Immigrating to live with my girlfriend

[juliakristof]

Hi Guys,
I just wanted to have the opinion of the people on this forum, that helped us a lot already, about our procedure that we would think is best to get myself to Canada to live with my girlfriend there permanently. I'm Belgian, currently finishing up my masters in Engineering and 23y old. I don't want to marry my girlfriend yet, because I don't want my marriage to be rushed. My girlfriend is also 23y old and has full Canadian citizenship. Our plan is to:
1. Mid 2018 go on a 'working holiday visa' where I'll be living with my girlfriend for 12 months and work in an engineering firm.
2. After that year (mid 2018), my work permit expires, my girlfriend will request a common-law sponsorship (living together for at least 12 months) to get me a PR. We'll either do this outland, where I'd be living in Belgium and working there until I get a work permit again to fly back in to Canada (they say outland goes faster, 4 months) or Inland where I could be living with my girlfriend until I get my work permit back (this is slower, they say, 6 months)
3. After the work permit is approved I'll come back to Canada (if I'm not already there) and later down the line apply for full citizenship (if I'm correct I'll have a work permit from the time I get a PR, so there isn't too much rush on that).

So hopefully I didn't forget anything. Sorry for the long read, we are trying to figure things out and the Belgian Embassy is pretty horrible in giving us information. If you'd have any remarks, we'd be happy to hear it! Also if you know an alternative (better way) also very appreciated to let us know!

Thanks!
Kris

 

[evdm]

Have you looked at Express Entry through the Canadian Experience Class or even Federal Skilled Worker? After your working holiday visa, you may be eligible to apply under this program, and not have to rely on your relationship.

If you create a profile, it may even let you apply sooner than after 1 year if you have enough points.

If you get PR, you have the same rights to live and work in Canada as a Canadian would so you won't need a (separate) work permit anymore.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

2. After that year (mid 2018), my work permit expires, my girlfriend will request a common-law sponsorship (living together for at least 12 months) to get me a PR. We'll either do this outland, where I'd be living in Belgium and working there until I get a work permit again to fly back in to Canada (they say outland goes faster, 4 months) or Inland where I could be living with my girlfriend until I get my work permit back (this is slower, they say, 6 months)
3. After the work permit is approved I'll come back to Canada (if I'm not already there) and later down the line apply for full citizenship (if I'm correct I'll have a work permit from the time I get a PR, so there isn't too much rush on that).

Hi

If you apply outland, there is no work permit option, so there is no "going to Belgium and coming back when the work permit is approved". You can expect the outland app to take around 8-9 months.

If you apply inland, you can apply for the OWP. You can expect the inland app to take around a year or more.

I suggest you read up a bit more on what being a PR means.

 

[juliakristof]

Have you looked at Express Entry through the Canadian Experience Class or even Federal Skilled Worker? After your working holiday visa, you may be eligible to apply under this program, and not have to rely on your relationship.

If you create a profile, it may even let you apply sooner than after 1 year if you have enough points.

If you get PR, you have the same rights to live and work in Canada as a Canadian would so you won't need a (separate) work permit anymore.

Yes, I looked at both of them. The only problem is that I barely make the pool which won't give me a good chance to be picked, right? I have a high degree which gives me a good amount of points but almost no work experience in my field yet (except for internships).

Cheers
Kris

 

[evdm]

It could still be worth putting your name in for Express Entry, It's been a while since I was looking at EE, but things like language tests and academic credential certification (not just saying you have the degree, but getting it assessed in Canada for equivalence) can boost your point counts. Plus, once you have your IEC visa and you've spent 12 months in Canada on that, you can add work experience.

Keep updating your EE profile with anything you can (truthfully, of course) and you will see your points rise too. Based on the information you've provided Age, Masters Degree, and no work experience you could get a score of 431 (with a single language test taken). The last ITA's were issued to people with a score of 435 (on May 31 the lowest score given an ITA was 413 even).

Would you be able to prove proficiency in English and French? Providing two languages could also raise your score, and the tests are valid for 2 years. And like I said, after a year of work experience in Canada you can raise your score further.

 

[juliakristof]

Hi

If you apply outland, there is no work permit option, so there is no "going to Belgium and coming back when the work permit is approved". You can expect the outland app to take around 8-9 months.

If you apply inland, you can apply for the OWP. You can expect the inland app to take around a year or more.

I suggest you read up a bit more on what being a PR means.

Apologies. I meant that for outland: after that year on my Working Holiday Visa I'll fly back to Belgium and we'll hand in the spousal sponsorship. I'll stay in Belgium until the outland application for the spousal sponsorship is accepted and then fly back to Canada to work because I have a PR.

