I am a PR and My girlfriend is in Work Permit expiring soon. Plz Help

[Tejinder2014]

Hi guys,

I am almost at the verge of getting my PR confirmation and my girlfriend's Work Permit is expiring in 3 months. She is currently working as an accountant and she applied for Provincial Niminee which is taking quite a bit of time.

Is there a way of getting merried to her and stop her from leaving?

 

[rhcohen2014]

no, marrying her will NOT allow her to stay. She needs to maintain legal status until her app is approved.

if you do get married, you may not be able to sponsor her for PR until you are approved. i'm not sure how it would work with adding her to your current pr app, so that you can sponsor her in the future. If you do marry before your pr app is approved, and she's not listed on your application as your wife, i think you will run into issues trying to sponsor her in the future. You may be able to add her to your app, so she can get PR when you do. Again, i'm not sure how that works, so you would need to ask others who are applying for PR in the same category as you to know what to do.

if her work permit expires, and it is not extendable, she can apply to extend her stay as a VISITOR until she gets approved for PNP. it's recommended to do this at least 30 days prior to the current visa expires. keep in mind, if she extends as a visitor, she will NOT be able to work until her PNP is approved.

 

[Tejinder2014]

I appriciate your reply rhcohen2014. However, in my estimation I will get the PR in a month from today. Do you think if I can get her PR approved and then Marry her, will I be able to make her stay?

The other option of Visitor VISA is a great option and I understand that she might not be able to work. But only if I get my PR approved can I apply for hers? And if I do can she get her extension for work permit?

 

[JessNess]

Have you guys been living together for 12 consecutive months? If yes, then you're actually already common-law under Canada standards and she should have been listed in your application for PR….

 

[JessNess]

I appriciate your reply rhcohen2014. However, in my estimation I will get the PR in a month from today. Do you think if I can get her PR approved and then Marry her, will I be able to make her stay?

The other option of Visitor VISA is a great option and I understand that she might not be able to work. But only if I get my PR approved can I apply for hers? And if I do can she get her extension for work permit?

A visitor visa to Canada DOES NOT allow the visitor to work under any circumstances. If she comes to Canada to "wait" while her PR application is being processed, she cannot work. Depending on what kind of work permit she currently has with her employer, she needs to ask her employer for an extension, which they may or may not be willing to do. Also, keep in mind that as hard-pressed as you seem to be to "keep her in Canada", CIC might also see this effort and question the validity of your relationship. CIC might not grant her a visitor visa if they feel like she has no intention on returning home, so keep that in mind.

 

[Tejinder2014]

Great, thank you all your help Jess. really appriciate your time.