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Visitors visa for 12 months then apply for PR

parahsalin

Member
Jan 22, 2015
15
0
So I'm an American Citizen. I am currently on month 4 of 6 months with my visitors visa, staying with my boyfriend. If I renew my visitors visa for 6 more months, am I then eligible to apply for an open work permit and or PR as a "common law partner" with my boyfriend?

Thank you
 

scylla

VIP Member
Jun 8, 2010
92,541
20,360
Toronto
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
28-05-2010
AOR Received.
19-08-2010
File Transfer...
28-06-2010
Passport Req..
01-10-2010
VISA ISSUED...
05-10-2010
LANDED..........
05-10-2010
Once you have physically lived with your boyfriend for a full 12 months, you will be classified as common law. So if you have lived with your boyfriend for four months so far, you need to complete another 8 months of living together before you will be common law. Once you are common law, he will be able to sponsor you for PR.

Since you are American, he should sponsor you using the outland (outside of Canada) method (even if you are in Canada). This process is much faster than the alternative for Americans and you could have PR in as little as 4-5 months. If you apply outland, there is no open work permit available.

If you instead apply inland (definitely not recommended for Americans), you will be granted an open work permit around 4 months after you submit the application. However the overall processing of the application will take much much longer (likely close to two years) and it's recommended that you not leave Canada during this time.