Depending on the waiting time for the OWP, I'd go for an inland sponsorship (I'd rather be living with my girlfriend in Canada and work at the job I've been working for a year by then). But I red that it can take up to 6 months to get the OWP. If this is true it would be more interesting to apply outland.
The biggest concern is just not being able to work for half a year.

Cheers
Kris

 

[canuck78]

I know you don't wan to rush into marriage but being common law and sponsoring someone has some pretty large responsiblities attached to them. You will be basically married and your gf will be financially liable for you for 10 years. After working for a year you probably will have enough points to apply for PR via EE on your own. You may want to consider that.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

I know you don't wan to rush into marriage but being common law and sponsoring someone has some pretty large responsiblities attached to them. You will be basically married and your gf will be financially liable for you for 10 years. After working for a year you probably will have enough points to apply for PR via EE on your own. You may want to consider that.

Spousal sponsorship is a 3 year undertaking, not 10 years.

It is extremely unlikely that OP will be able to accrue a full year of skilled work experience in Canada on a one year work permit. It would require that they be hired before they even come to Canada, that they start working within a day or two of arrival and that they continue working to day 365.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Apologies. I meant that for outland: after that year on my Working Holiday Visa I'll fly back to Belgium and we'll hand in the spousal sponsorship. I'll stay in Belgium until the outland application for the spousal sponsorship is accepted and then fly back to Canada to work because I have a PR.

Depending on the waiting time for the OWP, I'd go for an inland sponsorship (I'd rather be living with my girlfriend in Canada and work at the job I've been working for a year by then). But I red that it can take up to 6 months to get the OWP. If this is true it would be more interesting to apply outland.
The biggest concern is just not being able to work for half a year.

Cheers
Kris

Yes, you can return to Belgium if you apply outland. You should apply to extend your stay as a visitor before your work permit expires so that you can stay longer for a year and have a bit of a buffer instead of applying with exactly 365 days. Try to get proofs from day 1; get on the lease, open a joint bank account, get on the utilities, get a cell phone plan at the address etc.

The OWP with inland is taking 2-4 months right now. Not sure where you saw 6 months.

 

[canuck78]

Spousal sponsorship is a 3 year undertaking, not 10 years.

It is extremely unlikely that OP will be able to accrue a full year of skilled work experience in Canada on a one year work permit. It would require that they be hired before they even come to Canada, that they start working within a day or two of arrival and that they continue working to day 365.

Thanks for the correction. My point was that if he is not ready for marriage applying for a common law sponsorship and being common law comes with almost the same commitment and responsibility.

 

[juliakristof]

Thanks for the correction. My point was that if he is not ready for marriage applying for a common law sponsorship and being common law comes with almost the same commitment and responsibility.

We know it is similar and I'm not worried that we'll remain together. I just don't want to rush marriage for immigration's sake.

 

[juliakristof]

Yes, you can return to Belgium if you apply outland. You should apply to extend your stay as a visitor before your work permit expires so that you can stay longer for a year and have a bit of a buffer instead of applying with exactly 365 days. Try to get proofs from day 1; get on the lease, open a joint bank account, get on the utilities, get a cell phone plan at the address etc.

The OWP with inland is taking 2-4 months right now. Not sure where you saw 6 months.

You mean using my ETA status to stay in Canada a little bit longer without working? Because Belgians can't extend their stay on a working Holiday Visa.

Thanks!
Kris

 

[canuck_in_uk]

You mean using my ETA status to stay in Canada a little bit longer without working? Because Belgians can't extend their stay on a working Holiday Visa.

Thanks!
Kris

An eTA is simply authorization to board a commercial carrier to travel to Canada. It has nothing to do with status.

A working holiday visa can't be extended but anyone can apply to extend their stay. Before your work permit expires, you need apply to change conditions and extend your stay as a visitor. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/visitor.asp

 

[spousalsponsee]

You mean using my ETA status to stay in Canada a little bit longer without working? Because Belgians can't extend their stay on a working Holiday Visa.

Thanks!
Kris

As said, nobody can extend their working holiday work permit (although some can do multiple streams - eg Irish get working holiday *and* education-related work experience, *and* young professionals, and can do two of those three). Your eTA isn't "status" in Canada, it's a travel document, permission to get on a plane or a train, nothing else. You can adjust your status online to visitor (tourist), and request the length of time you'd want, backed up by proof of being able to support yourself, and reasons - people commonly do this for 6 months, a year, two years.