We made application for Permanent Residence Visas for my wife and her son, from within Canada, last September. I applied, at the same time, to be their sponsor. In November, we were asked to fill out some more Sponsor forms, and my wife and son were asked to complete their Medical Examinations (which we did). Near the end of November, I was notified that my Sponsorship application had been approved.
Prior to the end of December, we applied for an extension of their Visitor Visas (as we were still waiting for the PR Visas to be issued). These were granted in March (and mailed to our address here in Canada). This week we received an email saying that my wife needs to attend an interview in Beijing next month.
I called the 800-number to ask why she had to go back to China to do an interview...and was told that even though we applied from within Canada, and all communications back and forth have been within Canada, and they were granted extended Visitor status in Canada...we are somehow inside of a process that assumes we are outside of Canada - and this cannot be changed.
So, our options are to withdraw the application and start over (which would take 14-16 months), or travel to Beijing for the interview.
Problem is, as I understand it...when my wife leaves for the interview, her Visitor status will no longer be valid (she would have to apply for a new Visitor Visa from China). The person I spoke to on the phone said they cannot be sure if she would be granted a new Visitor Visa...and they can't say how long after the Interview (assuming it went well) she would be issued her PR Visa.
So, if she leaves Canada to do this interview, we have no idea how long she would have to stay in China to wait out the process.
Does anybody know how long after the interview she would be issued the PR Visa normally?
By the way, my wife and I lived together in China starting in 2008. We got married in 2009, and continued to live in China until 2012, when she came to Canada for a visit and we then decided to change our "home base" to Canada and so applied for the PR Visas. So, we have been together for almost 5 years, and married for almost 4 years at this point.
Any advice or information is appreciated.
Prior to the end of December, we applied for an extension of their Visitor Visas (as we were still waiting for the PR Visas to be issued). These were granted in March (and mailed to our address here in Canada). This week we received an email saying that my wife needs to attend an interview in Beijing next month.
I called the 800-number to ask why she had to go back to China to do an interview...and was told that even though we applied from within Canada, and all communications back and forth have been within Canada, and they were granted extended Visitor status in Canada...we are somehow inside of a process that assumes we are outside of Canada - and this cannot be changed.
So, our options are to withdraw the application and start over (which would take 14-16 months), or travel to Beijing for the interview.
Problem is, as I understand it...when my wife leaves for the interview, her Visitor status will no longer be valid (she would have to apply for a new Visitor Visa from China). The person I spoke to on the phone said they cannot be sure if she would be granted a new Visitor Visa...and they can't say how long after the Interview (assuming it went well) she would be issued her PR Visa.
So, if she leaves Canada to do this interview, we have no idea how long she would have to stay in China to wait out the process.
Does anybody know how long after the interview she would be issued the PR Visa normally?
By the way, my wife and I lived together in China starting in 2008. We got married in 2009, and continued to live in China until 2012, when she came to Canada for a visit and we then decided to change our "home base" to Canada and so applied for the PR Visas. So, we have been together for almost 5 years, and married for almost 4 years at this point.
Any advice or information is appreciated.
