Landed Canadian immigrant not residing in Canada: how to apply for wife

[karimiz]

I became a landed Canadian immigrant in July 2007. After getting my PR i returned to the US for work. I then got married in my home country (Pakistan) in Dec 2007 and i am currently in US.

All this time i forgot to update CIC that i got married. Now i and my wife are planning to settle in Canada. My questions are:

1. Is there a problem for for one year i have not updated my maritial status.

2. How can i update the status while in the USA?

3. What is the best way of applying my wife's immigration. Can i do it while sitting in the USA OR do i need to apply for her Canadaian visit visa then go there and apply from Canada?

[Leon]

1. No
2. You can fax them or just wait until you sponsor your wife
3. As a PR, you can not sponsor from outside Canada.  You have to go to Canada and file from here.  You may be able to get her a visit visa, maybe not.  Immigration might be suspicious of it but if that is a problem, you go to Canada alone and do the sponsorship and she will join you in Canada when she gets PR.

[PMM]

Hi

1. No
2. You can fax them or just wait until you sponsor your wife
3. As a PR, you can not sponsor from outside Canada.  You have to go to Canada and file from here.  You may be able to get her a visit visa, maybe not.  Immigration might be suspicious of it but if that is a problem, you go to Canada alone and do the sponsorship and she will join you in Canada when she gets PR.

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The OP doesn't update CIC on his martial status.  He is a PR and received it before he married so CIC doesn't care.

PMM

[karimiz]

thanks guys!! one more thing..if i want to apply for her visit visa for canada...do i tell them that i am a prc holder and that i would be sponsoring my wife once we reach there...or should we just tell them that she is going to visit her family in canada? which is safer?

secondly: what is the time duartion of the sponsorship if done while staying in canada?

thanks!

[Leon]

You always have the option of getting the file processed in her homeland (outland application) and usually this is faster, depends on where she is from.  You can see the processing times at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/international/05-fc-spouses.asp and add a month for sponsorship evaluation.

For inland, processed in Canada completely, it takes 5-6 months to get first stage and work permit, 12 to 18 months to get PR but it can take longer sometimes if something is wrong.  Also if you do inland, it's not advised that you travel while it's in process.

[karimiz]

hi!!


i have one more question..... i have PR...and if i apply for a visit visa for my wife, what should i answer to the following question:

 " Have you or any member of your family ever Applied for any Canadian Immigration visas (e.g. Permanent Resident, Student, Worker, Temporary Resident (visitor), Temporary Resident Permit)?"

being a spouse of a permanent resident of Canada, should we answer Yes or No to this question and Will there be any future implications if we answer No, etc.

thanks!!