I am an american who married a canadian in October 2009. My paperwork was received by Vegreville on June 24 2010, when I filed I applied under family class sponsorship, sent in my OWP and PR apps, paid for sponsorship and owp fees but not PR as I was advised that I could wait to pay PR fees until first stage approval, by immigration hotline and lawyer, but then I contacted another lawyer who said the hotline and lawyer misinformed me and that they wont even look at any of my applications without the PR fee. I also have three children who currently live with their dad in the USA he has "physical custody" but we both retain joint legal, and "physical custody " can change at any time as long as we are both in agreeance. I did not include them in applicatoion other then listing them making sure their birth certs and copies of their nexus cards were included as well as getting their medicals, but they were listed as non-accompanying, this same attorny that informed me i was misinformed about PR said if I didnt list my kids as accompanying they would never be allowed in canada if they wanted to live with me at any time, but I think perhaps they were confused about US family law. I feel so stuck right now I cant work and I have child support to pay for my kids, which my husband is paying, until I can work, this process is so costly and so slow. Anyone that can offer advice, it would mean the world.