U.S. Citizen marrying a Canadian citizen.

[Kyle87]

Obviously like pretty much everyone else, this process is very confusing to me. I would like to get married to a Canadian citizen and move to Canada to live with her. If she sponsors me as a spouse what are the requirements to do so? Also when we do get married is it possible to be able to live and work in Canada while i wait for my permanent residency? Or would i have to work in the US until my PR card comes through? Any other information that would be useful in this situation would be much appreciated.

Thank you!

[Leon]

The requirements, your sponsor can not be bankrupt or on social assistance.  Other than that, there are no real income or fund requirements for spousal sponsorship.

There is no quick work permit for spousal applicants.  There are two ways to apply.  One of them is inland, means you live in Canada with your spouse.  That would mean you have to move to Canada and not be able to work until you get your first stage approval and open work permit which takes about 9 months.  PR would come maybe in a year or 18 months.  The other is outland where you list your address to be in the US, can still however visit your spouse in Canada and you would have your PR probably well within the 9 months which inland first approval would take.  Obviously I would recommend that you apply outland.

[Kyle87]

Is is possible to apply for a temporary work permit while being sponsored? Or would that be redundant because the processing times would be about the same?

[Leon]

Is is possible to apply for a temporary work permit while being sponsored? Or would that be redundant because the processing times would be about the same?

You could but you need to find an employer first.  If your occupation falls under NAFTA, it would be enough for you to have a letter with a job offer to get a work permit.  If not, the employer needs to advertise the job and prove that no Canadians or PR's are interested or qualified and then he can apply for a labour market opinion saying that he already advertised and he is paying market wage and they will decide if they will allow him to hire a foreigner. If he gets the labour market opinion, you can use it to apply for a work permit.

[Kyle87]

If i were to get a job offer and moved there to work, would i then have to apply as inland? Typically the work permits i thought were only about 6 months. I've read so much information that it is all clashing together so bare with me.  

[Leon]

You always have the option of applying outland.  The work permits are usually for 1-2 years.  If it's NAFTA, it's 3.  If you start by filing for sponsorship and then start working on finding an employer and getting an LMO, your sponsorship could well be half done by the time you get your work permit.  Of course it also depends on what you do and if there is ample work in your field where you are planning on living.  If there are plenty of people in that area that qualify for and want that job, the employer will not get the LMO, even if he really likes you and wants to hire you.

[AllisonVSC]

Kyle87,

I recommend you join the family class folder of the forum and read Leon's sticky (first post) explaining the basics of the choices for PR sponsorship. It is an extremely active folder with lots of very helpful people, just like Leon, who will gladly offer advice and support. Best of luck to you! Allison

[Kyle87]

Going back to one of my original questions about requirements for sponsoring a spouse, are you 100% sure there is no income requirement? I read somewhere (and it might have even been on the main section of this web site) that there was a minimum income level to sponsor someone plus the costs of additional people living in that house hold (she has 3 kids).

[Leon]

It says in your application guide right after it talks about those requirements that you are exempt from those requirements when sponsoring a spouse and/or dependent children.  The sponsor only can not be bankrupt and can not be on social assistance.  Apart from that, it is not a big deal although if neither of you is currently working and you don't have 2 cents to rub together, immigration may want to know how you plan to support yourselves.