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Canadian moving to QC with American spouse

cananner

Member
Mar 3, 2019
14
2
AOR Received.
14-08-2019
Hi there,

I'm a Canadian living in the US with my husband, who is a US citizen. We're looking to move to Montreal, and I've been trying to do the research we need. I'm wondering if the basic knowledge I have so far is correct: we could enter Canada without having to do paperwork beforehand, since US citizens do not need a visitor visa. Once in Canada, we could apply for him to become a Permanent Resident, with me as his sponsor, and then submit the undertaking applications needed for Quebec.
Work-wise, I'm still confused - I know there's a work permit you can apply for in Canada while you're waiting for permanent residency, but it's not applicable in QC, right? I'm unsure whether there's a work permit for QC specifically, or whether you need to find an employer who would then decide if they wanted to hire you and obtain a permit that way.

Any help would be much appreciated!
 

canuck_in_uk

VIP Member
May 4, 2012
31,554
7,201
Visa Office......
London
App. Filed.......
06/12
Hi there,

I'm a Canadian living in the US with my husband, who is a US citizen. We're looking to move to Montreal, and I've been trying to do the research we need. I'm wondering if the basic knowledge I have so far is correct: we could enter Canada without having to do paperwork beforehand, since US citizens do not need a visitor visa. Once in Canada, we could apply for him to become a Permanent Resident, with me as his sponsor, and then submit the undertaking applications needed for Quebec.
Work-wise, I'm still confused - I know there's a work permit you can apply for in Canada while you're waiting for permanent residency, but it's not applicable in QC, right? I'm unsure whether there's a work permit for QC specifically, or whether you need to find an employer who would then decide if they wanted to hire you and obtain a permit that way.

Any help would be much appreciated!
Hi

You can come to Canada and apply inland. The OWP is issued regardless of the province. It takes about 4 months for the OWP to arrive.

I suggest you look at applying outland now while you are still in the US. American outland apps generally take around 6 months. Your husband can still come to Canada as a visitor while the outland app processes.
 

cananner

Member
Mar 3, 2019
14
2
AOR Received.
14-08-2019
Hi

You can come to Canada and apply inland. The OWP is issued regardless of the province. It takes about 4 months for the OWP to arrive.

I suggest you look at applying outland now while you are still in the US. American outland apps generally take around 6 months. Your husband can still come to Canada as a visitor while the outland app processes.
Thank you! Just to clarify: if we applied outland and didn't want to move separately, we'd have to wait for the application to be finalized, right? Otherwise we'd have to apply inland from Montreal? (I wasn't sure if you meant he could come to Canada as a visitor and then go back to the US to wait for the application to be processed, or if we could apply from here and then move together while it's still in the works)
 

canuck_in_uk

VIP Member
May 4, 2012
31,554
7,201
Visa Office......
London
App. Filed.......
06/12
Thank you! Just to clarify: if we applied outland and didn't want to move separately, we'd have to wait for the application to be finalized, right? Otherwise we'd have to apply inland from Montreal? (I wasn't sure if you meant he could come to Canada as a visitor and then go back to the US to wait for the application to be processed, or if we could apply from here and then move together while it's still in the works)
No, you wouldn't have to wait if you apply outland. Technically, he can't move to Canada until he becomes a PR, so he would be entering as a visitor. He could then remain here and would not have to return to the US.