That’s right. We met when I was on a work visa in Britain; I returned to the U.S., and we went through an elaborate process to get him a visa, creating a company to employ him. This was a headache and a half and I don’t recommend anyone do this: over half the money he earned went to company overhead (payroll taxes, lawyers, accountants, etc.). Running a company together, especially if it’s out of necessity rather than a dream, puts a strain on a relationship. Anyway, that visa had an expiration date (the end of next month), and there was no path to permanent residency.
I happen to be a dual citizen with Canada through my mother, though I’ve never lived here and she’s been in the US for 50 years. I sponsored him for immigration to Canada. We also had the option of going to Britain, so we were really lucky to have multiple options. Most people in our situation don’t have any.