Boyfriend moving to Canada?

[Rae097]

My boyfriend (American citizen) and I (Canadian citizen) have been dating for almost 2 years, we've visited back and forth plenty of times between that, the longest was 2 months. We just want to finally be together. We are stuck to what happens now, he wants to move to Canada since I am in college attending full time for a Nursing Degree already. We have just started our "common-law relationship" back in June, we're are hoping that is going to work out for the next June so he could get a permanent resident card?. We are not ready to get married, since we don't want to feel 'forced' into it but we are being told that is the only way? Being a full time student, I wouldn't be able to sponsor him because I don't really have an income. My parents are fully willing to sponsor him for me, but i don't think there's is an option like that. I would just like to know if there is anybody who was in our situation, how did you do it?
thank you,
Rae

 

[scylla]

Your parents can't sponsor him - only you can sponsor him. There is no minimum income requirement to sponsor a spouse or common law partner.

Note that visiting back and forth doesn't make you common law or allow you to count that time towards common law. You have to be physically living together (sharing the same address) continuously (without breaks) for a year in order to be considered common law. Based on what you've described, you haven't started your common law relationship yet. You've just been dating and visiting each other. (Note that to prove common law you'll be expected to provide hard evidence to cover the year of living together such as shares leases/rental agreements, joint utility bills, joint bank accounts/credit card statements, mail confirming you have both been living at the same address for a year, etc.). If your boyfriend has been in Canada living with you since June without leaving - that would be a different matter. But if he's traveling back and forth - that's not living together or common law.

Is he a recent graduate? Has he looked into the SWAP program? This might be helpful in finding a way for him to come to Canada and work (and live) while you really become common lawy.

I would recommend you read through the posts in the Family Sponsorship section of the forum. This is where you'll find discussions on people going through similar processes to you.