American Wife Moving to Canada

[Jarvs]

Hi there, I'll try to keep this as short as possible. I just had a couple of questions regarding our situation right now. I'm a Canadian citizen born and raised in Quebec. I just recently got married to my American wife (2 months ago) in Ontario, and we don't know what our next step is. We need some guidance in what to do, considering the government website on these matters is very confusing.

She's currently visiting me on temporary visa for 6 months (they never stamped her passport with a date to go back home). My first question is how long does she have to wait before she can come back to Canada on visitation/temp/long term. One month, two? etc.

My other question was considering what our next step to make her a permanent resident in Canada now, after getting married. What forms do I need to fill, fees etc? Once we pay for those fees can she come live with me while we wait for the processing time on visitation? Will she be hassled at the border for trying to come back to Canada? I just want to follow the laws here so she doesn't get refused. We are considering inland but will she be able to work after the application gets reviewed? Or should we just go Outland for faster processing time (is it worth going to new york or LA, $$$?) all that fun stuff. I think our first step was to fill only the sponsor form but I'm not sure if that's the only thing to do now or if there were more things I needed to do as well.

Thanks in advance for all the help.

 

[Jarvs]

Also I forgot to add, I read that my wife needs a physical from a doctor. Can this be a doctor that she frequents in the USA or do we have to pay for a check up in Canada for the full physical? I guess the same question applies for the criminal background checks as well.

 

[KelseyTVS]

You should apply outland. It's faster and she will only have to go to LA if an interview is required, which will only happen if you have a lot of red flags in your application. Inland takes years, and American Outland applications are 8-10 months. As long as you can financially support both of you if she's in Canada, it's by far the best choice. Here is the entire application:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/fc.asp

She does not have to leave Canada when her visitor status is about to expire if you get an extension. Before the six months is up, apply on the cic website to extend her visitor status. She can stay in Canada with you while you guys apply outland and the application processes as long as you extend her visitor status. If she leaves Canada for a while (because you don't renew status or if she has to go to the States for something), that's fine, but when she comes back (before she's PR) she needs to convince the border officer that she is just visiting, not moving to Canada.

The doctor appointment has to be done by a CIC approved doctor. The criminal check has to go through the FBI. Details here:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/my_application/checks.asp

 

[Ponga]

You can submit the Outland sponsorship package right away, even though she is IN Canada.

Most Americans complete the entire process in ~ 6-10 months and do NOT need to travel to NY or LA for an interview, since the application is processed entirely in Canada. Only those with red flags, or criminality concerns, typically have their application sent the The U.S. visa office.

She then simply applies for an extension of her visitor status prior to it expiring (even one day before it expires, if done online). The vast majority have no problem getting the extension, with proof of a PR application submitted.

Check out the Outland U.S. thread(s) here, to get more info.

Good luck!

 

[Jarvs]

Oh whoops apparently my post didn't go through before must've hit preview and x'd out. Bleh.
Well thanks for the info guys, I'll be starting this application process ASAP now. I just wanted to ask if you knew what the costs for a medical exam would be if she did it here in Canada, with no insurance I'm kind of worried about the costs. Considering that she has insurance in the USA maybe we can save a couple of hundred. Also, for the finger printing process can she just go to a police station here in montreal and asked for it to be done? How does that work, once we send the application to the FBI will they mail it to Canada or do we have to mail it to her address in the USA?

 

[Jarvs]

Well my wife has 2 months left before the extension and we still need a medical exam and police certificate, is that enough time to gather those two documents and send in the outland application? Do we need these two for the outland application or can that hold until we are approved the application review? Is the paperwork to outland or inland different from each other? or is it the same paperwork but mailed to a different address?

 

[MilesAway]

There are separate application packages for inland and outland.

The checklist for outland shows that the police certificate and medical are required items, so sending it in without them is a risk.

 

[KelseyTVS]

There are some people who have sent the medical and police check later. I think if you include a letter explaining, there's a chance it could be okay and CIC will simply request them later. It could delay the application though.

 

[Jarvs]

Thanks for the help we have been in the process of getting this paperwork done. I have a question about the payment process now on the site do I pay under the category of Spouse outside Canada class since my wife is on visitation, and we are going for the outland application?

 

[Jarvs]

I also ordered onlien the receipt by mail to be able to go to my bank branch I just need to know how to work the total that I need to pay.Is it 75 + 475? My wife is 23 and oesn't follow under the transistional provision