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Sponsorship of parents, children, spouses (common-law, conjugal, same sex), refugees.

Canadian with Criminal Record - Sponsor US Citizen 

darksample
darksample
Posts: 1


Posted On: 7/1/2015
darksample
darksample
Posts: 1
I have a friend who is a US citizen.

She met a guy who lives in Vancouver area of Canada through a video game 3 weeks ago.

He just asked her to move to Canada and said she wants to go through with it.

Background information: She does not have a job, no money in the bank, only sells some things on etsy. She has a long mental health history where she's on multiple medications and wants to get health insurance. And he has a criminal record and says he can't leave Canada.

He told her that he can sponsor her through common law marriage in order for her to become a legal Canadian citizen.

Again they have only been talking online for 3 weeks, have never met in person, he can't come to the US and she has been made to believe she'll automatically become a Canadian resident.

Is this true, can he make her a legal citizen of Canada with having a criminal record?
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MelM
MelM
Posts: 226


Posted On: 7/1/2015
MelM
MelM
Posts: 226
There's nothing automatic about becoming a permanent resident of Canada and they are still a long way off from qualifying to apply for anything.

He can't sponsor her as his common law partner. In order to sponsor her as his common law partner - they would first have to physically live together for a minimum of one full year. So in order for him to sponsor her, they would either need to live together for a year first or get married. Those are the only two options.

At this time she can certainly try to visit him in Canada - however she cannot "live" in Canada (she won't be able to officially live in Canada until her application for permanent residency is approved). She won't qualify for health care coverage as a visitor. So if she's coming as a visitor - she'll either need to buy private insurance or be ready to pay for any care / medication she receives out of her own pocket.

As for the criminal record question - it depends on the crime. Some prevent sponsorship and some don't.
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