Very new to all this Please help!

[Doctorsrose]

Hi Everyone,
I am about to embark on all this asap as I marry my canadian beloved on Oct 25th, soooo numerous questions!
Can I start the application before we get married? What steps do I take first etc etc Is it best to do it yourself or employ a visa agent?
 I have looked at the website but I am so confused! What is really confusing me is the table to show my partners income - He is a single parent and so am I so how much does he need to earn to qualify to be our sponsor?
I am so worried about it all :(

My name is Lynn by the way and I am in Dorset, England my Fiance is in Ottawa.
Pleased to meet you all and very relieved to find this place!
-x-

[Leon]

Of course you can start looking at the forms and filling them out before you actually get married.  I don't think he needs to prove income if he's sponsoring a spouse.

[Doctorsrose]

I have been reading the guides and will be submitting an outside application but then it says for my Fiance to send them into the canadian office so (tell me if I am being dense) is that still classed as an outside application or do I need to send my forms to London? I will be living in Dorset, UK whilst application goes through. My Fiance will be in Ottawa.

Also can I still visit him whilst this is all being processed?

Any help greatfully received!
xx

[Leon]

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/sponsor/spouse-apply-how.asp details what to do.  Seems to me that you have to fill out both the sponsorship and PR applications and send them in at the same time.  First he has to be approved as a sponsor, then your application would get somewhat processed in Canada and then sent to London.

I have seen other ppl on here say that visiting is not a problem while you wait for your forms to go through.  Canadian authorities should not worry that you are planning to overstay on your visit because as your application is being processed at the London office, you will have to go back home to make sure you are there to respond to their mail.

[rgvinson777]

Immigrating to another country is a whole new thing for most of us.  You can't expect to understand what you need to do and what you can expect without studying the CIC information.  Which means reading the material over and over again.  It's complicated byt in you study the information, it becomes more simple and understandable.  There is a lot of help to be had on this blog but certainly not enough to get you where you want to be.  No, you can't submit your application before you are married. 

Best wishes!!!

[Doctorsrose]

Thank you to those that replied.
I have printed off all the forms and had a really good read today so it's all in order in my head at least!

Does anyone know if it is possible to get Skype records? We have always used it loads, I can do screen shots of the call times/lengths would that be good enough? I would prefer something more Skype official though....

[canuck_amuck]

It doesnt have to be official, it would be good enough to just print off that page.  As long as you have a great deal of evidence, "officialness" does not matter I dont think.  After all, how can you prove emails arnt fake?  Prove phone bills arnt fake? etc, etc.

[RobsLuv]

Your new husband will need to sponsor you to Canada as a Permanent Resident.  You should use the outland forms, and the application will be submitted to the Case Processing office in Mississauga, ON first - for assessment of your new hubby as a sponsor.  There is no income requirement.  Then, CPC-M will send the file to the overseas visa office (London) where they assess your part.  You can file outland even if you plan to be staying with him in Canada while the application is in process, but if an interview is required, you'll have to travel to London for it.  The good news is that, normally, spousal interviews are waived.

You can start filling out the paperwork, and collecting your documentation - but you can't file the application until you're married.  There's information that pertains to all visa-exempt nationals at the US2Canada website.  Check it out, and don't be afraid to ask questions.  It's a bit of a complicated process - but you shouldn't need an immigration attorney to help you. 

[Doctorsrose]

Thank you!
I just read that over and over - can I stay with him whilst my application is in process? What type of visa would I need? I wouldn't be able to work though is that right? Although I have just been to the us2canada site (which is great - thanks for that link) and so is it possible...hang nead to clarify what i need to know lol!

a) Can I stay with my husband whilst my outland application is ongoing?
b) Can I apply to for a working visa whilst I am staying there temporarily?
c) Do I apply for a TRV whilst waiting for PR?

phew got there in the end!...

If I could be with him whilst this all goes through that would be amazing!

[Leon]

You can visit him while you wait for your outland to go through.  On a tourist Visa, I think you are allowed to stay up to 6 months.  Then you can leave the country, say take a quick trip to the US and come back for another 6 months.  I don't think you'd get a work permit when you have applied for outland.

[rgvinson777]

by the time you received a work permit, you will probably receive your permanent resident visa.

IMPORTANT:  Be sure that the guide you use is the specific guide designated for your country. 

Best Wishes!!!