American wife, Canadian husband, Quebec

[QuebecOkie]

Bonjour!

I'm an American who met my husband in my home state of Oklahoma. He was stationed there for four years (he's RCAF). He has now been posted to a CFB in Quebec.

I have a few questions.

1. I have a visitor's visa that is good for six months. We've started the immigration paperwork to obtain my permanent residency, but we started it from inside Canada, and I understand it can take nearly a year. While I can request an additional 6 months, my visa will almost certainly run out before then. What do any of you know about me remaining in Canada while waiting on my permanent residency?

2. Does anyone know of any difficulty with the immigration/permanent residency process for Anglophones in Quebec? The people here have been very friendly, but I know there is some political anti-Anglo sentiment. I had zero French when we moved, but I'm in French classes and making Franophone friends, doing my best to learn.

3. Is permanent residency for a spouse pretty routinely granted? My husband is in the military, has never sponsored anyone or been previously married, and I have no criminal record, health problems, or any legal issues.

4. Is it possible for me to travel from and return to Canada at any time before I obtain residency status in Canada? My husband and I weren't able to take a honeymoon because of the move and everything, and we would love to fly to Jamaica or the Dominican Republic or something in late winter or early spring.

 

[parker24]

Bonjour!

I'm an American who met my husband in my home state of Oklahoma. He was stationed there for four years (he's RCAF). He has now been posted to a CFB in Quebec.

I have a few questions.

1. I have a visitor's visa that is good for six months. We've started the immigration paperwork to obtain my permanent residency, but we started it from inside Canada, and I understand it can take nearly a year. While I can request an additional 6 months, my visa will almost certainly run out before then. What do any of you know about me remaining in Canada while waiting on my permanent residency?

My husband is American, I'm Canadian. It is extremely pointless for you as an American to apply inland. By the time the first stage of inland is done, you could be landed as outland. And you can still be in Canada for outland.

2. Does anyone know of any difficulty with the immigration/permanent residency process for Anglophones in Quebec? The people here have been very friendly, but I know there is some political anti-Anglo sentiment. I had zero French when we moved, but I'm in French classes and making Franophone friends, doing my best to learn.

I'm not in Quebec, but from what I've learned, it isn't that bad. It's the same with any culture really, some people love it, some people hate it. No matter where you go you would run into that.

3. Is permanent residency for a spouse pretty routinely granted? My husband is in the military, has never sponsored anyone or been previously married, and I have no criminal record, health problems, or any legal issues.

Yours might be looked at a little closely as your husband is in the military, but when it comes to American/Canadian marriages, they are very rarely interviewed and very rarely rejected.

4. Is it possible for me to travel from and return to Canada at any time before I obtain residency status in Canada? My husband and I weren't able to take a honeymoon because of the move and everything, and we would love to fly to Jamaica or the Dominican Republic or something in late winter or early spring.

This is another reason why outland would be better, you can travel if you wanted to. With inland, you will not be allowed to leave teh country or else your application could be thrown out.

Good luck!

 

[S.Stevens]

2. Does anyone know of any difficulty with the immigration/permanent residency process for Anglophones in Quebec? The people here have been very friendly, but I know there is some political anti-Anglo sentiment. I had zero French when we moved, but I'm in French classes and making Franophone friends, doing my best to learn.

I'm immigrating from the US to Quebec via my husband as well. With the PR process, I just had to promise (sign a paper) to take French classes if I didn't believe I could learn it on my own. As long as you're trying and taking classes, everything will be fine. I've never ran into anyone who seemed to hate me because I only spoke English. I know some French, but I have a hard time bringing myself to speak it because I'm not comfortable with it yet. If anything, people like to test out their English. Or they just talk to me through my husband.

If you're taking a class, you'll be fine. Good luck with it all. I know how it feels to jump into Quebec when you don't know much French. I'm excited to get into a French class so I can feel more comfortable speaking French. I'm sure you'll do great here.

 

[QuebecOkie]

Thank you parker24 and S.Stevens. We started the application inland and I may try to look into whether or not applying from the U.S. is still an option for us. The more I read and learned, the more it looked like a faster process with fewer restrictions. We may have gone too far to back out now (we sent in only one piece of the several we needed, and a lady at Immigration is holding that piece waiting on the other forms right now - we've paid only $75 of the $550 due at this point).

As for Quebec, I'm surprisingly happy here. Now and then I hit a snag, like when the guy at the depanneur (sp?) didn't speak any English and was trying to undercharge me by $40 dollars on gas. I finally straightened it out, but not before holding up the line and blushing at my bad French, haha. Most people have been...well, just like people. Some friendly, some cold, but just people. I'm pretty happy here, and expect to adjust pretty well, especially with some new Franco friends to help with my language, and French classes that run through December.

