Moving to Canada from the US

[Oishii]

I live in BC/am a Canadian citizen and my girlfriend is a US citizen, born and raised. She does not have any in demand skills and money is tight so studying in BC is out of the question. We have been discussing her moving in with me and eventually becoming a Canadian citizen. She plans to apply for permanent residency but common-law sponsorship requires her to live with me for a year and she can only live with me for six months before having to return. What steps do we need to take in order for her to be able to apply for PR?

 

[Irishrover89]

I'm pretty much in the same boat buddy

 

[PMM]

Hi

I live in BC/am a Canadian citizen and my girlfriend is a US citizen, born and raised. She does not have any in demand skills and money is tight so studying in BC is out of the question. We have been discussing her moving in with me and eventually becoming a Canadian citizen. She plans to apply for permanent residency but common-law sponsorship requires her to live with me for a year and she can only live with me for six months before having to return. What steps do we need to take in order for her to be able to apply for PR?

1. 30 days prior to her status expiring, she applies for an extension of her visitor's status to Vegreville or online. : http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/extend/visa.asp

 

[Oishii]

Hi


1. 30 days prior to her status expiring, she applies for an extension of her visitor's status to Vegreville or online.

Just to make sure, that means she would have to get a visitor's visa despite being from the US, extend it once, go back to the US after the 12 months are up, and then apply for permanent residency from out of country? Or could she extend it a second time and apply within the country?

 

[rhcohen2014]

no - extending your stay as a visitor for US applicants does not mean she needs a visa. she will enter as normally, then apply for the extension when necessary. She can ask for 12 months, and say it is to be able to gain commonlaw for pr status. Extensions are rarely denied for US visitors, though you may not always get the amount of time requested.

Yes, if she needs to, she can then apply for a 2nd extension to help get through the PR process. If she's in canada as a visitor, she can still send in an OUTLAND application for PR. She does NOT have to be in the US to apply outland. IF you don't want to wait the full 365 days to become commonlaw, the other option is to get married.

Your girlfriend definitely does not want to try to cross the border with all of her worldly posessions, as she will be turned away immediately. She must remember she is NOT "moving" to canada, she is coming to "visit" her boyfriend. Since she is not married, border agents will be concerned about her being able to prove ties to the US so they know she will return when she says she will. At this initial time of crossing, don't mention intentions to extend the stay. She is there as a visitor only. She will not be able to legally work or study a program that is longer than 6 mo. in lenght.