My Canadian wife and I were married this passed July. I've been trying to research the best ways to obtain permanent residency. We're getting a bit impatient with the whole ordeal (as many of you may know). I would like to move to Calgary to be with her. She makes decent money and her family has offered to help support me until I'm able to obtain a work permit. I've noticed that you folks generally recommend an outland application, but I would prefer to skip the interview process as she doesn't want to travel to the US. Where would be the best place to start?
American married to a Canadian.
- Thread starter Hallor
- Start date
An interview is only required if there are doubts about your relationship, have criminality or other issues that could make you inadmissible to Canada.
If you have a straightforward application, you should definitely submit the Outland application.
You can even visit your wife in Canada while you wait for the processing to be completed, provided that CBSA allows you to enter Canada, of course. Many Americans do this with little to no problems, especially with proof of an active application.
If you have a straightforward application, you should definitely submit the Outland application.
You can even visit your wife in Canada while you wait for the processing to be completed, provided that CBSA allows you to enter Canada, of course. Many Americans do this with little to no problems, especially with proof of an active application.
Well...you have two choices:
1. Tell her to get a passport to make things easier and faster for you both
2. You come to Canada to `visit' her and apply for inland sponsorship with an Open Work Permit...but I assure you you'll want to chew your foot off after a year or so, realizing that you still have another year or so to go, if you're lucky.
Seriously...#1 is by far the better option. Besides, doesn't she want to see the world with you?
1. Tell her to get a passport to make things easier and faster for you both
2. You come to Canada to `visit' her and apply for inland sponsorship with an Open Work Permit...but I assure you you'll want to chew your foot off after a year or so, realizing that you still have another year or so to go, if you're lucky.
Seriously...#1 is by far the better option. Besides, doesn't she want to see the world with you?
Well, #1 isn't so much an issue of going together it's that she doesn't want to travel alone and doubling travel costs for another person just plain doesn't make sense. #2, well as long as we're together I don't see why I'd want to chew my foot off. It's been far too long as it is I can handle the cabin fever.
I don't follow you. What do you mean by travel costs for another person?
The reason why #2 is so horrible, is because your advised not to leave Canada (even it were a family emergency `back home'), because if you are refused re-entry into Canada, you Inland application is toast.
Trust me. You want to submit an Outland application, which will require her to get a passport, in the off chance that you do get called for an interview...but why would you?
The reason why #2 is so horrible, is because your advised not to leave Canada (even it were a family emergency `back home'), because if you are refused re-entry into Canada, you Inland application is toast.
Trust me. You want to submit an Outland application, which will require her to get a passport, in the off chance that you do get called for an interview...but why would you?
You will end up regretting it deeply if you apply inland. Apply outland. It's a huge mistake to be tempted by the open work permit.
If you think you are impatient now - the inland process will end up testing this to the extreme.
Ultimately your choice...
Good luck.
If you think you are impatient now - the inland process will end up testing this to the extreme.
Ultimately your choice...
Good luck.
@Ponge: Travel costs for another person because she won't travel alone, and I can't expect her too. Call me an over analyzer. The prospect of a possible interview makes me nervous is all. Also I was not aware of that wait time og 6-8 moths because the CIC website says 17 months. But if you are able to get the open work permit via inland application you're generally given that within 6 months as well, right?
But everyone seems very negative about the inland process, why is that exactly?
But everyone seems very negative about the inland process, why is that exactly?
Because it sucks. You are, in essence, trapped in Canada for 2-1/2 years.
I say trapped, in the sense that you can certainly leave, but it's the getting back in part that is the potential problem.
Would you like to share a bit about your relationship and see if anyone here can give you valid reasons to worry about an interview?
As long as there are no `skeletons' in your closet (old criminal conviction for example), you really should fly through the Outland process with no problem.
I say trapped, in the sense that you can certainly leave, but it's the getting back in part that is the potential problem.
Would you like to share a bit about your relationship and see if anyone here can give you valid reasons to worry about an interview?
As long as there are no `skeletons' in your closet (old criminal conviction for example), you really should fly through the Outland process with no problem.
Read through some of the recent posts in this thread:
http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/us-outland-applicants-thread-t106068.6045.html
There's also a spreadsheet there detailing timelines for those that share the information. You will see that it's very quick for most people.
From the sound of things, you really have nothing to worry about. Your wife has a very low threshold to meet to be approved as your sponsor and if you have sufficient proof that your marriage is genuine and you yourself have no inadmissibility issues, Outland is the obvious choice.
Good luck!
http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/us-outland-applicants-thread-t106068.6045.html
There's also a spreadsheet there detailing timelines for those that share the information. You will see that it's very quick for most people.
From the sound of things, you really have nothing to worry about. Your wife has a very low threshold to meet to be approved as your sponsor and if you have sufficient proof that your marriage is genuine and you yourself have no inadmissibility issues, Outland is the obvious choice.
Good luck!
Yes, you can `visit' yo wife in Canada after you have submitted the Outland package or send it from within Canada.
You can't legally move to Canada until you have your PR, so you really need to read up what you should and shouldn't do when you arrive at the border.
If you arrive after you have applied, you should be aware of how CBSA deals with a person (like you) that will have a `Dual Intent' to enter Canada:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/tools/temp/visa/dual.asp
Lastly, you do not need a visitor visa, since you are a U.S. citizen. You simply present yourself to the CBSA officer at the border and see what s/he tells you. Unless told otherwise, you are entitled to stay for 6 months. If you are told otherwise, the officer will likely stamp your passport with a date that you must leave Canada by, but...you can apply to extend your stay prior to that date, citing that you have applied for spousal sponsorship. These requests are usually approved, but of course there is never a guarantee.
It's entirely possible that you can visit and remain in Canada during the entire process, albeit as a visitor without authorization to work, but...it really is the fastest way to get through what will undoubtedly be a roller coaster of an emotional ride.
You can't legally move to Canada until you have your PR, so you really need to read up what you should and shouldn't do when you arrive at the border.
If you arrive after you have applied, you should be aware of how CBSA deals with a person (like you) that will have a `Dual Intent' to enter Canada:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/tools/temp/visa/dual.asp
Lastly, you do not need a visitor visa, since you are a U.S. citizen. You simply present yourself to the CBSA officer at the border and see what s/he tells you. Unless told otherwise, you are entitled to stay for 6 months. If you are told otherwise, the officer will likely stamp your passport with a date that you must leave Canada by, but...you can apply to extend your stay prior to that date, citing that you have applied for spousal sponsorship. These requests are usually approved, but of course there is never a guarantee.
It's entirely possible that you can visit and remain in Canada during the entire process, albeit as a visitor without authorization to work, but...it really is the fastest way to get through what will undoubtedly be a roller coaster of an emotional ride.
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regarding inland vs outland, there are many threads:
http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/-t116641.0.html
http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/-t210188.0.html
http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/-t169196.0.html
Many Americans who apply inland are often distraught when they find out the processing time differences. I recall one person on the forum claiming she broken down and cried when she saw some US outland applicants get done in 5 months while she was on month 14 still waiting.
http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/-t116641.0.html
http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/-t210188.0.html
http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/-t169196.0.html
Many Americans who apply inland are often distraught when they find out the processing time differences. I recall one person on the forum claiming she broken down and cried when she saw some US outland applicants get done in 5 months while she was on month 14 still waiting.
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