Hi, distancelove
When they talk about government aid, they are talking about social assistance. Students who apply for spousal sponsorships are eligible, for sure. You still need to provide the financial information they ask for, but if you are married, you are exempt from meeting any financial guidelines,
so 1) yes, once you're married, you can begin the process to sponsor from inside Canada
2) yes, they will look at the finances, but as I mentioned you will still be an eligible sponsor if you aren't on social assistance, aren't in default on child support payments etc. Give them all the info they ask for (personal net income for the last year, an option C printout, a letter from any full or part time employer etc). But as I mentioned, you are exempted from requirements since you're (or will be) married.
3) your age doesn't matter (well, you know, 20's is fine). The main concern when doing a spousal sponsorship is proving the validity of the relationship (proof that it's "genuine and continuing", as they say on the forms.
4) when you're married and living in Canada, you will use these forms -
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/spouse.asp
5) Yes. When you come over the border to marry and live, just say that your boyfriend is coming to visit your family with you in NFLD. He automatically gets 6 months stay, since he's American. If you give the CBSA guard reason for suspicion that he might stay, or live, they will either refuse entry or give him a shorter period. You don't have to give them your life story. Once you are married and submit the application, you can send an application to extend his stay in Canada as a visitor based on the sponsorship application being submitted. About 6-7 months into the app, he'll be able to receive an open work permit, and that will be his new status in Canada until he becomes a PR. (Assuming everything goes smoothly).
6) Start collecting the information now. After you are married, put it all together and submit it at earliest convenience. It might take some time to get the police clearance, medical etc. Also, a marriage certificate takes minimum three months, but you can submit the application with everything you have, and include a letter of explanation that more documents will follow. As soon as you have other papers/evidence etc, send them to the Case Processing Centre as soon as you have them. The process will take 10+ months, so you have time to keep submitting docs.
7) The application will be processed in Vegreville, AB. If it's pretty straightforward, they will make the decision there, and then the closest CIC office will contact you for the appointment for him to become a PR. There is an office in St. John's. If the officer in Vegreville sees too many red flags (criminality, possible marriage of convenience etc), they'll send it to St. John's (I think) and then you would have an interview. Most people don't have an interview if everything is straight-forward.
I hope this helps.
