New PR+foregin girlfriend= ??!!??

[rescuer]

Hello,

Before I ask my question, Ill briefly explain my situation:

I was granted my PR two years ago which, however I had to go back to my country to complete my education. During these two years I met a girl from Belarus and we dated up until I came back to Canada a few months ago. regardless of the distance, we are managing a long distance relationship and I really want her to be able to come to Canada.

Here's my question:
1. what are the ways to arrange this?
2.Do we have to get married before anything could happen?or life partners would be eligible as well?(cause I do love her and want to continue our relationship, but i do not want to jump to marriage when I'm not ready)
3.would she be eligible for PR as well?Can she also get her Canadian passport?
Any info on this matter would be helpful.

thank you

 

[computergeek]

You may sponsor her. To do so, you must be living in Canada (which you are now) throughout the application process and you must qualify in either the spousal (married) or common-law (lived together in a marriage-like relationship for one continuous year prior to the application).

The forms for sponsoring a spouse or partner abroad are here: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/fc.asp

Currently, spousal/partner applications through the Moscow office require 13 months for 80% of applicants, which if you add the 2.5 months to approve the sponsor means a total of 15.5 months.

If she can obtain a TRV to come to Canada to visit you would be to go through the inland sponsorship route - that takes 10 months for sponsor approval, at which point she would be eligible for an open work permit, and then 8 months to complete the PR review process.

Some provinces have family reunification as part of their provincial nominee program, so you should see if your province does as this might make the process faster. Quebec does have some special requirements as well.

Good luck!