

[scylla]

Canada's immigration programs are listed here:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/apply.asp

Based on the information you have provided, your boyfriend doesn't qualify to apply for PR at this time. He might have some options if he can secure a permanent and full time job offer in Canada. However a server / host job most likely wouldn't be enough - he'd have to secure a job in a skilled or semi-skilled profession.

If you get married (or manage to live together for a full year to become common law), then you can also sponsor him as your spouse.

Otherwise he can look into coming to Canada temporarily. If he can get any full time job offer in Canada and his employer can obtain an approved LMIA (approval to hire a foreign worker), then he can come to Canada on a temporary work permit. He can also look into coming to Canada for a year on a working holiday visa (IEC) which would allow him to live in Canada for a year and work without getting a job offer first. The downside of this option is that there are very few spots available and they are snapped up extremely quickly each year.

Another option (if he has significant funds saved up), would be to come to Canada on a study permit. He would need a bank balance of $25K at a minimum for this to be possible.

 

[scylla]

Just to add - I've made the assumption your boyfriend has a UK passport. If he doesn't, the working holiday visa may not be an option.

 

[jshep]

He went to college for graphic design in the UK, so he has that skill, what kind of job would he need to get?

 

[scylla]

The job would need to be skilled or semi-skilled. So, for example, a job as a graphic designer would certainly work.