International studies,common-law status,marriage??

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Hi, everybody!  

     Everybody who wants to live in Canada or stay in one or the other way has his own unique and different story. I am about to ask you a question and I really hope that some of you are going to understand my story and give me a clue, tip, hint or anything that can help me fulfill my dreams.
     Namely, I am 25 years old, writing from Serbia, Europe. I have graduated from my University, and my girlfriend is 26 years old, she has also graduated and got her masters degree. We have been together for more than five years, and we are both Serbian citizens. Since we have been together, due to certain circumstances, we never had the chance to live together on the same address. We live in different cities, not so far away one from each other, but they are still far enough from each other so that we could not see each other every day. Conclusion is, we are in a relationship for more that five years, but never had the chance to live together, and we always visited each other, as often as we could. 
     My dream was always to come to study, work and live in Vancouver, B.C, which I consider to be one of the most beautiful cities ever. It is also a good place for seeking my future job. In the last few years, I got more into Canadian immigration laws, procedures and everything that goes with it. 
A couple of months ago I applied for a program at Vancouver Film School, a fully-accredited post-secondary educational institution. A couple of weeks ago I got the letter that said that I got accepted, and my program is starting on August 30th this year, 2010. The program is twelve months long. Somewhere in June this year I should be applying for Canadian student visa, which will allow me to stay in Canada for the time of my studies. After that, I am supposed to return home to Serbia. This would be very bad, because chances of finding a good job here are very, very small. Therefore, I will do anything to try and find a job offer while still in Canada, so that my student visa can be 'transformed' into a work visa, for a certain period of time, depending on the employer. After that, I will try to use one of many Canadian immigration programs and get a permanent resident card, hopefully. That is my story.
     The story of my girlfriend is as follows. She is most definitely going to get a job sometime in a near future, but her salary is not going to be as she was hoping it is going to be. Anyway, she is going to stay here in Serbia, working, while I am in Canada, studying. We are ready to be separated as long as it takes, but we are willing to do anything to get together in Canada one day and stay and have family there.

     I have read tons and tons of things about international studies, common-law marriage, and all types os visas...but I was hoping for a real-world advice from some of you, guys.
     I was wondering, in your opinion, guys, what are our options...I was thinking, maybe getting married before I leave, and then, when I get a permanent resident card (which is going to take a long time, a couple of years, at least), sponsor her. Then, maybe, bring her to Canada as a visitor and get married there. Then, maybe, if and when I obtain a work visa, to bring her and marry then. Just as long as we can stay together. The possibilities are many!
     What is your experience? Your opinion? Maybe some of you, guys, had the similar or the same situation and issues as ours and can help us with a hint or tip, which would be just priceless, because there are some things that you just can't find on any official immigration web site.
      Any, and I mean any help is greatly appreciated!!!

All the best to all of you,
Matt  

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Tomlija Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List New Member Joined: 15 Jan 2010 Status: Offline Points: 1	Post Options Post Reply Quote Tomlija Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: International studies,common-law status,marriage?? Posted: 15 Jan 2010 at 8:01pm
	Hi, everybody! Everybody who wants to live in Canada or stay in one or the other way has his own unique and different story. I am about to ask you a question and I really hope that some of you are going to understand my story and give me a clue, tip, hint or anything that can help me fulfill my dreams. Namely, I am 25 years old, writing from Serbia, Europe. I have graduated from my University, and my girlfriend is 26 years old, she has also graduated and got her masters degree. We have been together for more than five years, and we are both Serbian citizens. Since we have been together, due to certain circumstances, we never had the chance to live together on the same address. We live in different cities, not so far away one from each other, but they are still far enough from each other so that we could not see each other every day. Conclusion is, we are in a relationship for more that five years, but never had the chance to live together, and we always visited each other, as often as we could. My dream was always to come to study, work and live in Vancouver, B.C, which I consider to be one of the most beautiful cities ever. It is also a good place for seeking my future job. In the last few years, I got more into Canadian immigration laws, procedures and everything that goes with it. A couple of months ago I applied for a program at Vancouver Film School, a fully-accredited post-secondary educational institution. A couple of weeks ago I got the letter that said that I got accepted, and my program is starting on August 30th this year, 2010. The program is twelve months long. Somewhere in June this year I should be applying for Canadian student visa, which will allow me to stay in Canada for the time of my studies. After that, I am supposed to return home to Serbia. This would be very bad, because chances of finding a good job here are very, very small. Therefore, I will do anything to try and find a job offer while still in Canada, so that my student visa can be 'transformed' into a work visa, for a certain period of time, depending on the employer. After that, I will try to use one of many Canadian immigration programs and get a permanent resident card, hopefully. That is my story. The story of my girlfriend is as follows. She is most definitely going to get a job sometime in a near future, but her salary is not going to be as she was hoping it is going to be. Anyway, she is going to stay here in Serbia, working, while I am in Canada, studying. We are ready to be separated as long as it takes, but we are willing to do anything to get together in Canada one day and stay and have family there. I have read tons and tons of things about international studies, common-law marriage, and all types os visas...but I was hoping for a real-world advice from some of you, guys. I was wondering, in your opinion, guys, what are our options...I was thinking, maybe getting married before I leave, and then, when I get a permanent resident card (which is going to take a long time, a couple of years, at least), sponsor her. Then, maybe, bring her to Canada as a visitor and get married there. Then, maybe, if and when I obtain a work visa, to bring her and marry then. Just as long as we can stay together. The possibilities are many! What is your experience? Your opinion? Maybe some of you, guys, had the similar or the same situation and issues as ours and can help us with a hint or tip, which would be just priceless, because there are some things that you just can't find on any official immigration web site. *Any, and I mean any* help is greatly appreciated!!!** All the best to all of you, Matt

redeagle Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Top Member Joined: 03 Dec 2009 Location: Gibsons, BC Status: Offline Points: 1178	Post Options Post Reply Quote redeagle Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 15 Jan 2010 at 9:22pm
	Hi Matt, I think you are jumping the gun here a little, first and formost you need to find a job here. That may or may not be an easy task. And as you have already yourself stated, you will need to be here some time before any option apears to be available to get your PR. That said it is not impossible, if you qualify under the worker class then you could come here and perhaps sponsor your girlfriend as either a conjugal or married partner. You are going to struggle on any front to sponser her as a common-law partner as althought there may be reasons you two have not been living together, this has been your own choices regardless of your situations. You could have both lived together in your own country if you had been hell bent on doing so. I think you have a long way to go yet and although no ones dreams should be disregarded, the reality of it is that it is going to take you some time to sort out your own situation before you even look to sponsoring your partner. There is of course the alternate of you being married and you finding a job here and then perhaps having the ability to bring your wife here as a spouse, there is no guarentee that she would be able to work though. Although you mentioned studies you did not mention much if anything about work experience, perhaps your best bet for the time being at least would be to look into a PNP programme.
	"Will this matter a year from now?" Probably, this is gonna be a one hell of a long journey.