American & Canadian - HELP!

[HILLRY]

I'm so glad I came across this forum!
I'm American & my future husband is obviously Canadian. We will probably get married in the states, since my parents don't have passports or enhanced licenses.

We've decided to apply Outland since I have family in the states and I'd like the opportunity to cross the border whenever I feel. I hope to get married soon, (3 months or so) so we can speed up the process of getting permanent residency. I just finished grad school and we are beyond ready to begin the transition. Just want to get a better idea of what the process looks like before we make a definite date.

My main questions so far:
1. WHEN DO I CHANGE MY LAST NAME? Do I legally change my name in the states before I fill out any of the sponsorship paperwork? Ex: change social security card, license, etc. after getting married. Then fill out the sponsorship paperwork, get physical and background check.

1a.Can I get the background check and medical visit done before my legal name change? Does anyone have experience with this? Is it better to not change my last name until I get PR in Canada?

2. If we get married in the states, do we need a K-1 fiancé visa? We have no intention of getting him a green card or permanent residency in the states, since we would both rather reside in Canada.

3. Any other advice?

 

[CMLR]

I too am from the US. I changed my name on all documents it did not take long week or so is all. I had to apply for a passport since I did not have one and even that only took a couple weeks to come in the mail to my US address.

I know you said you will be applying outland but are you planning to live in Canada while you go through the PR process? If so there would be no reason you need to get a K-1 fiance` Visa. You do mention that you both plan to live in Canada so it sounds like your new husband would not be staying over the 6 month visitor allowed time.

Someone else may have more information.

 

[HILLRY]

I too am from the US. I changed my name on all documents it did not take long week or so is all. I had to apply for a passport since I did not have one and even that only took a couple weeks to come in the mail to my US address.

Did you do all this before sending in the immigration paperwork? I have a passport, but I would need to apply for a new one with the name change.

Yes, we'll live in Canada while waiting for PR. That's what I thought about the fiancé visa- so that's good news! Thanks for your reply.

 

[rhcohen2014]

it's usually suggested to change your name before applying for pr. if you change your name during the process, you will have to send an updated copy of your passport to cic. it's not recommended to change your name AFTER getting pr, because your PR card will be issued in your maiden name, and it's not easy to get it changed (if it's possible at all).

I do know to change your name in your passport, all you need is your marriage certificate. The only downside is that it takes 4-6 weeks normally i think and getting it expedited is $$$.

You bring up a good point about the police record pre or after name change. i would suspect it doesn't matter becuase i believe you have to disclose any name you've ever gone by, so you would be searched under both your maiden and married name.

no fiance visa is needed. he is going for a short visit to get married. perfectly ok for a canadian visitor to do. he doesn't need a visa to enter the us, just his passport.

 

[keesio]

Easiest is changing your name on your passport (the most important doc) before you apply for PR. But my wife changed it during the middle of the process and it caused no issue or delay. All she had to do was send the visa office a scanned copy of her new passport with an explanation.

 

[CMLR]

Did you do all this before sending in the immigration paperwork? I have a passport, but I would need to apply for a new one with the name change.

I actually changed all my info well before sending in our applications. It took us a while to gather everything and we sent in all our paperwork at once. Since I had an Enhanced License I wanted changed I had to get my name changed on my social security card first. I did not know that and went in to the DMV first and was told what I had to do. It took a week after I went into the local Social Security Office for my name change to get to the computers at the DMV so that I could change my License, I needed to as I was leaving the US at that time and my license was about to expire. It took about 2 weeks for my new license to come in the mail. At that time I came into Canada as a visitor. I went back into the US a month later and did my Passport application. It took about 15-20 days for it to come in the mail. I know they say 6-8 weeks I did not pay to have it expiated but it came as fast as if I had. We then got every thing else done for our applications and finally got them sent in, after getting an extension on my visitors status, on May 15th of this year.

What I found is it takes a lot of time getting everything put together that is needed to send in the applications for PR. I am glad that part is now done and am now waiting for it all to go through. I am Very happy I can be with my husband in this process I feel very sorry for those who can't.

