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JDL

Newbie
Aug 2, 2013
5
0
My boyfriend recently got accepted for a PhD program in York University and we are confused in how we can stay together.
We have been together for over 1.5 years and living together over 1 year.
We are both US citizens. We did research and even going to a Canadian Consulate Office in San Francisco but our questions were never answered and actually brought up more questions. So we are hoping that someone in here could offer some help and shed some light with our situation so that he and I can stay together.
Any help with this particular situation would be greatly appreciated.

Here are our questions:
1) Can we apply for common law when we cross the Canadian border or is this something we need to do before crossing the border?
2) If we can apply for common law at the border will we be able to know right away if it is approved or not?
3) If our application for common law is approved what do I get with this? a temporary visa? an open work permit? and how long do they last?
4) What types of proof can we use to prove our relationship? And would having these documents/letters notarized in the US be helpful?
5) If I don't get a visa through common law do I need to apply separately for temporary visa to stay and live in Canada if I plan to stay and live with boyfriend for the duration of his PhD program?
6) If I do need to apply for that visa do I need to continuously extend my stay every six months? and is that even possible?

We certainly have more questions but these are the main one we have. My boyfriend is pretty much set with acceptance letter from the university so the concern is my status.
Again if there is anyone out there that can shed light into this it would be greatly appreciated.

-JDL
 
While I don't know the specifics of all of your questions, I do know that you will not be able to apply as common law anything. Neither of you are Canadian citizens, therefore common-law sponsorship is not an issue for you.(anyone with more knowledge can step up here if I am wrong)

I think what needs to happen is your boyfriends student/study visa will need to be issued, and then you will need to apply for a work permit based under his study permit. I know I have read about this information on the Canada Immigration website, but I am not exactly sure where I read it. (again, anyone with more knowledge, please feel free to jump in here)

I don't know if you can do that at the border or not. It may require you to stay back for the time it takes to process a working visa for you. I THINK you can likely accompany him on his visa into the country as a partner, however, that will NOT allow you to work or study while inside Canada.

The US is a visa exempt country, meaning that you do not NEED a visa to cross into Canada for 'visits' and such.

I would really recommend that you both look over the Canada immigration website in regards to what options are available to you.
 
Post your question in the "international students" part of the forum - you will get similar cases. The family sponsorship refers to Canadians of PRs who want to sponsor their family, it doesn't apply to you as you are both US citizen.

see here http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/international-students-b2.0/

Sweden
 
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