Thanks again, and looks like I need to see if we've gone too far to backtrack and try to apply outland. I'd hate to not be able to go see my baby nephew in Oklahoma for another year or so.

 

[parker24]

Thank you parker24 and S.Stevens. We started the application inland and I may try to look into whether or not applying from the U.S. is still an option for us. The more I read and learned, the more it looked like a faster process with fewer restrictions. We may have gone too far to back out now (we sent in only one piece of the several we needed, and a lady at Immigration is holding that piece waiting on the other forms right now - we've paid only $75 of the $550 due at this point).

As for Quebec, I'm surprisingly happy here. Now and then I hit a snag, like when the guy at the depanneur (sp?) didn't speak any English and was trying to undercharge me by $40 dollars on gas. I finally straightened it out, but not before holding up the line and blushing at my bad French, haha. Most people have been...well, just like people. Some friendly, some cold, but just people. I'm pretty happy here, and expect to adjust pretty well, especially with some new Franco friends to help with my language, and French classes that run through December.

Thanks again, and looks like I need to see if we've gone too far to backtrack and try to apply outland. I'd hate to not be able to go see my baby nephew in Oklahoma for another year or so.

The total for immigration is 1040 just to let you know. Hopefully your inland will be quick and simple!!

 

[blueangel371115]

My fiance is Canadian with mother tongue english and we are both looking into french classes. Quebec has a link for available classes. So I'm in a similar situation. Good luck.

 

[blueangel371115]

Aparently, as my fiance has been following this closely, with PQ in power and their strong separatist agenda ( no judgement either way here) they now require immigrants to pass a French fluency test (which being mother tongue English and 3 years highschool French taken 10 years ago, it's unlikely I'd pass .) They are strong on protecting their French culture. Thus possibly (or probably) discouraging immigrants to move here.
Again no judgements as they have a right to their opinions but my fiance is a Quebecois and Quebec is the closest province to my family. Any Canadian insight on this? As I don't want to seem ignorant or judgemental here.
I am just nervous. My apologies if I seem otherwise. Everyone has a right to their own opinions and I totally understand and respect that.

 

[canadianwoman]

They may require French classes in the future, but I do not think they will ever prevent a Quebecer from bringing his/her spouse who can't speak French to live in Quebec. The most they will do is require the spouse to take French classes.
As for the anti-Anglo feeling, it is there, but it is far more a bias against people of English origin. An American is not usually disliked simply because he or she is American. A Canadian of English origin might be.

 

[parker24]

Aparently, as my fiance has been following this closely, with PQ in power and their strong separatist agenda ( no judgement either way here) they now require immigrants to pass a French fluency test (which being mother tongue English and 3 years highschool French taken 10 years ago, it's unlikely I'd pass .) They are strong on protecting their French culture. Thus possibly (or probably) discouraging immigrants to move here.
Again no judgements as they have a right to their opinions but my fiance is a Quebecois and Quebec is the closest province to my family. Any Canadian insight on this? As I don't want to seem ignorant or judgemental here.
I am just nervous. My apologies if I seem otherwise. Everyone has a right to their own opinions and I totally understand and respect that.

If it DOES come to that, Ottawa is right along the border of Ontario/Quebec. Plus in New Brunswick, the northern part is mostly French speaking people. Just some options if you might need it. But I don't think this will come into effect for a while.

 

[blueangel371115]

They may require French classes in the future, but I do not think they will ever prevent a Quebecer from bringing his/her spouse who can't speak French to live in Quebec. The most they will do is require the spouse to take French classes.
As for the anti-Anglo feeling, it is there, but it is far more a bias against people of English origin. An American is not usually disliked simply because he or she is American. A Canadian of English origin might be.

That's what I am hoping. I'd be fine with the classes as I do know some already

If it DOES come to that, Ottawa is right along the border of Ontario/Quebec. Plus in New Brunswick, the northern part is mostly French speaking people. Just some options if you might need it. But I don't think this will come into effect for a while.

We are looking at that as a temporary option. I am looking into French classes and that would give me time. I just worry.

 

[S.Stevens]

I haven't heard a thing about this fluency test. I know she's really trying to make it harder for English people to come here without knowing French, but so far from what I've heard and read, it's not going all as she's planned. I believe she would have given a 6-12 month period for you to be able to at least communicate in some way. But again, I don't think it's going well with that.

As others have said, the worst that can happen is they make you take a French course. (Which isn't bad at all.) I was accepted into Quebec months ago, but I don't see it changing quickly IF it does pass. You're ok.

 

[parker24]

I haven't heard a thing about this fluency test. I know she's really trying to make it harder for English people to come here without knowing French, but so far from what I've heard and read, it's not going all as she's planned. I believe she would have given a 6-12 month period for you to be able to at least communicate in some way. But again, I don't think it's going well with that.

As others have said, the worst that can happen is they make you take a French course. (Which isn't bad at all.) I was accepted into Quebec months ago, but I don't see it changing quickly IF it does pass. You're ok.

