Curious about residency (Canada/England)

[Stokens]

Hey everybody,

My girlfriend and I have been together for about 8 months after meeting in University, she left today to go back home for at least a year. I am thinking about the future and wondering what it would take to get her to stay here for a long period of time (a year roughly?). Now she came on a student visa for the duration of abroad studies. I'm wondering what it would take to get her here legally and off to a good start for permanent residency eventually. I know she has considered doing another program for school be it for 2 or 4 years. But to be here and do well she would have to work. I know I don't really have any information to help anybody too much because I'm just thinking roughly but I would really appreciate some help in any way as to what it may take. If it helps we are 20 and 21. I really do appreciate any help.

[Riyko]

Canada is a commonwealth of England so it shouldn't be too hard for her to get to Canada/england which ever you live in. All she'd have to do is look for working holiday visas in said country and apply it's even easier if she's a recent uni grad or still in school

[Tooki]

Am I right to assume that she was in Canada on Exchange studies and not to complete a Canadian degree?

If she is willing to not study straight away, your girlfriend could get a Working Holiday Visa in Canada and take it from there.

[Stokens]

Yeah you'd be right, she was just on an exchange year. I've looked into holiday visas and student visas and something called a K1. It does seem possible but the end goal of eventually living here permanently seems a bit fuzzy to me.

[Jade_Crystal]

Any goal of living permanently within a foreign country is fuzzy!

I guess in the end it will matter on luck and opportunity - where you search and if you search at the right time.

Getting a student visa sounds easier than the job one for a start, since jobs involve more risk and less reliability.
I'm sure you could give her a helping hand there in the beginning until she finds a job, once she's there for her studies.

[kteire]

A K1 visa is to the states, but there are similar things to the UK or Canada. One option could be for her to do the YMS visa (Tier 5 visa in the UK) and to live together for the full 2 years of the visa. Then you could apply for an unmarried partner visa (https://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/v...led/spouse-cp/) with having to prove your relationship (and you have to have been living together for 2 years but not necessarily married) or a fiancee visa, depending on when/if you want to get married.

That's basically what my SO and I are doing long term, except that I'll be going to university here in the UK