Wanting to move to Canada while disabled. Help, please?

[Lilibet]

So, my story is really complex but here goes.

I am a US citizen, on SSI and SSDI, Social Security Disability basically. I have not worked for over 10 years now.

My boyfriend lives in Canada, we originally met on the internet and have been in an ongoing long distance relationship for 5 months now. I understand there is a spousal support visa of some kind in Canada, but I don't think he is eligible for it since he just recently got approved for AISH, himself.

I want to visit him this fall, I am currently saving whatever money I can in order to be able to actually drive to Canada and visit him for a little while. Even if I do visit him, I won't be able to stay for more than an entire month because then Social Security will probably take away half my funds if I visit for any longer, until I suppose I return to the US.

While I am visiting him, and depending on how he and I hold up, we have a plan to go to an immigration office and try to find out more information on how I can possibly eventually get a Visa to move here to Canada to be with my boyfriend. He has gone to this office already and we found out that they will be charging us funds depending on how much time it would take to help us, so I am trying to save for all of that too. I am overwhelmed by whatever information I keep trying to find via the internet and despite the cost I think it would be ideal to have people experienced in this helping me fill out paperwork.

If it comes to it, I would try to find a way to work from home, if needed, if it is required for me to stay in Canada, but I keep getting mixed information on that matter.

Furthermore, I am not sure if driving to the Canadian border from the US will require more than just my driver's licence and a passport or if I need anything else in order to cross over and return?

Is there any way I can possibly work on being able to arrange to live with and be with my boyfriend legally in Canada? Is there hope for us, even though we are both are on a form of disability income?

 

[scylla]

Your boyfriend can sponsor you for permanent residency once you are either married or common law. Common law means that you have lived together continuously for at least one full year. There is no minimum income to sponsor a spouse/common law partner - having said that, you cannot be on social assistance for reasons other than disability. If your boyfriend is on disability social assistance - he can sponsor you. If he is on regular social assistance - he needs to get off it before he can apply to sponsor you and will need to remain off. Even if he's on for disability reasons, it's still possible for the application to be refused if CIC has concerns that you will be a burden on the social care system here. The fact you're on disability yourself and haven't worked in 10 years unfortunately won't help your case. But it's possible it won't be a problem. Hard to say until you go through the process.

There is no government-run immigration office you can visit for advice or assistance. If you're looking for that sort of support, you'll need to hire an immigration lawyer or consultant.

There's a great deal of information on the spousal sponsorship process in the Family Sponsorship section of the forum. I would recommend you start by reading through the discussions there.

 

[Lilibet]

Thank you for your response. My boyfriend and I are considering other backup options if things don't work out in Canada for us.

 

[scylla]

FYI - unlike Canada, the US has a minimum income requirement to sponsor a spouse/partner. So if you decide to both relocate to the US instead, you would have to find a co-signer who will agree to be financially responsible for your spouse. Immigration to Canada is easier in that regard.