My Partner coming with me
- Thread starter mrredlfc
- Start date
If you've lived together for a minimum of one full year and can prove it, then she should be able to accompany you on an open work permit provided your job is skilled or semi-skilled.
However you do have to be able to prove that you have lived together for a full year - CIC won't just take your word for it. Do you have shared bank accounts or credit cards where the statements are sent to the same address and have you had these for a year? Do you have shared utility bills going back a year? Can she show mail (bank statement, credit card statement, etc.) that show your address as her address? In your property is rented, can you get the landlord to sign an affidavit confirming you've lived together for at least a year? Has your girlfriend filed taxes where she has listed your address as her address? Have you filed taxes as a common law couple? Ideally you want several pieces of proof.
However you do have to be able to prove that you have lived together for a full year - CIC won't just take your word for it. Do you have shared bank accounts or credit cards where the statements are sent to the same address and have you had these for a year? Do you have shared utility bills going back a year? Can she show mail (bank statement, credit card statement, etc.) that show your address as her address? In your property is rented, can you get the landlord to sign an affidavit confirming you've lived together for at least a year? Has your girlfriend filed taxes where she has listed your address as her address? Have you filed taxes as a common law couple? Ideally you want several pieces of proof.
Thanks for reply, I don't think we would be able to prove that we were living together for a year then. i own the property but she has not moved anything over to my address for a year yet as its been easier for her to keep it at her previous address as i move a lot with work.
what options do we have?
what options do we have?
If you can't prove common law, then her options start becoming more limited.
She can come as a visitor. She should be allowed in for six months (up to the officer how long she is allowed in for) and can then try to extend her visit. However as a visitor she won't be allowed to work at all and won't qualify for benfits such as provincially funded health care.
If she can secure a full time job from an employer in Canada, she can come on her own work permit. To hire her, the employer will have to prove the job was advertised and no Canadian could be found for the role. The employer will also have to pay a $1K processing fee for this priviledge. (There is no self employed work permit available. She would need to find an employer.)
She could attend college or unversity in Canada and come on a study permit (although there's probably not enough time to be accepted into a college or university program and also obtain a study permit by September - so probably not a realistic plan until January). If she considers doing this she should look into the foreign student fees. They are quite high.
There is also the IEC program (International Experience) which is a working holiday visa. If she is young enough she might qualify for that. The problem with this option is that all of the spots for this year were gone a long time ago. When the program re-opens in January, spaces will go very quickly and it may be challenging for her to secure one. Also, in the event she is accepted, it will take another few months before the visa is actually ready (likely March or April).
You could also get married so that she can qualify for an open work permit as your spouse.
She can come as a visitor. She should be allowed in for six months (up to the officer how long she is allowed in for) and can then try to extend her visit. However as a visitor she won't be allowed to work at all and won't qualify for benfits such as provincially funded health care.
If she can secure a full time job from an employer in Canada, she can come on her own work permit. To hire her, the employer will have to prove the job was advertised and no Canadian could be found for the role. The employer will also have to pay a $1K processing fee for this priviledge. (There is no self employed work permit available. She would need to find an employer.)
She could attend college or unversity in Canada and come on a study permit (although there's probably not enough time to be accepted into a college or university program and also obtain a study permit by September - so probably not a realistic plan until January). If she considers doing this she should look into the foreign student fees. They are quite high.
There is also the IEC program (International Experience) which is a working holiday visa. If she is young enough she might qualify for that. The problem with this option is that all of the spots for this year were gone a long time ago. When the program re-opens in January, spaces will go very quickly and it may be challenging for her to secure one. Also, in the event she is accepted, it will take another few months before the visa is actually ready (likely March or April).
You could also get married so that she can qualify for an open work permit as your spouse.
Thanks for the advice,
seems we are limited. She is self employed as a songwriter, so can work anywhere would this affect her coming as a visitor for 6months? as her coming out for trips of around 2 to 3 months and back for a month. after a few trips would she find it difficult coming in and out for 2-3 months at a time with say a month break in between?
seems we are limited. She is self employed as a songwriter, so can work anywhere would this affect her coming as a visitor for 6months? as her coming out for trips of around 2 to 3 months and back for a month. after a few trips would she find it difficult coming in and out for 2-3 months at a time with say a month break in between?
It's really impossible to say what will happen since the decision regarding whether she is allowed into Canada and for how long is up to the immigration officer she encounter at the border. She may have no issues or she may run into challenges. Again, unfortunately impossible to say. To increase her chances of a smooth entry, she shouldn't look like she's moving here (since she's not allowed to do that). That means she should pack like a tourist and not bring all of her worldy possessions. She should also make sure she brings evidence of proof of ties to the UK (e.g. property owned, other assets, etc.). She won't necessarily be asked for this info but it's good to have just in case. As for the songwriter bit, she should make sure she isn't working for or selling to any individual or company that is Canadian while she is in Canada herself. If she does this she will be working illegally.mrredlfc said:
