Hello, I have been doing some research on various websites and I still have some questions about work permits that I would love to have answered.

First, the situation. I am a Canadian citizen, and my boyfriend is an American citizen. He is planning to come to Canada to live with me starting next summer. He will not be a student. We understand that he has 180 days to be in the country as a visitor, so during this time he will be looking for a job. Once he receives a job offer, he will need to obtain a work permit. Our main concern is this: He does not have any specific skills that seem to be required to qualify as a skilled worker. We're worried that a Labour Market Opinion will not necessarily come back positive. Is it really as difficult as it seems through the research? He's not looking for any specific job, he just wants to be able to work and make an income to contribute to our living expenses. If he doesn't receive a positive LMO, what are our options at that point? Does he just continue finding different jobs where the employer is willing to submit an LMO until one comes back positive, meanwhile trying to extend his visitor status? How long does the process usually take from when the employer submits an LMO to obtaining a work permit? He obviously won't have eternity to be granted a permit, so what is available to us at that point?

Any answers or help to this situation would be wonderful. We understand that if he stays in Canada (possibly on extended visitor visa, etc) for a year, we could then be considered common-law and would thus be able to apply for family sponsorship permanent resident status. However, it is important to us that he is able to find work, since we wouldn't be able to afford living expenses for an entire year otherwise.

Thanks very much for any help you are able to provide.