1st post!...same-gender immigration question

[voypaCA]

Hello!

I am a skilled worker looking to move to Canada. I am a US citizen from Seattle. I am sure I can, through the steps, immigrate to Canada and become a permanent resident. The concern is my partner.
He is gay (moot I guess) and while he has lived for many years in the US, he is undocumented there. I am wondering the best way that we move together and start our life in Canada (most likly BC). I've heard about a permanent resident of CA sponsoring his spouse/common-law partner. The thing is, I'm obviously not a permanent resident yet. We have lived over a year together which fulfills the common-law requirement, but the proof of that might be hard since he is illegal and many things have been on-the-down-low.
My partner has a passport from his country and can apply for a visa to enter CA..but he would be entering from the US, where he is illegal.
The other option I was thinking was to get married in California and then go to Canada. But now I am thinking, how does that help if he's still illegal here in the US. If the common-law thing worked, we would do that because we would rather marry in Canada where our family could come and attend. Any ideas? For myself, I am soon ready to start the process for my immigration....I just don't want to make a mistake a long the way that could irreparably damage HIS immigration.
Thanks so much!!!

Zach

 

[PMM]

Hi

Hello!

I am a skilled worker looking to move to Canada. I am a US citizen from Seattle. I am sure I can, through the steps, immigrate to Canada and become a permanent resident. The concern is my partner.
He is gay (moot I guess) and while he has lived for many years in the US, he is undocumented there. I am wondering the best way that we move together and start our life in Canada (most likly BC). I've heard about a permanent resident of CA sponsoring his spouse/common-law partner. The thing is, I'm obviously not a permanent resident yet. We have lived over a year together which fulfills the common-law requirement, but the proof of that might be hard since he is illegal and many things have been on-the-down-low.
My partner has a passport from his country and can apply for a visa to enter CA..but he would be entering from the US, where he is illegal.
The other option I was thinking was to get married in California and then go to Canada. But now I am thinking, how does that help if he's still illegal here in the US. If the common-law thing worked, we would do that because we would rather marry in Canada where our family could come and attend. Any ideas? For myself, I am soon ready to start the process for my immigration....I just don't want to make a mistake a long the way that could irreparably damage HIS immigration.
Thanks so much!!!

Zach

Include him/her as your spouse on the application, no big deal. If you meet the C/law requirements and can prove it, you don't have to marry.

PMM

 

[Leon]

Somebody please correct me if I am wrong but I think if you do a PNP and come in on a temp work permit leading to PR status, you can apply for a spouse work permit for your partner at the same time and he can come with you. It is faster than applying for a skilled worker without a job offer where you'd have to wait forever to get your PR, come here without a job and sponsor your partner to join you later.