Hello, I hope this is the right thread for my query. I am an International PhD student in Canada with a study permit of 4 years and a half. My girlfriend, who is from Costa Rica, and I have been together for 4 years now; however, at the time of my study permit application we had no proof of a common-law relationship. She got a visitor visa last year, which allowed her to come to Canada for a while as a tourist. This year she got an invitation for the Working Holiday Program, we sent all the documents and she got her POE.
Our plan is to use her Working Holiday Year to gather proof in order for our relationship to be recognized as a common-law relationship. I read that, as an International student, my common-law partner would get an Open Work Permit of the duration of my study permit.
Now my first question relates to timing: assuming that after a year we are recognized as common-law partners, how should she proceed in order to change her status from work permit (obtained through the Working Holiday Program) to Open Work Permit? Do we need to send an application on the last day of our one-year cohabitation and wait for months for a response or can we just change her status by going to the border with all the documents? In case we need to send an application I would like to find a way to fasten the process and to avoid living apart again while waiting for the response.
She is coming to visit me for three months before she activates her Working Holiday Visa. So we are thinking about starting the year as common-law partners as soon as she comes. Since her status would be as visitor, would this possible? During these three months, we would only have a signed lease with both of our names as proof, because we would not be able to open a bank account together if she is in Canada as a tourist (I think). Once she activates her Working Holiday Visa, we will be able to gather more proofs for the common law requirements.
Do you have any suggestions/answers? Thanks in advance!
Our plan is to use her Working Holiday Year to gather proof in order for our relationship to be recognized as a common-law relationship. I read that, as an International student, my common-law partner would get an Open Work Permit of the duration of my study permit.
Now my first question relates to timing: assuming that after a year we are recognized as common-law partners, how should she proceed in order to change her status from work permit (obtained through the Working Holiday Program) to Open Work Permit? Do we need to send an application on the last day of our one-year cohabitation and wait for months for a response or can we just change her status by going to the border with all the documents? In case we need to send an application I would like to find a way to fasten the process and to avoid living apart again while waiting for the response.
She is coming to visit me for three months before she activates her Working Holiday Visa. So we are thinking about starting the year as common-law partners as soon as she comes. Since her status would be as visitor, would this possible? During these three months, we would only have a signed lease with both of our names as proof, because we would not be able to open a bank account together if she is in Canada as a tourist (I think). Once she activates her Working Holiday Visa, we will be able to gather more proofs for the common law requirements.
Do you have any suggestions/answers? Thanks in advance!
