Good Morning, I was wondering if you could help me out with this question I have. My boyfriend has just arrived a couple of days ago from Texas. He is thinking about getting a job here in Vancouver. I am no so great with the computers, so I was hoping you could help me out. Do you or your company help people apply for work permits? I don't know of any lawyers in our area that does that kind of thing. I am in the military and I will be staying in Vancouver for the next 5 yrs. Any help would be greatly appreciated. ----------------------------------------------------- david ingram replies: I do not do this myself anymore. However, he can apply on his own for PR (Permanent Resident) Status in Canada or if you were to get married, you can apply to sponsor him. If he has a recognized university degree (not a BA) such as a P ENG or CPA or B SC or LLB, he could be working and living here in 24 hours if he finds the right job under NAFTA. If he does not have a profession or specialized knowledge, it is unlikely that a company can hire him and sponsor him. This means that if he wanted to be a warehouse man or truck driver or bus driver or sales clerk or electrician's helper, he would not make it although there are some exceptions for construction trades right now. The following gives links to the forms that you would need to sponsor him if you decided to get married and a link to the self-assessment test if he wanted to try it himself on points. -------------------------- Hi David, You've been getting a lot of questions lately about combined US/CDN spouses relocating to Canada, and I've got good information so far. I still have some questions I'd appreciate if you could clarify: My boyfriend is American and I'm Canadian, and we've been living together for 14 months in Alaska. I'm on a TN work visa here, I've applied to go to school in Canada in Sept. 2006, and he's a physician hoping to move there with me and work in Ontario. So, is it better for me to sponsor him from within Canada or without? If I am his sponser, are there any differences (eg. length of processing time, work restrictions, health insurance) if he enters the country as a common-law partner versus as a skilled worker? Which way would get him in faster, and roughly how long does it take? Do I start the whole process now? What would happen if we got married in the future - how does that change cross-border issues? Thanks so much, this is a fantastic site - kudos! =========================================== david ingram replies: Start your application now. If he is your common -law husband apply that way. However, we do NOT have a fiancée visa, We only have a spousal (common - law, con jugal, or formal marriage) visa. I f you give the border people any idea that you are only "trying it out" engaged to be married, or that your present relationship is temporary in any way, he will be denied entry as a spouse. If you or he are/is not sure of your relationship, he should start his own application immediately as a skilled worker. His fastest method of coming to Canada would be as an employee doctor - perhaps as a full time emergency room physician at a hospital. In that position, he can come in 24 hours with a Treaty NAFTA visa. As a Skilled worker, he is likely looking at 24 to 30 months and as a spouse, he is likely looking at 12 top 24 months before he can start working. If you want to sponsor him, the necessary paperwork can be found at, i.e. You can start the process by going to: 1. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/guides/3910e.pdf This is a guide for sponsoring a US citizen spouse into Canada. Publication 3910E 2. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/forms/IMM1344EA.pdf This is the application form to sponsor - form IMM-1344A 3. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/forms/IMM1344EB.pdf This is the sponsorship agreement - Form IMM-1344B 4. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/forms/IMM5481E.PDF This is the Sponsorship Evaluation Form IMM-5481 5. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/forms/IMM5409E.PDF This is a statutory declaration of a common-law marriage - FORM IMM-5409 6. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/forms/IMM5540E.PDF This is the Sponsor Questionnaire - Form IMM-5540 7. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/forms/IMM5540E.PDF This is an authority to release information - FORM IMM-5540 8. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/forms/IMM5491E.PDF This is a document Checklist - Form IMM-5491 9. http://www.canadapost.ca/tools/docp/CIC/bin/hpm-e.asp This is where you order your official receipt 10. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/forms/imm0008egen.pdf This is your actual Application for Permanent Residence - FORM IMM-0008GEN 11. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/forms/imm0008_1e.pdf This is your Background Declaration - FORM IMM-008_1 12. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/forms/IMM5406E.PDF This is your additional family information - FORM IMM-5406 13. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/forms/IMM5490E.PDF This is your spouse or conjugal partner questionnaire -= FORM IMM-5490 14. The Above PLUS a police report from your local police station (See the guide for details) applies to those being sponsored from the UNITED STATES. There is a separate brochure for every country. If you are reading this and are from any other country (Australia, Brunei, Austria, Venezuela, etc) goto 14a http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/applications/fc.html for other country guides. 15. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/skilled/assess/index.html This is the self-assessment test for an individual to determine his or her eligibility to immigrate to Canada without being sponsored by a spouse. I know this will help you make your decision. If we can help you, remember, that is what we do for a living. In particular you should goto www.centa.com and click on and read US/Canada taxation BEFORE you come. Be ALERT, the world needs more "lerts" Answers to this and other similar questions can be obtained free on Air every Sunday morning. Every Sunday at 9:00 AM on 600AM in Vancouver, Fred Snyder of Cartier Partners and I will be hosting an INFOMERCIAL but LIVE talk show called "ITS YOUR MONEY" Those outside of the Lower Mainland will be able to listen on the internet at www.600AM.com Local phone calls to (604) 280-0600 - Long distance calls to 1-866-778-0600. Old shows are archived at the site. This from ask an income tax immigration planning and bankruptcy expert consultant guru or preparer from www.centa.com or www.jurock.com or www.featureweb.com. Canadian David Ingram deals daily with tax returns dealing with expatriate: multi jurisdictional cross and trans border expatriate gambling refunds for the United States, Canada Mexico Great Britain the United Kingdom, Kuwait, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Thailand, Indonesia, Egypt, Antarctica, Japan, China, New Zealand, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Russia, Georgia, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Scotland, Ireland, Hawaii, Florida, Montana, Morocco, Israel, Iraq, Iran, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Mali, Bangkok, Greenland, Iceland, Cuba, Bahamas, Bermuda, Barbados, St Vincent, Grenada,, Virgin Islands, US, UK, GB, American and Canadian and Mexican and any of the 43 states with state tax returns, etc. income tax wizard wizzard guru advisor advisors experts specialist specialists consultants taxmen taxman tax woman planner planning preparer of Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California Denver Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware District of Columbia Miami Florida, Garland Georgia, Honolulu Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana Des Moines Iowa Kansas Kentucky, Louisiana Bangor Maine Maryland Boston, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon. Paris, Rome, Sydney, Australia Hilton Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Rockwall, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec City, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Yukon and Northwest and Nunavit Territories, Mount Vernon, Eumenclaw, Coos Bay and Dallas Houston Rockwall Garland Texas Taxman and Tax Guru and wizzard wizard - David Ingram's US/Canada Services US/Canada/Mexico Tax Immigration & working Visa Specialists US / Canada Real Estate Specialists 4466 Prospect Road North Vancouver, BC, CANADA, V7N 3L7 Calls accepted from 10 AM to 10 PM 7 days a week Res (604) 980-3578 Cell (604) 657-8451 Bus (604) 980-0321 davidingram at shaw.ca www.centa.com www.david-ingram.com Disclaimer: This question has been answered without detailed information or consultation and is to be regarded only as general comment. Nothing in this message is or should be construed as advice in any particular circumstances. No contract exists between the reader & the author and any and all non-contractual duties are expressly denied. All readers should obtain formal advice from a competent financial, or real estate planner or advisor & appropriately qualified legal practitioner, tax or immigration specialist in connection with personal or business affairs such as at www.centa.com. If you forward this message, this disclaimer must be included." ask international non-resident income tax expert preparation & immigration consultant david ingram, experts on rentals mutual funds RRSP RESP IRA 401(K) & divorce CKBD 600AM 9 AM Sunday on Fred Snyder's IT's YOUR MONEY
