Can I move back to Canada and then sponsor my husband living in Greece?

[rthemelis]

I am Canadian and have been married and living in Greece for the past 13 years.  My husband is 100% Greek and together we have two sweet children.  My son is currently in grade three and my daughter will be starting grade 1 in the fall of 2011.  I really want her to be able to begin grade school in Canada and we have decided that we will sell our properties here (in Greece) to make the move.  The thing is that it is highly unlikely these properties will sell fast due to the economic crisis.  I will be traveling to Canada with my two kids in July and plan to stay.  I will register with the university for some up-grading and register my children in school there as well.  Myself and the kids will be living with my mom until my husband is granted permanent residency.  Hubby will stay in Greece working as usual in hopes of selling the properties.

My dilemma:  Should I apply to sponsor him as a permanent resident while still living in Greece OR should I wait and send in the applications once I get to Canada?  

[emmagail]

If you start your process NOW, outland, by the time you are ready to leave, after the summer holidays from school, i presume, he will have half the waiting time done, so he will, if at all, be apart just a few months.

I don't know anything about the Greek housing market, but i would imagine its like the Irish (PIGS, according to IMF/EU), the property wont be easy to shift

[CharlieD10]

If you start the process in Canada and show that you are becoming re-established there, it reduces the burden of proof on you that you will be re-establishing in Canada when he is granted PR.  Showing that your kids are in school, you are enrolled and so on will mean you have already taken care of that requirement as a citizen sponsoring from abroad.  Once sponsorship is approved, if you want to go back to live with your husband to wait out the process and wrap up your affairs, it shouldn't be an issue.

[canadianwoman]

It's true that if you apply now from Greece, you will have to provide proof you will be going back to Canada, so it adds another layer of evidence you have to gather for the application. But I still think you should apply now. Your husband will get to Canada that much faster, and you should have no trouble proving you will go back to Canada: give them copies of your university enrollment, the kids' school enrollment, a letter from your mom stating you and the kids will be staying with her until your husband gets there.
In addition, by the time an interview rolls around, you and the children will already be back in Canada, so the visa officer will have to accept your 'will return to Canada' evidence as genuine.

[LGK616]

I wonder if we know each other!  I am in the same boat!

I'm a Canadian Citizen, have been living in Thessaloniki for eight years, married my Greek husband in 2008 and we have a 2 1/2 year old daughter.  We are now talking about moving back to Canada.  But I am so confused with papers and fees and what nots.

I anticipate being here till September or at least the end of the year, so I should file from Greece for my husband.  Correct?

I plan to maybe go first with my daughter as well in January 2012, stay with family and secure work.  Once I have the job, I will move to our own place.

So what is it that I need to know as well.  That they don't tell you on the website?  And for some other questions:

- estimated timeframe for approvals?
- cost?
- funds to prove I can support him - how much?

ANY insight from experienced would be so helpful!!!

[toby]

I believe from all that I have read on this forum that outland applications go faster than inland, and if Greek outland applications tend to be processed relatively quickly, then why not apply outland, asap?  Your husband needs to stay in Greece until the properties are sold anyway, so the time spent apart for financial reasons will probably equal the processing time for an outland application.

You should not have any difficulty showing your intention to return to Canada (and CIC  Mississauga almost always approves sponsor applications). Showing school pre-registration, or naming the school as part of a brief but detailed plan for settling in Canada, and a letter from your parents saying you will be staying with them until you husband lands, are all valid and convincing proofs.