US Citizen moving to Canada options?

[Giovanna024]

Hi there, I was in a similar situation. I'm and American citizen and my boyfriend is Canadian and I moved up here in October 2017 under International Experience Canada (IEC). I'm not sure of the specifics of your situation but that is one program that is fairly quick and easy to get started in Canada. I'm halfway through the process of applying for permanent residency (PR) at the moment.

What Program is that?

 

[Giovanna024]

He doesn't have to actually marry you, but you do have to live together for 1 whole year to qualify as a common-law spouse. You can easily do this since you can come to Canada without a visa and live together for six months, then you leave Canada for a week or two, and then come back and live together again.

However, you will not be able to work. You will be here as a tourist, and you won't have the right to work, study, or access healthcare.

Alternatively, your boyfriend could come live with you in the States; works the same way, except in reverse (he can't work, study etc).

It's really not that difficult for US-Canadian couples who are in long-term, serious relationships to get through this. If you and your partner are committed to each other, you can easily get a PR in 12-20 months from today.

Thank You, so its mandatory that we live 1 year together and then we can get married and start application for PR threw spouse sponsorship?

 

[21Goose]

Thank You, so its mandatory that we live 1 year together and then we can get married and start application for PR threw spouse sponsorship?

No, if you get married there's no requirement to have lived together for a year. It's either/or - either you are married OR you have lived together for a year.

The marriage needs to be genuine (you shouldn't get married JUST for immigration - that can be an additional factor, but it shouldn't look like you are two strangers marrying just to get access to Canada), but since you've been in a relationship for a while that shouldn't be an issue.

 

[Giovanna024]

No, if you get married there's no requirement to have lived together for a year. It's either/or - either you are married OR you have lived together for a year.

The marriage needs to be genuine (you shouldn't get married JUST for immigration - that can be an additional factor, but it shouldn't look like you are two strangers marrying just to get access to Canada), but since you've been in a relationship for a while that shouldn't be an issue.

No, we been together for 2 years already going back and forth to Canada.
I finally made a decision to move there and start new life.

 

[scylla]

What Program is that?

It's a working holiday visa program. However they are all on hold right now due to COVID-19.

 

[PrincessButtercup]

No, if you get married there's no requirement to have lived together for a year. It's either/or - either you are married OR you have lived together for a year.

What @21Goose is saying is correct, but I just want to point out that if your choose to apply as Common Law partners (not legally married), not only do you have to live together for a year, you have to have proof and documentation that you've been residing together for a year. This can be in the form of a lease or house purchase with BOTH your names on it , joint utility accounts (e.g., electricity, gas, telephone, internet), joint credit card accounts, joint bank accounts, vehicle insurance papers showing both partners as living at the same address, or copies of government-issued documents showing that both people reside at the same address. Cell phone bills, pay stubs, tax forms, bank or credit card statements, insurance policies, etc., which show that you live at the same address, are acceptable. So make sure you have at least one of those, and if you don't, sign up for something as soon as you're up here, to get the countdown clock started ASAP.

Hope this helps!

 

[Giovanna024]

What @21Goose is saying is correct, but I just want to point out that if your choose to apply as Common Law partners (not legally married), not only do you have to live together for a year, you have to have proof and documentation that you've been residing together for a year. This can be in the form of a lease or house purchase with BOTH your names on it , joint utility accounts (e.g., electricity, gas, telephone, internet), joint credit card accounts, joint bank accounts, vehicle insurance papers showing both partners as living at the same address, or copies of government-issued documents showing that both people reside at the same address. Cell phone bills, pay stubs, tax forms, bank or credit card statements, insurance policies, etc., which show that you live at the same address, are acceptable. So make sure you have at least one of those, and if you don't, sign up for something as soon as you're up here, to get the countdown clock started ASAP.

Hope this helps!

Thank You so much

I was just curious if its same if you are getting married that you have to live togethr and them married.
Since I am getting married in January 2021 hope this covid 19 will be over.

 

[PrincessButtercup]

Thank You so much

I was just curious if its same if you are getting married that you have to live togethr and them married.
Since I am getting married in January 2021 hope this covid 19 will be over.

No, there's no residency requirement if you apply as a spousal sponsor and primary applicant (married).

 

[Giovanna024]

No, there's no residency requirement if you apply as a spousal sponsor and primary applicant (married).

Thank You