US Citizen Attempting to Be WIth Girlfriend In Canada?

Question

Hi, I have a serious/romantic relationship with a girl currently living in Calgary, Canada. This September she will be moving to a college dorm in Kingston, Ontario to attend a University. We have been planning to live together for over a year now and I'm confused as to the immigration laws in Canada.

First of all I am a U.S. Citizen and have recently renewed my passport so the expiration date is good for another 10 years. I am 19 years old, have an excellent education history but stopped in my final year of High School for various personal reasons pertaining to future life goals such as professional boxing.

Her and I also plan on getting married within the next year. What we want is to be able to live together throughout her college years in that University. We've gone through so much in our wait to be back together physically again and are starting to get really desperate.

My question is is there any way for us to be together for those 4 years? I've read all over....

Answer 1

You can get most of these questions answered at the Canadian immigration web-site.  As a U.S. citizen you can stay in Canada for as long as 6 months at a stretch as a visitor...you would then need to pop across the border again for another 6 months.  You cannot work in Canada or buy property until you obtain a visa.  Where were you planning on living?  I'm sure you wouldn't be able to live in her dorm.  If you are planning to immigrate to Canada your fiance can sponsor you.  I'm not sure if there is any law that would keep you from marrying.  I imagine the immigration process is easier as a spouse of a Canadian citizen.

Good Luck!

Answer 2

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/index.asp

If you wish to study or work in Canada, you need to apply for a visa, above. Your lack of education will count against you in this for immigration.

You may stay in Canada for six months as a tourist, but you may not work or access any Canadian services. If your friend is not a Canadian citizen, getting married may not help you to get a visa.

I believe that you may only live in a dorm if you are a student and pay residence fees.

Sorry.

Answer 3

You can visit Canada for up to six months as a US citizen.  For the purpose of immigrating to Canada you do not have a good education history - you are a high school dropout, which is a poor education history.  

Is your girlfriend a Canadian citizen?  If so, when you have been in a committed relationship for more than a year (whether you lived together or not), she can sponsor you to come to Canada.  However, if she is a student, how would she support you?  By sponsoring you, she would be agreeing to support you, since you would not be able to work in Canada.  

There is no easy answer to how  you could be together in Canada for the four years of her university.  Even if you were a Canadian citizen you would not be able to live with her in her college dorm unless you were also a student at that school.  You need to finish high school, and then possibly you could apply to attend the same university she is attending and come to Canada on a study visa to start.  If you truly want to be together, get your high school diploma and go from there.