PR Sponsorship submit in Singapore or in KL, Malaysia

[infoseeeker]

Hello there,

Another question that would like some help with. I'm a Canadian about to sponsor my wife (Malaysian). We are both currently living and working here in Singapore. My wife has been living and working here in Singapore since 2007. In one of the form IMM1344AE,

Do you wish to have the application for permanent residence of the person you are sponsoring processed at the visa office responsible for this country?

Does this mean that it will be the office in Singapore or the one in KL, Malaysia?

Thanks for the help!

[canadianwoman]

If she was admitted to Singapore for a year (work permit, for example), she can have her application processed in Singapore if she wishes. She can also choose to have it processed in KL. It's her choice (though sometimes the visa officer will send the application back to the home country of the applicant). KL is faster than Singapore, and going to KL for the interview will not be any problem, so I would choose KL.

[infoseeeker]

If she was admitted to Singapore for a year (work permit, for example), she can have her application processed in Singapore if she wishes. She can also choose to have it processed in KL. It's her choice (though sometimes the visa officer will send the application back to the home country of the applicant). KL is faster than Singapore, and going to KL for the interview will not be any problem, so I would choose KL.

Hi Canadianwoman!

Thanks for the help and suggestion. Excuse the ignorance, but I just would have thought that applying through Singapore would be faster. We've dealt with Malaysia Government before and they are very sloooow in most things. That is the common understanding from the our friends and family. This is why we were hoping to apply in Singapore.

But for this kind of stuff, I guess we are dealing with Canadian Immigrations, so hopefully this is a different story. Another reason why we were hoping to do it here, is that when we do the interview, we don't have to take time off to make a trip to KL for it. Yes, although, a short flight away, it would still force us to take a day off or two. Mind you if we are talking about a month or two or more faster, then this is definitely worth it. Do you know how much faster KL is? thanks!

[scylla]

Processing times for all visa offices are posted here. KL is definitely faster than Singapore and I agree with canadianwoman's recommendation:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/perm/fc-spouses.asp

[canadianwoman]

Excuse the ignorance, but I just would have thought that applying through Singapore would be faster. We've dealt with Malaysia Government before and they are very sloooow in most things. That is the common understanding from the our friends and family. This is why we were hoping to apply in Singapore.

But for this kind of stuff, I guess we are dealing with Canadian Immigrations, so hopefully this is a different story.

You will be dealing with the Canadian government in both cities. The Canadian visa office in Kuala Lumpur only handles applicants from Malaysia, whereas the Singapore office handles applicants from several countries, some of which are considered high risk for marriage fraud, which is what makes the average wait time in Singapore so long (I assume).
Still, if your wife's application includes a lot of evidence that your marriage is genuine, you will most likely get approved more quickly than the average in either Singapore or KL. She can apply through either office, so it is really up to you two to decide.

[infoseeeker]

Hi Scylla and Canadianwoman,

thanks for the information. Actually I wasn't aware of the website with the estimate times. This is very helpful information. I guess in hopes of speeding things up, we can surely send it as much information about our relationship as possible as suggested.

Looks like KL is the better route for us then. I guess the next question then is the Medical check up, we will need to select the KL office for them to sent the results to. Can you recommend how much time ahead should we do the checkup before we drop off our application to the KL office?

[canadianwoman]

You have to go to a DMP (designated medical practicioner) for the medical, but it can be any DMP, so she could get the physical done in Singapore. The doctor will give her "Copy 2 of the Medical Report - Section A", which you then include in the PR application when you send it to Mississauga. The doctor sends the medical report to the appropriate government agency.

[infoseeeker]

hi Canadianwoman,

Sorry I'm confused again. You mentioned that we can choose either KL or Singapore. But just then you mentioned that we mail the application to the Mississauga office. Once we have all our papers and supporting documents do we submit the papers to the Canadian High Council office (SG/KL) or mail the whole package directly to Mississauga?

I just checked in Step 4 of the Immigration Guide http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/guides/3900E6.asp

Under Submit the Application, indicates to mail it to Mississauga. Am I correct that going through KL/SG office would be the same?

[CharlieD10]

You mail the completed package to CPC-Mississauga, who approves the sponsor, ensures the package is complete and then forwards it to the office you have chosen, KL or SG.

[Cheers]

You will be dealing with the Canadian government in both cities. The Canadian visa office in Kuala Lumpur only handles applicants from Malaysia, whereas the Singapore office handles applicants from several countries, some of which are considered high risk for marriage fraud, which is what makes the average wait time in Singapore so long (I assume).
Still, if your wife's application includes a lot of evidence that your marriage is genuine, you will most likely get approved more quickly than the average in either Singapore or KL. She can apply through either office, so it is really up to you two to decide.

Canadianwoman: where do you get your stats from or you just assumed that some of the countries dealt by SG are considered "high risk for marriage fraud". In the case, you have some sort of record or stats, I was wondering if you could share that with the forum. Since I am dealing with SG, that sort of stats would provide me more insight on what I am/we are up against.

Thanks.

[canadianwoman]

Just from general reading about immigration. I also requested information from the government under the Access to Information Act about refusal rates and other immigration questions; if you have a specific question about the Singapore visa office you can ask under that Act for the info.
Rjessome posted this link a while ago: you can find info on the refusal rates and other statistics here.
http://www.data.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=En&n=C517024E&xsl=datacataloguesearchrenderer%2Cresult&searchoffset=1&searchdisplaycount=10&databasematch=wsforms&filtername=formtype&formtype=DD116BB0-BB54-41A5-B210-D245C0139CA9&keywords=immigration&submit=Search

[infoseeeker]

Thanks for the help again guys.

I'd like to check one more thing with you guys. We went to a DMP to have my wife's health check up done. The one we chose was flat out scary and she had a horrible experience with the doctor taking blood from her. Anyway, we'll do a proper review of that in another thread, but what was concerning to us was that the doctor indicated that they are only allowed to send the results to the High Com office in SG and not to KL. Is this normal? When we submit all of our application to the Mississauga office for processing and we tell them that we want to choose KL as the office where we want her processing to be done? How will the KL office gain access to her medical results? We appreciate the help!

[canadianwoman]

The DMP is supposed to send the medical results to the Regional Medical Office in the area where your visa office is. It seems Kuala Lumpur does not have its own Regional Medical Office; Singapore does have one, though, so presumably sending the medical there is correct. The visa office in KL will then request the results from that office.
Here's the DMP handbook:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/publications/dmp-handbook/appendix-02.asp

The DMP should have given your wife copy 2 of the Medical Report - Section A, which you then include in your application when you send it to Mississauga. From the Region Specific Guide:
"PROOF OF MEDICAL EXAMINATION
Include for yourself and each of your family members Copy 2 of the Medical Report-Section A that the DMP will sign and give to you when you undergo the medical examination. See Appendix C for further instructions."