Hi,
I have a few questions regarding evaluating whether I want to take the Express Entry approach or apply to be a PR in Canada via a partner sponsorship. To give you a bit of background about myself along the lines of the Express Entry Questionnaire: I am a 23 year old (citizenship India), received by Bachelors Degree in Mechanical Engineering (Double Major in Applied Math) and graduated in May 2013 from the US. Since then, I have worked in the US under OPT and OPT STEM at various roles in IT as a Business Analyst for a large financial institution. Unfortunately, I was unable to be picked in the lottery for the H-1B visas although my company tried to process this under premium processing. I will have reached 2 years of work experience on 7/31. I am a Native English speaker, and I am not too concerned about taking the IELTS test for English proficiency. I have been applying for jobs in Canada, but unfortunately have not had much traction with this as yet, but I am still trying.
My partner and I have dated for the past 3 years and she is a Canadian citizen (we have known each other since we were 11 years old). When I was looking at the immigration website, I saw that there was a family sponsorship approach. I believe that my partner and I fit within the "conjugal partner" category, as we have been together longer than a year and have had difficulty staying with each other due to immigration constraints. She attempted to find a job in the US and even lived with me for 4 months in New York, but unfortunately, she was unable to find one and had to move back to Canada. She currently stays in Calgary, but graduated from University of Toronto in April 2013.
I am having difficulty evaluating between applying for Express Entry or through the family sponsorship avenue. My preference would be the quickest method (as my immigration status in the US is due to expire on 12/11), but I would like to understand the merits and benefits of each approach. I saw on the CIC website that there was a pilot program introduced that allows people in the second method (family sponsorship) to be granted an open work permit while their permanent residency application is processing. This would be very beneficial to me as it would enable me to find work in the meantime.
How do you recommend I approach this?
I have a few questions regarding evaluating whether I want to take the Express Entry approach or apply to be a PR in Canada via a partner sponsorship. To give you a bit of background about myself along the lines of the Express Entry Questionnaire: I am a 23 year old (citizenship India), received by Bachelors Degree in Mechanical Engineering (Double Major in Applied Math) and graduated in May 2013 from the US. Since then, I have worked in the US under OPT and OPT STEM at various roles in IT as a Business Analyst for a large financial institution. Unfortunately, I was unable to be picked in the lottery for the H-1B visas although my company tried to process this under premium processing. I will have reached 2 years of work experience on 7/31. I am a Native English speaker, and I am not too concerned about taking the IELTS test for English proficiency. I have been applying for jobs in Canada, but unfortunately have not had much traction with this as yet, but I am still trying.
My partner and I have dated for the past 3 years and she is a Canadian citizen (we have known each other since we were 11 years old). When I was looking at the immigration website, I saw that there was a family sponsorship approach. I believe that my partner and I fit within the "conjugal partner" category, as we have been together longer than a year and have had difficulty staying with each other due to immigration constraints. She attempted to find a job in the US and even lived with me for 4 months in New York, but unfortunately, she was unable to find one and had to move back to Canada. She currently stays in Calgary, but graduated from University of Toronto in April 2013.
I am having difficulty evaluating between applying for Express Entry or through the family sponsorship avenue. My preference would be the quickest method (as my immigration status in the US is due to expire on 12/11), but I would like to understand the merits and benefits of each approach. I saw on the CIC website that there was a pilot program introduced that allows people in the second method (family sponsorship) to be granted an open work permit while their permanent residency application is processing. This would be very beneficial to me as it would enable me to find work in the meantime.
How do you recommend I approach this?
