Canadian bf, American gf work permit

[eaforster]

Hi,

I'm trying to figure out how to get a work permit here. I'm already in Canada on a work permit but I cannot get it renewed using the same outlet since I'm no longer a student(I was on the Students Work Abroad Program) visa. My bf and I have been living together for a year now, so we could do the common law visa. I've heard I can get a work permit this way but I've also heard I cannot since he's not a foreign worker. Since he's Canadian does this permit still apply to me or not since he's not a foreign worker?

 

[scylla]

You do not qualify for a dependent open work permit since your partner is Canadian. For you to qualify, your partner would need to be a foreign worker like you in Canada on a work permit for a job that is still level A, B or 0. So unfortunately you don't qualify.

The only way you could qualify for an open work permit through your partner is if your partner sponsors you for permanent residency using the inland application process and includes an open work permit with the application. The OWP will be approved around four months after the PR application is submitted. However applying inland as an American would be a horrible decision. If your partner is going to sponsor you for PR, you should apply outland. There's no OWP with outland - but the entire process could be done in as little as four months. Americans who apply inland (rather than outland) always end up deeply regretting this decision.

 

[eaforster]

So if we got married and he sponsored me that way, could I apply as outland even though I'm actually in Canada?
I'm not a resident of Canada, so could I still apply outland while living here?

 

[scylla]

So if we got married and he sponsored me that way, could I apply as outland even though I'm actually in Canada?
I'm not a resident of Canada, so could I still apply outland while living here?

Yes - you can apply outland from within Canada. Make sure you convert your work permit to a visitor visa when the work permit is close to expiring and stop working on the expiry date of your work permit. Note that you will also lose health care coverage once your work permit has expired.