 

[HILLRY]

Thanks for your help everyone! Looking forward to this process, and glad there's people out there to help along the way. I'll be sure to post back with any additional questions after the wedding.

All the best!

 

[screech339]

it's usually suggested to change your name before applying for pr. if you change your name during the process, you will have to send an updated copy of your passport to cic. it's not recommended to change your name AFTER getting pr, because your PR card will be issued in your maiden name, and it's not easy to get it changed (if it's possible at all).

Your initial PR card will only have name according to COPR document. However you can change your PR card to your marriage name after the initial card has been issued. You just have to provide proof of name change on other government issued IDs such as Driver Licence, Health card, including your SIN card before CIC would allow you to change your name on your PR card.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?q=721&t=4

I legally changed my name. What do I have to do to change the name on my PR card?

If you legally changed your name and you want your new name to be on your PR card, you must send an Application for a Permanent Resident Card to the mailing address at the bottom of the application form. Make sure to include the documents required to support your name change, which are listed in the Application for a Permanent Resident Instruction Guide.

 

[rhcohen2014]

Your initial PR card will only have name according to COPR document. However you can change your PR card to your marriage name after the initial card has been issued. You just have to provide proof of name change on other government issued IDs such as Driver Licence, Health card, including your SIN card before CIC would allow you to change your name on your PR card.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?q=721&t=4

I legally changed my name. What do I have to do to change the name on my PR card?

If you legally changed your name and you want your new name to be on your PR card, you must send an Application for a Permanent Resident Card to the mailing address at the bottom of the application form. Make sure to include the documents required to support your name change, which are listed in the Application for a Permanent Resident Instruction Guide.

ah! thanks for this clarification about changing the name on the pr card. I thought i'd have to wait 5 years for the pr card to expire. It's good to know i can order a new one anytime after receiving my first one and change the name! i'm going through this issue right now, as i've changed my mind about changing my name legally, and have just received a request for a copy of my passport. It's a bit more complicated because i'm in canada, traveling back and forth the next month, and not sure the logistics work with the CIC request! Luckily i'm in ottawa but my new passport wouldn't be ready until AFTER i already left, and i'd have to pay for it to be sent to the states. oye!!! to expedite a name change on my passport or not? decisions, decisions!

 

[Alurra71]

ah! thanks for this clarification about changing the name on the pr card. I thought i'd have to wait 5 years for the pr card to expire. It's good to know i can order a new one anytime after receiving my first one and change the name! i'm going through this issue right now, as i've changed my mind about changing my name legally, and have just received a request for a copy of my passport. It's a bit more complicated because i'm in canada, traveling back and forth the next month, and not sure the logistics work with the CIC request! Luckily i'm in ottawa but my new passport wouldn't be ready until AFTER i already left, and i'd have to pay for it to be sent to the states. oye!!! to expedite a name change on my passport or not? decisions, decisions!

You will not be able to get a new passport inside Canada anyhow. You will need to mail the forms and such to PA and they will mail your new passport back to you in Canada. If you wish to expedite you need to make an appointment at the nearest local office in the US and try that. US citizens can not use the 'consulate' in Ottawa for passport purposes.

****EDITED**** just to note that when I searched for information regarding this, I was informed via email and other various phone calls and such that being inside Canada I could not avail myslef of the consulate to do my passport and that I would need to send it and the required paperwork to PA to have it processed normally. I am trying to find that information online now and wondering if they have since changed the policy.

Found it. Follow the link here http://canada.usembassy.gov/passports/renewing-your-passport.html and look near the very bottom of the page and it notes that you should ONLY seek a passport from the consulate if you are currently under 16 years of age, if your passport was issued when you were 16 years of age or younger or there is an emergency. Otherwise, you are supposed to mail the forms to PA.