It was just announced today. In order to be a CITIZEN you need to prove you know English or French by taking a test with a Language program. It's stupid really. You can also prove it by a high school diploma apparently.

 

[tuyen]

That's what I am hoping. I'd be fine with the classes as I do know some alreadyWe are looking at that as a temporary option. I am looking into French classes and that would give me time. I just worry.

Honestly, I wouldn't waste your time with French classes UNLESS you really have a desire to learn the language, OR you feel that it will somehow be beneficial to you in the future. I was 9 years old when they began shoving French class down my throat in public school, and for the next 8 years I was required to learn French every day. I finally dropped it when it became optional in the second half of my high school years (as most students do). All those years of French, and you know what it did to improve my life? Absolutely squat. I've never spoken it with anyone. Never needed it for so much as one day in my entire life. I think back to all those countless hours that were completely wasted, and can't help feeling how much more I could've benefited from something that would've actually been useful to me in life (world history, finance, technology, etc.)

Canada is an English-speaking country. That's just reality. I'm sorry if some people are threatened or somehow offended by that, but that's how it is. And no, I'm not denying that there's a 22% segment of the Canadian population whose native language is French, but the idea of forcing EVERYONE in the country to learn French in public schools is completely asinine. It would be the same as forcing 100% of American children to learn Spanish in your school years down in the States, all because 7% of the U.S. population is Hispanic (never mind the fact that the majority of that 7% are in the country illegally).

As for the crazy rhetoric coming out of the loony Quebec government, just ignore it. They've been the laughing stock of Canada for the better part of the last few decades, and nobody takes them seriously anymore. This new quack that they elected (Pauline Marois) doesn't have enough political support to push through any of her crazy socialist/separatist policies anyway, so her days in office are numbered.

 

[parker24]

Honestly, I wouldn't waste your time with French classes UNLESS you really have a desire to learn the language, OR you feel that it will somehow be beneficial to you in the future. I was 9 years old when they began shoving French class down my throat in public school, and for the next 8 years I was required to learn French every day. I finally dropped it when it became optional in the second half of my high school years (as most students do). All those years of French, and you know what it did to improve my life? Absolutely squat. I've never spoken it with anyone. Never needed it for so much as one day in my entire life. I think back to all those countless hours that were completely wasted, and can't help feeling how much more I could've benefited from something that would've actually been useful to me in life (world history, finance, technology, etc.)

Canada is an English-speaking country. That's just reality. I'm sorry if some people are threatened or somehow offended by that, but that's how it is. And no, I'm not denying that there's a 22% segment of the Canadian population whose native language is French, but the idea of forcing EVERYONE in the country to learn French in public schools is completely asinine. It would be the same as forcing 100% of American children to learn Spanish in your school years down in the States, all because 7% of the U.S. population is Hispanic (never mind the fact that the majority of that 7% are in the country illegally).

As for the crazy rhetoric coming out of the loony Quebec government, just ignore it. They've been the laughing stock of Canada for the better part of the last few decades, and nobody takes them seriously anymore. This new quack that they elected (Pauline Marois) doesn't have enough political support to push through any of her crazy socialist/separatist policies anyway, so her days in office are numbered.

I'm not French, and I agree with the way French was taught to us was stupid.

However.

I live right by the St. Lawrence River, A LOT of French people come through here asking for directions. It's helpful when you know French. Plus, if you do, you get better paying jobs and a pension, and I mean, come on, who doesn't want a pension?!

 

[QuebecOkie]

Caught up on all the discussion. I am currently in French classes provided by the Military Family Resource Center. J'apprends lentement mais sûrement. I have a strong desire to learn the language, for multiple reasons. I live in Chicoutimi now. While there are a lot of people who speak some English here, you can NEVER expect or demand it. Learning French will make day to day life for the next (four? til the RCAF sends us elsewhere) years easier. After this, we have no idea where we'll go next. We could end up with a posting to another French-speaking area where, again, being able to speak and understand French will improve my daily life. We're likely in Canada for the foreseeable future, and I think it will be helpful, once I can work again, to speak both official languages. I love to be able to communicate well, and being able to do so in a second language is something to which I look forward with happiness. Also, I do respect that I willingly moved to an area with a different culture, and while there's a lot of political bullshit around these issues, I want to show respect to the people of this region by learning to communicate in their language.

The individual people here are generally very helpful and kind. I've learned not to ask, "Parlez vous anglais?" The answer is often non, or un peu. I just try to make myself understood in my limited and bad French, haha, and they generally appreciate the effort and work to meet me in the middle. Some days, it's really a struggle, but there are small victories here and there that encourage me and keep me trying. I got a high-five from the sweet girl at the depanneur down the street for using my French when I paid for gas last week. That had me smiling for a couple of hours.