Anyone want to join a thread for people applying in the near future?

[lleahdoll]

Don't feel bad about procrastinating (Not that it is a good habit but I procrastinated too!)

Hubby and I got married in October of 2013, and our application was SUPPOSED to go out in November and it ended up not going out until February. We now have AOR and SA and are crossing our fingers for a quick process.

It took me almost 8 months to get EVERYTHING filled out and set together to go out because I started way before we were married.

Good luck to all of you as you finish getting things in order!

Yay! Good luck!!!

I visited Canada twice last year for a month each but I wasnt that self-conscious yet about the questioning. I guess I'm more nervous now because I know I'll be visiting for an extended stay. XD The first time, the agent asked me the usual questions and I said I was visiting my boyfriend. Then he asked me how long will I stay there, how long have we been together, where did we meet, where I'll be staying. On the 2nd visit, I simply answered "To visit family" LOL! I mean, I view him as family already. he didnt ask more questions aside from how long is my visit. But he didnt stamp my passport! I'm not sure what that means though.

I would actually prefer to NOT get a return ticket anymore since I'm not sure if they do refund it. Last time I visited, my stay was orignally just 3 weeks but we decided to extend by a week. Goodbye $200! I hate rebooking fees! But I'm doing it to make me less nervous about crossing the border. Lol!

As for the fees, I was also paranoid about that since we're not yet married and we're still completing our forms. It did say on the website to be sure that the forms have been completed before paying the fees. But somebody told me its okay to pay the fees ahead of time coz it shows that we're serious to apply. So I went ahead and paid it! And you need to pay the fees upon completing since you need attach the receipt to the application package that you'll be sending in.

You're lucky you didnt get any trouble at the border given that you have not so solid ties to the US. =) I'm keeping my fingers cross so I'll keep my lucky streak. I've read terrible experiences of other users with crossing the border. So it really amounts to the mood and personality of the agent... T_T

I believe you wont get denied if you apply for extension, especially if you have a PR application in process. At least, that's what I've been reading about. I'm not sure about this but *I think* you can go to the border to ask for a visitor extension? So you dont have to pay the $75 fee online.

What do you usually do during your extended stay in Canada? I mean, its a loooong time to be unemployed. What keeps you busy?

They don't have to stamp your passport. The second time I came over I didn't have mine stamped either. Not a big deal.

How would they even know you hadn't completed the forms? lol Maybe I'll look into paying those soon depending how much I can get done in the next couple weeks!

Yeah I've read that as well. I don't think they'll deny my extension and that would be great cause I would just have to cross the border once I am landing.

Hahahah well I spend time with my husband, take care and play with our cats, and practice my photography. I don't do much but that's just the type of person I am. Although I am going a liiiittle stir crazy.

 

[shadow_0716]

Hi Guys,

Regarding the fees, is this the correct fees to be paid?
Sponsorship application $75
Principal applicant $475
RPRF $490
Total: $1040

Is it really required to pay all this upon submission of the application?

Thanks

 

[Kysorb]

I'm in for the thread, I just sent my application in and it was received according to the courier on April 2nd.

With any luck when I get SA it will go quickly through the Beijing office.

I am a Canadian citizen by birth and both my wife and I live in Beijing we have been living together for 3 years and married for 5 months.

I hope to be home for Christmas but to be honest I am worried about reading all these apps with 400 photos and 1000 emails. I didn't have that stuff. I sent 20 photos, 3 letters, the airplane stubs we saved over the years and my bank statements, as well as all the requested documents.

My wife has in the past received visas to accompany me to Canada, the USA, and Mexico in last years and all my family did come to china for our wedding (shown in photos). So hopefully that helps too.

I guess I will see. Since we live in Beijing, I'm not worried about an interview as we could go any day of the week. it would probably be easier to explain our life at and interview anyway.

 

[agarand8]

Hi Guys,

Regarding the fees, is this the correct fees to be paid?
Sponsorship application $75
Principal applicant $475
RPRF $490
Total: $1040

Is it really required to pay all this upon submission of the application?

Thanks

Yup, that's what I paid! Lol

 

[uskyoot]

Hi everyone....My U.S. husband and I hope to submit our Outland application by the end of the month. We are still waiting for letters from friends and family confirming our intent to relocate to Canada once my husband receives his approval. Do these letters need to be originals? Mail is so slow from Canada to Tennessee, or can we have them emailed to us

 

[lleahdoll]

I'm in for the thread, I just sent my application in and it was received according to the courier on April 2nd.

