Can I move my family with me? please help...

[True_Believer]

I recently received my Canadian citizenship (by descent) and am in the process of purchasing a home in Canada. We (including my spouse and children) were all born in the U.S and currently live in the U.S. I want to move with my spouse and children to Canada very soon to our new home in Canada. Can we all move there together with our goods (and pets) before starting my family's formal residency process? Can my children attend high school in Canada? I thought my Canadian citizenship was the key but am now reading more and am getting worried. Thank you ahead of time for your input.

 

[canadianwoman]

Re: I hope I'm not too late...

You can move to Canada whenever you want with your household goods and pets. Your husband and children will have to be sponsored to immigrate to Canada. However, they can come to Canada as visitors while you are waiting for their applications to be processed.
If I were you, I would move up with my goods and pets and get settled. Then have your family come, telling the border officials they will be visiting. Americans ordinarily have no trouble getting in to Canada, especially the first time. They can stay for 6 months, and can apply to extend this time.
If they wait until you have already submitted the PR applications, they can bring the proof of payment with them to the border, and they will then get a visitor record. For Alberta, this means they may be able to get provincial health insurance quickly; each province has different rules for this. I would not do this; I would just come first, and have them cross the border separately. Filling out the forms can take quite a while.
Your kids can go to school, but they will need a study permit and may have to pay international school fees, which are high. Some forum members have reported that the school officials in their area did not require this, though, so it's best if you check with the school division where you will be living.

 

[rjessome]

I recently received my Canadian citizenship (by descent) and am in the process of purchasing a home in Canada. We (including my spouse and children) were all born in the U.S and currently live in the U.S. I want to move with my spouse and children to Canada very soon to our new home in Canada. Can we all move there together with our goods (and pets) before starting my family's formal residency process? Can my children attend high school in Canada? I thought my Canadian citizenship was the key but am now reading more and am getting worried. Thank you ahead of time for your input.

You must apply to sponsor your spouse and children. Get that started before you make the move to Canada. Show the officers at the border proof of the sponsorship (fees receipt) and they should let your husband and children in on visitor permits.

 

[can_usa_97]

I agree with the others but am wondering if the kids would fall under Canadian by descent as well? Then you would need to just apply for your husband..

You may be a Canadian citizen if you were born outside Canada between January 1, 1947, and April 16, 2009 inclusively, to a Canadian parent who was also born outside Canada to a Canadian parent (you are the second or subsequent generation born outside Canada). If you think this may apply to you and you need more information, please contact us (see the “Contact Information” section at the end of this publication).

 

[CharlieD10]

No, since she had the children before having the Canadian citizenship confirmed, they would likely fall under the "second generation born outside of Canada" rule, and would not inherit Canadian citizenship through her.

 

[can_usa_97]

It's a bit of a catch 22 no? haha, technically the poster was, just never got proof, no?
Since it was after 2009 (being recently) that is where it ends then, I get it.

 

[rjessome]

It's a bit of a catch 22 no? haha, technically the poster was, just never got proof, no?
Since it was after 2009 (being recently) that is where it ends then, I get it.

No, the OP wasn't. The OP is a first generation Canadian by decent. There can't be a 2nd generation Canadian by decent.

 

[can_usa_97]

Because of the law change for any one born after April 09.

 

[rjessome]

Because of the law change for any one born after April 09.

Ah! I see what you meant. Yes, if she had applied for citizenship for herself and her kids pre 2009, it could have worked.

 

[can_usa_97]

sorry, yeah its' sometimes hard to get across what the brain thinks -yup that's what I meant

 

[rjessome]

sorry, yeah its' sometimes hard to get across what the brain thinks -yup that's what I meant

No worries. This will end up being better for the kids in the long run. Since they will immigrate and perhaps become citizens through naturalization, the cycle can restart if/when they decide to leave Canada at a later date and have children of their own. Their children would receive citizenship by decent. That is, of course, assuming the law doesn't change again!

 

[can_usa_97]

True!
My kids, who got citizenship thru their dad who was born in Canada but was living in US a the time will not pass along citizenship to their kids then, right? If we'd have stayed in the US.

 

[rjessome]

True!
My kids, who got citizenship thru their dad who was born in Canada but was living in US a the time will not pass along citizenship to their kids then, right? If we'd have stayed in the US.

That's right. If they want their children to be citizens of Canada, they must be born in Canada.