Seeking advice for Canada-Philippines LDR

[personifier23]

Hello everyone, this is my first time here.

I'm currently in a long distance relationship with a lady living in the Philippines. She's agreed to move to Ontario, Canada to live with me, once she completes her studies next year in 2017.

However, closing the gap isn't as easy as it sounds, knowing that Canada has some really strict immigration laws. We first considered going the Study permit route, but it's incredibly expensive, and she's not really interested in studying even more. I'm not really familiar with what options we have, and the success rates. Of course, we're both looking for something that won't take forever, and reasonable in terms of cost.

For myself, I'm a student, but I've been working for a long time now. I'm currently in a stable full-time position, earning an average 55,000$/year. I'm living on my own, in an apartment, covering all my expenses.

Ideally, I want her to move in spring/summer of 2017. I'm not sure if that's a realistic expectation. Of course, the sooner she can get PR, the better, I'm worried about covering medical expenses which may be high if something would happen to my girlfriend.

I would like to learn about my options, and recommendations would be helpful too. Thanks for your help everyone.

 

[scylla]

The fastest and most certain option is for you to sponsor her for permanent residency. In order for you to do this, you must either be married or common law (common law means you have physically lived together for at least one year continuously).

 

[personifier23]

The fastest and most certain option is for you to sponsor her for permanent residency. In order for you to do this, you must either be married or common law (common law means you have physically lived together for at least one year continuously).

For marriage, I have to go to the PH, and marry her. Then come back, file an application and wait for a year or so. Then she can come. Right?

For common-law, how can I live with her for a year? Can she come as a visitor and stay with me for a year? And then I can sponsor her? This option sounds compelling but I'm not sure how it would work.

 

[scylla]

Yes - that's likely how the marriage option would work. That's assuming you have met her in person at least once previously. If you have never before met in person, you should take at least 1 separate trip to visit her (preferably more) before the trip to marry her.

As for living together, if she can get a TRV to come and visit you in Canada (probably unlikely, but you can certainly apply) - then she could try extending her stay to complete a year of living with you here. As a visitor - she won't be allowed to work or attend school. She also won't be covered by the health care system.

 

[Rob_TO]

For common-law, how can I live with her for a year? Can she come as a visitor and stay with me for a year? And then I can sponsor her? This option sounds compelling but I'm not sure how it would work.

Alternatively, some or all of the 12 months cohabitation required for common-law qualifying could also be done while you are in the Philippines living together.

Make sure if you intend to proceed with common-law, you begin collecting evidence of your cohabitation (shared lease/rent agreement, joint accounts, any docs with address listed the same, etc) from day 1.