With any luck when I get SA it will go quickly through the Beijing office.

I am a Canadian citizen by birth and Both my wife and I live in Beijing we have been living together for 3 years and married for 5 months.I hope to be home for Christmas but to be honest I am worried about reading all these apps with 400 photos and 1000 emails. I didn't have that stuff. I sent 20 photos, 3 letters, airplane stubs we saved over the years and my bank statements, as well as all the requested documents. My wife has in the past received visas to accompany me to Canada, the USA, and Mexico in last years and all my family did come to china for our wedding (shown in photos).

I guess I will see, since her and I live in Beijing I m not worried about an interview as we could go any day of the week.

Welcome! Wish I could help but I'm not sure about the Beijing requirements. Hopefully a senior can help!

Hi everyone....My U.S. husband and I hope to submit our Outland application by the end of the month. We are still waiting for letters from friends and family confirming our intent to relocate to Canada once my husband receives his approval. Do these letters need to be originals? Mail is so slow from Canada to Tennessee, or can we have them emailed to us

Welcome to the thread! ^_^ I believe they can just type you a letter. This is what someone else told me. They don't have to be handwritten.

 

[Kysorb]

Hi Guys,

Regarding the fees, is this the correct fees to be paid?
Sponsorship application $75
Principal applicant $475
RPRF $490
Total: $1040

Is it really required to pay all this upon submission of the application?

Thanks

I don't think you need to pay the RPRF up front but I think almost everyone does because if you don't pay you are going to need to pay some time and honestly when that time comes its probably going to cause a delay in your processing, The phrase time is money is wrong for immigration fees...It's more like money is time.....

 

[uskyoot]

Welcome! Wish I could help but I'm not sure about the Beijing requirements. Hopefully a senior can help!

Welcome to the thread! ^_^ I believe they can just type you a letter. This is what someone else told me. They don't have to be handwritten.

Thanks, I was wondering if they have to have the original signature....or is an emailed one OK

 

[Kysorb]

Thanks, I was wondering if they have to have the original signature....or is an emailed one OK

I don't know the correct answer to your question, but I can tell you I sent some original's and some printed scans for letters from friends and families. What I would suggest is important is contact information on the letters such as phone #'s, emails, and that the letter be dated.

 

[uskyoot]

ARGHHHH We were in Canada and we forgot to get my husbands photos done. We are having an awful time finding someone in the U.S. that can do them the proper size.....any suggestions

Thanks

 

[shadow_0716]

I don't think you need to pay the RPRF up front but I think almost everyone does because if you don't pay you are going to need to pay some time and honestly when that time comes its probably going to cause a delay in your processing, The phrase time is money is wrong for immigration fees...It's more like money is time.....

Thanks Kysorb

 

[loni12]

I'd love to join this conversation, as I feel pretty much completely lost. We're getting married in August or September and applying as soon after that as we can. The big question I have is, if we apply inland and my work visa expires before we hear, am I allowed to stay in Canada? I'm from the US.

 

[lleahdoll]

I'd love to join this conversation, as I feel pretty much completely lost. We're getting married in August or September and applying as soon after that as we can. The big question I have is, if we apply inland and my work visa expires before we hear, am I allowed to stay in Canada? I'm from the US.

You are welcome to join!! Congrats on the marriage! It's good you are already thinking about everything. I regret procrastinating! Just adds more stress to this process.
I would suggest applying outland (shorter times) in case you can't get another work permit. But I'm not an expert on inland because I'm applying outland. I'm not sure if applying inland means you can just stay with no visa. I think you have to legal status of some sort though (like a trv, work visa, student visa, etc). Hopefully someone else can chime in.

 

[loni12]

I would suggest applying outland (shorter times) in case you can't get another work permit. But I'm not an expert on inland because I'm applying outland. I'm not sure if applying inland means you can just stay with no visa. I think you have to legal status of some sort though (like a trv, work visa, student visa, etc). Hopefully someone else can chime in.

Currently they list the wait time for the New York visa office at 30 months. Everything I've read on inland says half that, at worst. I might be missing something important however.

 

[agarand8]

ARGHHHH We were in Canada and we forgot to get my husbands photos done. We are having an awful time finding someone in the U.S. that can do them the proper size.....any suggestions

Thanks

Are you serious? That sucks. My husband had his photos taken in Costa Rica and we didnt have too much trouble finding someone to do it.

Is there a VAC anywhere near where you are? What about an embassy? I know they take pictures inside the VACs, and the embassy should at least know where you can go.