Canadian looking to stay in the UK after YSM visa expires

[nebula05]

My Canadian girlfriend is in the UK on a Tier 5 (youth mobility scheme) and it expires in March 2013. She is already worrying about having to go back to Canada. She has a permanent job over here and does not want to leave. Besides marriage what other options do we have to help her remain in the country? Or even if there is no other option and she has to return back to Canada then what visa and time frame would be best for her to comeback in the future?

Any advice would be most appreciated as we both are struggling to find answers anywhere else.

[Lucapooka]

She would have to return to Canada for any type of visa (perhaps limited to PBS categories unless she has British grandparents) other than a settlement visa based on her relationship with you (meaning marriage or 2 years of interpersonal relationship akin to marriage).

[ajf773]

The youth mobility programme certainly has its difficulties for anyone who wishes to stay beyond two years. Now that the UKBA closed tier 1 general, it makes it incredibly hard to obtain leave to remain for further than that.

If her permanent job likely to fall on the job shortage list for tier 2, then her employ may consider sponsoring her.

Bear in mind, that changing immigration categories will require the applicant to return to their home country in most cases.