Mrsr89 said:
So my story: My boyfriend and I are from the U.S. We have been together for 3 and a half years.
I'm summarize the key points (your boyfriend's workplace is giving you a lot of wrong advice):
1) You can only accompany him if you are common law or married (conjugal does not qualify). To be accepted as a common law couple, you must be able to provide hard evidence that you have been physically living together for at least one full and continuous year. Adding you to his insurance policies will not be accepted as proof you are common law - you need to prove you have actually lived together. So forget this route since you don't meet the criteria of an accompanying dependent.
2) You can certainly try entering Canada as a visitor. However you are only allowed to visit - you are not allowed to live here. If you arrive looking like you're trying to move to Canada, you could be only allowed in for a short period of time (not the full six months) or even denied entry completely. If you manage to get a six month visit, you can apply to extend your visit without leaving Canada once you are close to the end of the original six month period.
3) There is no rule that states you can apply for a work permit if you have been in Canada as a visitor for six months. This rule only applies to people holding TRPs (temporary resident permit). TRPs are a special class of visa that are very difficult to get and that allow someone who is otherwise inadmissible to Canada (typically due to a crime) to enter Canada. So you don't qualify for a work permit under this rule and if you apply you will be automatically refused. Again, you won't qualify for a work permit based on your boyfriend's job in Canada until you have lived together for a full year.
It sounds to me like your best bet is to try to enter Canada as a visitor for six months and then try to extend your visit for another six months afterwards. Keep in mind that you won't be able to work or attend school - and you won't be covered by Canada's health care system (so make sure you purchase private insurance). If you can find an employer in Canada willing to offer you a full time job then you may be able to apply for your own work permit. Finding an employer tends to be very difficult.
have a good day everyone 