 

[rhcohen2014]

You will not be able to get a new passport inside Canada anyhow. You will need to mail the forms and such to PA and they will mail your new passport back to you in Canada. If you wish to expedite you need to make an appointment at the nearest local office in the US and try that. US citizens can not use the 'consulate' in Ottawa for passport purposes.

****EDITED**** just to note that when I searched for information regarding this, I was informed via email and other various phone calls and such that being inside Canada I could not avail myslef of the consulate to do my passport and that I would need to send it and the required paperwork to PA to have it processed normally. I am trying to find that information online now and wondering if they have since changed the policy.

actually there are passport services at the embassy in ottawa. How else would a visitor be able to get a replacement passport in case of theft or loss? They can't enter the us without it.

i just went there today and made an appointment for monday. i explained i needed to get my name changed for immigration reasons. he even saw my current passport, said i needed the fill out the applicaiton form and bring 2 pictures. it will take 2 weeks to do, and they will mail it to me in the states since i leave in less than 2 weeks. i get to keep my old passport, and it becomes invalid as soon as the new one is issued.

If i wait to expedite it when i get back to the states, i have to mail my old passport in and wait for the new one to be mailed to me. since CIC wants a copy by the end of august, it's a bit of a tight timeframe... hence my dilema.

 

[Alurra71]

actually i just went to the emabassy today and made an appointment for monday. it will take 2 weeks to do, and they will mail it to me in the states as long as i provide the envelop and pay for it.

Why would you mail it to the states if you are in Canada? I guess they don't really follow their own written rules then. It's more of a "if we don't feel like it we won't, if we do feel like it, ok" kind of a thing. I just love when rules are applied evenly across the board, don't you? *shakes head* &*!^@#_%# bureaucrats ...

 

[rhcohen2014]

Why would you mail it to the states if you are in Canada? I guess they don't really follow their own written rules then. It's more of a "if we don't feel like it we won't, if we do feel like it, ok" kind of a thing. I just love when rules are applied evenly across the board, don't you? *shakes head* &*!^ @ #_%# bureaucrats ...

leaving canada on 8/1 (family & travel plans)
passport request from cic expires 8/29
travel back to canada on 8/30

if i do it now in ottawa, i will get it back in plenty of time. (2 weeks) since i'm going back to the states, and will be coming back to canada later, i need the passport mailed to me in order to cross.

if i wait to get back home, i won't be able to submit it until 8/4 ( monday), and will have to wait 2-3 weeks (plus mail time) for expedited delivery. to me, this cuts it very close!

I obviously can't mail it to the states NOW because i need it to cross the border.

 

[Alurra71]

leaving canada for family reasons on 8/1
passport request from cic expires 8/29
travel back to canada on 8/30

if i do it now in ottawa, i will get it back in plenty of time. (2 weeks) if i wait to get back home, i won't be able to submit it until 8/4 ( monday), and will have to wait 2-3 weeks (plus mail time) for expedited delivery. to me, this cuts it very close!

You do know that if/when CIC does their passport request, it is USUALLY within a few days they issue COPR, right? Just thought you might like to know that before you decide if you REALLY want to wait another 6 weeks to send it in Oh, and also, are they asking you for the entire passport, or just a scan/email of your bio page? If the entire passport, that is strange indeed for a US citizen. Usually just a scan/email of the bio page will suffice.

 

[rhcohen2014]

You do know that if/when CIC does their passport request, it is USUALLY within a few days they issue COPR, right? Just thought you might like to know that before you decide if you REALLY want to wait another 6 weeks to send it in Oh, and also, are they asking you for the entire passport, or just a scan/email of your bio page? If the entire passport, that is strange indeed for a US citizen. Usually just a scan/email of the bio page will suffice.

well i don't want to get my hopes up! that's why i wanted to get it in sooner than later, and not have to wait for it the slower way. so i need to figure out how important it is for me to have my PR card issued in my married name. i think it will come down to how much it will cost to mail it by dhl, or fedex. such issues!

The email only references the bio page, and i read it a few times to make sure because i though they usually request all pages. glad to know that's not true.