ontario-quebec-ontario with spouse

[tm12]

I am a Canadian PR. I landed in Ontario in May, 2007 and stayed there briefly for about 3 months. After that, I moved back to Bangladesh and have not returned since. I will be returning in the next couple of months (Aug, 2009).

Recently I have received an offer for graduate studies in Montreal, Quebec. While I am there, I will have to apply for my spouse to join me. If everything goes through smoothly, he will live in Montreal with me (2 years or so), however, after that we will move back to Ontario. Does living in Quebec count towards the years of living in Canada?

To sponsor him for his PR, what do i do? Do i apply as a Ontario resident or a Quebec resident? While the file will be processed, I will be in Montreal studying, however, my permanent address in Canada is in Toronto. I am very confused with these provincial laws and need desperate help. Also, say I apply as a Quebec Resident, if my husband gets his PR, will he not be free to move around the rest of Canada?

[Leon]

Quebec is not an independent country even if they would have you believe otherwise and time spent in Quebec will count as time towards your PR residency requirements.

You are not an Ontario resident and your permanent address is not in Toronto just because you stayed there 3 months in 2007.  Your residency and permanent address right now is in Bangladesh. 

When you move to Quebec for your studies, you will be a Quebec resident and your permanent address will be in Montreal.  Therefore you need to sponsor your husband from Quebec. 

Your husband will get a PR card that will look just like yours except it will have his name and photo on it.  It will say "CANADA" in big letters on it.  Just like you can use your PR card you got in Ontario to go study in Quebec without needing a student visa, he can use this card to live, work or study anywhere in Canada.

[msgomez]

 Does living in Quebec count towards the years of living in Canada?

Sorry, I mean no disrespect but this made me laugh out loud! Quebec IS one of the 10 provinces in Canada (regardless of what some might lead you to beleive...lol) and yes this will count towards years residing in Canada.

[tm12]

Thank you for your help. I just looked over the immigration process for quebec and the forms and everything is in french, so as a requirement to get his PR will my husband have to speak french? What french proficiency does he have to show? also, how is the quebec immigration process any different from the normal procedure, i mean, i understand there are different forms etc., but will the procedure take longer/shorter time. is it also more difficult in any way?

also, when he comes he first has to land in montreal right, after being sponsored from there, and then he can move about? please let me know. THANKS.

[Leon]

It's the same forms but with additional forms to be approved by Quebec also.  He should land in Quebec, doesn't have to be in Montreal.  He should give a Quebec address for his PR card to get mailed to.  That's about it.

Forms in English here: http://www.immigration-quebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/forms/search-title/undertaking-application/kit-a.html

After a quick look, I did not see requirements for a spouse to speak French but you should read it yourself to make sure.

[msgomez]

tm12 don't worry! Your spouse doesn't have to speak french to live or land here. You'll be fine!

And he doesn't necessarily have to land in Quebec. I had a friend who's husband landed in Toronto and then they drove to Montreal. They just processed all his landing papers there instead of here and it all worked out.

The process is slightly longer than the average only because you have to submit an extra set of forms after you're approved as a sponsor, for which you need to receive approval before the processing office will continue processing your file. Don't send them with the forms to CIC with your other apps - the Quebec portion is all done after you've been approved to sponsor.