Immigration steps

[LBWolf]

hi,
I am looking to immigrate to Canada to live with my boyfriend. I just don't understand how I am able to do this, or what I should apply for. Here's some background, i reside in the US and have never spent any time living in Canada, just visited. I have experience in being a health aide for the developmentally disabled, and I currently work as a teacher's aide and also as a speech aide. I however will take any job possible and will not limit myself to what I already do. Do I apply for skilled worker? Do I send my resume to potential employers and hope that one offers me a job and then apply for a work visa? according to the paperwork for a work visa I need a written job offer, is that correct? So, does a company offer me a job and I tell them I can't work for 6 months while I wait for my application to be approved, if it's even approved at all? Can I have my boyfriend sponsor me as a congugal partner? Our immigration barrier is that I am waiting for a divorce so that's why we cant live together or be married right now. But, the definition of a congugal partner is that the two of us need to combine our affairs as much as possible. How can we do this if I live in the US and he lives in Canada? I am just so lost, I am at my whits end, and this whole thing depresses me. someone please help me figure this out. Am I in need of an immigration lawyer?? bottom line is, my boyfriend and I am in it for the long haul and I want to live and work in Canada permanently. Thank you in advance!!

 

[scylla]

You don't need an immigration lawyer - you can certainly do it yourself.

No - your boyfriend cannot sponsor you as a conjugal partner. You must either get married or become common law (live together for at least one full year) before he can sponsor you. Conjugal is for situations where it is impossible to get married and impossible to live together. Given you're from the US - you don't face these barriers.

If you are interested in applying through the Federal Skilled Worker program, you will need a job offer in Canada to qualify. You can't apply without a job offer.

Depending on which province your boyfriend lives in, you could look into that provinces Provincial Nominee program as a way of immigrating. Chances are you'll need a job offer in that province to qualify.

Other options would be to come to Canada temporarily on a work permit (you'll once again need to find an employer first who is willing to offer you a job) or to come to study (foreign students pay high fees so this will be a very expensive option).

Depending on your age, you could also look into the SWAP working visa program that lets you come to Canada for a year to live and work.

If you and your boyfriend are serious about your relationship getting married and then having him sponsor you is the best option.