What's the time frame before you have to move to Canada after granted residency?

[Lemondrop78]

So I'm sponsoring my spouse to live in Canada and we are living in US right now.  After our application is accepted and he is granted residency to Canada, how long do we have before we have to move up there?  Do they grant a visa first or do they grant the residency so he can move there right away?  Do they give a month or more before we have to pack up our things and move?  thanks.

[humpakwatankaylog]

So I'm sponsoring my spouse to live in Canada and we are living in US right now.  After our application is accepted and he is granted residency to Canada, how long do we have before we have to move up there?  Do they grant a visa first or do they grant the residency so he can move there right away?  Do they give a month or more before we have to pack up our things and move?  thanks.

You have up till your current valid medical or passport expired with PR visa (whichever one expires first). You get the Visa first and then when you land you apply for PRC.

[AmericaninQuebec]

So I'm sponsoring my spouse to live in Canada and we are living in US right now.  After our application is accepted and he is granted residency to Canada, how long do we have before we have to move up there?  Do they grant a visa first or do they grant the residency so he can move there right away?  Do they give a month or more before we have to pack up our things and move?  thanks.

Your spouse will get a visa with a limited timeframe in which he has to "land" in Canada. Once he lands his permanent residency begins, but he doesn't have to move right away. He is required to spend 2 out of every 5 yr period living in Canada­. I do believe that I read something recently though that said if the PR's spouse is a Canadian citizen that time spent living with the Canadian citizen abroad can be considered time spent "in Canada," but I'm having trouble finding that page on the Immigration Canada's website this morning.

Long story short, he has to take a trip to Canada to "land" after he receives his visa and before it expires (he will likely have between 15 and 60 days). After that he is free to return to the U.S. and continue living there as long as he fulfills the "2 yrs out of 5" requirement to maintain his PR.

[Lemondrop78]

Thanks for your help!  So when he "lands" in Canada, it can even be for only a week and then he can go back to the states?  I'm just wondering cause my husband is taking college classes and I'm wondering if he got granted the visa but he wasn't done school yet then he can "land" and then come back to finish his studies before actually moving.  Does he need to apply for the permanent residency when he "lands" in Canada or will he automatically get it? 

[AmericaninQuebec]

Thanks for your help!  So when he "lands" in Canada, it can even be for only a week and then he can go back to the states?  I'm just wondering cause my husband is taking college classes and I'm wondering if he got granted the visa but he wasn't done school yet then he can "land" and then come back to finish his studies before actually moving.  Does he need to apply for the permanent residency when he "lands" in Canada or will he automatically get it? 

You should have sent his PR application along with your sponsorship application. Once you are approved as a sponsor his application is forwarded to the Consulate at Buffalo. They will review it and eventually either approve or deny it. If approved he will be issued the visa (though they will no longer actually be issuing visas in passports for U.S. citizens as of Dec. 1, 2011. He would get a COPR instead) that will state how long he has to land. He simply has to present himself at immigration services either at the border or at the airport with his passport, COPR, etc. to land. They will process him and he will have his PR as soon as he is done (I hear it takes about 15 to 20 minutes to process generally). He would then be allowed to return to the U.S. immediately if he liked. He won't have his PR card right away, so if he does plan on leaving immediately he should ask for a travel document from immigration before leaving the country.

[Lemondrop78]

Thanks!!  How soon after can he get a green card to work after he lands?  generally?

[AmericaninQuebec]

Thanks!!  How soon after can he get a green card to work after he lands?  generally?

Green cards only exist in the U.S. He can work as soon as he has a SSIN. Apparently most out-land applicants receive their SSIN when they land, but if not it could take a few weeks to receive.

[Lemondrop78]

That sounds good, thanks!