How can a US citizen get a year-long visa in Canada?
The HRDC thing for the temporary worker visa is not really that big of a deal for the employer; they just have to wait a bit before you can start. Basically you need a letter from them saying that they coulud not find a qualified Canadian for the job, and they would like to hire you. Take this to HRDC desk (in the same office where you apply for the worker visa IIRC) and hope they agree. Thw worker visa is good for one year and is renewable, and you can apply for a permanent resident visa then. Three years later, you can get citizenship. All done!
The visitor visa is probably renewable if she simply goes back to the US for a day and renews it. I know it works that way with the one-year TN-class work visas; before they run out you go back and get a new one on your return. Finally, if she’s willing to skirt the law: Q7: I have overstayed my visa or visitor record. Can I apply for permanent residence in the spouse or common-law partner in Canada class? Yes. If your temporary resident visa or visitor record has expired, and you are still in Canada, you can apply to become a permanent resident under the s pouse or common-law partner in Canada class. From CIC. Note that this applies to common-law as well as married spouses, so they only have to live together for a year for her to qualify for this. It looks like you’re technically breaking immigration law, but that it doesn’t stop you from immigrating. Also, I believe she would have to get landed immigrant status first
Your sister should be careful about entering on a tourist visa and extending it when her intent is not to be a tourist but to immigrate to Canada. Misrepresenting your intentions can piss off immigration agencies. I don’t know how fussy Immigration Canada is about this sort of thing. It pisses the holy hell out of US ICE/BCIS. Unless of course they’re planning on moving to the US. In which case, they really want to get married in the US (fiancee visas are quicker and easier than dealing with the spousal process, at least from Canada), and they need to start the paperwork with US BCIS like a month ago.
One very simple solution would be to stay for 6 months and then exit and re-enter Canada with a brand new 6 month visitor’s visa. Of course, this won’t solve the right to work problem. However, I know Europeans who have moved to Canada on a visitor’s visa then got a job where the employer was willing to go through the HRDC (Human Resources Development Canada) legal work to employ them which is essentially proving that no qualified Canadian is available to do the job. Eventually, you become a permanent resident and gain the right to work for any employer without having to do such silly procedures. I’m sure there are lots of other types of visas that she can get depending on the rarity of skills. Have you searched the Government of Canada’s website for different types of NAFTA visas?
