Visitor who wants move here permanently

[LiaG]

Hi there!

I’m writing this because I’m currently stuck and have been sort of been doing a loop. I want to start the process and move here permanently with my Canadian boyfriend of 2 1/2 years. I was given a few suggestions(sponsorship, work visa) and I thought I’d give the work visa a try. I have 2 problems though: 1) I don’t have experience because I was in college right before my boyfriend and I met 2) Someone WAS going to hire me, but they’ve already hired someone else. I guess my question is: where should I go from here? I’ve looked up open work permits and the requirements don’t fit my situation. I did ask for an extension as a visitor a month ago(I haven’t got a response), but I still don’t think it applies to me. What can I do?

 

[bongoman]

You need to research all the available options and see if you qualify for any, you can start here https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/come-canada-tool.html

 

[Bs65]

Well the simple solution would be to marry your boyfriend and have him sponsor you.

 

[canuck78]

Where are you from? Is IEC an option?

 

[LiaG]

Where are you from? Is IEC an option?

I’m from the States. I’ve never heard of IEC

 

[LiaG]

Well the simple solution would be to marry your boyfriend and have him sponsor you.

Wouldn’t the process be the same? If he were to sponsor me now, how it would be different if we were married?

 

[scylla]

Wouldn’t the process be the same? If he were to sponsor me now, how it would be different if we were married?

Huge difference.

He only qualifies to sponsor you if you are either married or common law. Common law means you have lived together for at least one full year. Have you lived together continuously for one full year?

If you are just dating and haven't lived together for a full year - he can't sponsor you.

 

[LiaG]

Huge difference.

He only qualifies to sponsor you if you are either married or common law. Common law means you have lived together for at least one full year. Have you lived together continuously for one full year?

If you are just dating and haven't lived together for a full year - he can't sponsor you.

I usually stay here for 6 months and leave for 2 months. I’ve been doing that for a year now. This is the first time I’ve asked for an extension to stay because I wanted to work.

Hmm.. I’ll have to keep this in mind

 

[scylla]

I usually stay here for 6 months and leave for 2 months. I’ve been doing that for a year now. This is the first time I’ve asked for an extension to stay because I wanted to work.

Hmm.. I’ll have to keep this in mind

To be classified as common law, you need to live together continuously. A 2 month break is too long - which means you reset the 1 year common law clock each time you are apart for this long. You want to keep absences to 3 weeks or less.

There most likely aren't any option for you to work in Canada at this time unless you fall under one of the NAFTA occupations. It's simply too long and expensive a process for an employer to hire a foreign worker. They need to obtain an LMIA so that you can apply for a closed work permit and most employers aren't willing to go through this process (it generally takes 4-6 months to get an approved LMIA).

Most likely your fastest path to working is to marry your boyfriend (assuming it's serious) and have him sponsor you for PR and include an open work permit application with the sponsorship package. The open work permit will be approved around four months after the full package is received by IRCC.

 

[LiaG]

To be classified as common law, you need to live together continuously. A 2 month break is too long - which means you reset the 1 year common law clock each time you are apart for this long. You want to keep absences to 3 weeks or less.

There most likely aren't any option for you to work in Canada at this time unless you fall under one of the NAFTA occupations. It's simply too long and expensive a process for an employer to hire a foreign worker. They need to obtain an LMIA so that you can apply for a closed work permit and most employers aren't willing to go through this process (it generally takes 4-6 months to get an approved LMIA).

Most likely your fastest path to working is to marry your boyfriend (assuming it's serious) and have him sponsor you for PR and include an open work permit application with the sponsorship package. The open work permit will be approved around four months after the full package is received by IRCC.

Well, I’ve been here for 7 months and I’m planning to stay another year. The person that was going to hire me was willing to go through the process and sponsor me, but he’s found someone with experience. So that really brought me down a bit.
But thank you for taking the time to write that! That is really helpful and I’ll talk to him about it. We’ve been struggling to start the process because there aren’t a lot of options for me. We’ve been wanting to move me here for a year now and we’ve gotten no where. I’ve looked through sponsorship and work permits. I thought a work permit would be helpful, but I have no one willing to go through the long process. Again, thank you!

 

[canuck78]

Well, I’ve been here for 7 months and I’m planning to stay another year. The person that was going to hire me was willing to go through the process and sponsor me, but he’s found someone with experience. So that really brought me down a bit.
But thank you for taking the time to write that! That is really helpful and I’ll talk to him about it. We’ve been struggling to start the process because there aren’t a lot of options for me. We’ve been wanting to move me here for a year now and we’ve gotten no where. I’ve looked through sponsorship and work permits. I thought a work permit would be helpful, but I have no one willing to go through the long process. Again, thank you!

The employer may not be aware that it could be a 6 month process and cost around $1000 to try to hire you with no guarantees you would be approved. Many employers are not willing to go through the expense.