is sponsorship by spouse required for us citizen to apply for pr?

[katester]

Hi everyone, I think you have helped answer this for me before but all this info flying around has my head spinning!

If I plan to apply for PR but live in the US and visit my spouse for no longer than a few months, can I apply without him sponsoring me? Or is sponsorship required for me to apply? I found on their site a list of the forms I need to fill out to apply for PR card. Is this the same as applying for PR? So on the site is all I need to fill out?http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/pr-card/apply-first-pr-card.asp. If I plan to live in the US until approved then sponsorship is not needed right? Hope someone can help me

 

[katester]

To clarify I mean we have to fill out the forms for him to sponsor me financially and all even if I don't live with him? So we have to send the forms for him to sponsor me, pay the $75 fee then my form for him to sponsor me pay the $475 fee then once that goes through I apply for PR and pay the $490 fee, even though I plan to live in the US until my PR is complete? I got the info from https://eservicesak.cic.gc.ca/efee/efee.do or if I live in the US I only pay the PR fee since I won't be in CA?

Cuz if either way we have to pay for the sponsorship, we might as well be together for the first year of our marriage....

 

[tuyen]

Hi everyone, I think you have helped answer this for me before but all this info flying around has my head spinning!

If I plan to apply for PR but live in the US and visit my spouse for no longer than a few months, can I apply without him sponsoring me? Or is sponsorship required for me to apply? I found on their site a list of the forms I need to fill out to apply for PR card. Is this the same as applying for PR? So on the site is all I need to fill out?http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/pr-card/apply-first-pr-card.asp. If I plan to live in the US until approved then sponsorship is not needed right? Hope someone can help me

Some of the things I come across in these forums really border on the adorable in terms of their naivety.

No, you can't just go straight for a PR card. That would be like going and asking for a driver's license without actually doing any of the required steps in order to get one.

A PR card is given to you after you've been given permanent resident status. And you'll be given permanent resident status only after you AND your spouse are approved. There are two sets of applications to fill out. The first is completed by the sponsor, and the other by the applicant.

After your sponsor receives stage 1 approval (in order to be eligible to sponsor you), they will begin to process yours (stage 2).

If both stage 1 and stage 2 are approved, that's when you receive your conditional PR status. Then, after you've lived together as a couple in Canada for two years, you will get full permanent resident status. If your relationship ends during those two years for whatever reason, your PR status is revoked (unless there was abuse of some kind).

Here are the forms you'll both need to fill out:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/sponsor/spouse-apply-how.asp

And yes, you will have to go through the whole process and pay the full fees ($75 + $475 + $490) regardless of where you will live before or during the process.

 

[katester]

was your commentary really necessary? I obviously got confused with the millions of forums in their site. Comments like that really do not help with the stress of all of this. I am going through medical issues and all I want is to be with my husband, clearly I have never done anything like this before and there is so much information that it can make your mind cloudy after reading everything. So thank you for the facts, but not for your unnecessary input.

 

[scylla]

Read the first post here for an overview of the process:

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/spousal-sponsorship-t46995.0.html

 

[Leon]

If I plan to apply for PR but live in the US and visit my spouse for no longer than a few months, can I apply without him sponsoring me?

PR in Canada is like the US Green Card. It is a privilege and if you are not sponsored by your spouse, you must prove your own worth to get one with a job offer, good skills, education etc. If you have a Canadian spouse, sponsorship is a lot easier than applying yourself.

Or is sponsorship required for me to apply? I found on their site a list of the forms I need to fill out to apply for PR card. Is this the same as applying for PR? So on the site is all I need to fill out?http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/pr-card/apply-first-pr-card.asp.

This application form is for people who already have the PR status but need the card to identify themselves. It is not applicable to people who are applying for their PR status

To clarify I mean we have to fill out the forms for him to sponsor me financially and all even if I don't live with him? So we have to send the forms for him to sponsor me, pay the $75 fee then my form for him to sponsor me pay the $475 fee then once that goes through I apply for PR and pay the $490 fee, even though I plan to live in the US until my PR is complete? I got the info from https://eservicesak.cic.gc.ca/efee/efee.do or if I live in the US I only pay the PR fee since I won't be in CA?

Cuz if either way we have to pay for the sponsorship, we might as well be together for the first year of our marriage....

It doesn't matter where you are located, you still have to pay all those fees to apply. Read the post Scylla pointed out to you. It goes through all the steps. You have two options. You can go and stay with your husband and apply inland in Canada. If you do, you need to stay in Canada throughout the processing time. It will take around 6 months for you to get first stage approval and get an open work permit. Getting the PR, another 8 months if all goes well. If you apply outland, you can stay in the US if you want to but there is no first stage approval or work permit and it takes about a year to get your PR.

 

[tuyen]

was your commentary really necessary?

The fact that I offered it, clearly demonstrates that I felt it was necessary.

I obviously got confused with the millions of forums in their site.

You got confused? Go to the CIC web page, and select "Immigrate" from the main menu, then select "Family Sponsorship". The rest is all there, in plain sight. I'm no fan of government bureaucracy, believe me, but the CIC web site has got to be one of the most user-friendly sites you'll ever come across from any government agency.

Comments like that really do not help with the stress of all of this.

What stress?? Up till now, you haven't even begun to fill out a single question on a single form. So far, you thought that emigrating to Canada involves going in and asking for a PR card. Where exactly did you encounter any stress thus far?

You want stress? Come talk to me AFTER you finish submitting all your hundreds of pages of paperwork, after you've gone through the joys of getting your fingerprints processed - without hassles - by the FBI, and after you've gone for your medical examinations while constantly wondering if they'll find something to use against you in your sponsorship process.

Stress? Please. You haven't even begun to get acquainted with the word yet.

I am going through medical issues and all I want is to be with my husband, clearly I have never done anything like this before

Is there any special reason why he's not helping you in all of this? As the Canadian citizen in your relationship, why isn't he being more proactive? It stands to reason that he would know more about Canada than you would, so why are you going through this all by yourself? He's going to have a lot of forms to fill out, so I'd suggest he become intimately familiar with this whole process sooner rather than later. Laziness and sloppiness are definitely not something you want as traits while submitting immigration paperwork.

 

[katester]

You don't have to be a jerk. My husband is in the CF he gets sent away at a moments notice thanks for your kind words and understanding, tuyen.

 

[katester]

Thank you scylla, and leon for just giving me the facts. I have read those posts and have all my paperwork mostly filled out, just waiting for my husband to come here for Christmas and have his part finished. I wanted to make sure all my work wasn't in vein and that I really did need all this filled out no matter where I live.

I did leave a part blank that I am unsure of, we have been together a while, not considered common law because he has to go back to CA for work often. We just got married, haven't even received the certificate in the mail yet. But my drivers license and passport all say my maiden name. So when I fill out my name what do I put? It says as your passport and license say, but will they refuse it because it says my maiden name and not his name? I can't send it in until I can get a copy of the license to include. Will they refuse me because my ID's haven't been changed to the new last name?

 

[tuyen]

You don't have to be a jerk. My husband is in the CF he gets sent away at a moments notice thanks for your kind words and understanding, tuyen.

My dear, if my intention was to be a jerk, you would've received a very different type of response. Instead, what you got was some much-needed facts and unfiltered advice on what lays before you. I commend your husband for being in the Canadian Forces, but that in no way negates his role and responsibilities in your immigration process.

 

[scylla]

Common law means you are physically living together at the same address.

Don't submit your application until you have your marriage certificate.

No - it doesn't matter that your IDs are still in your maiden name.

I'd strongly recommend you read the spousal immigration guide in detail. Most of your questions are answered there. This will also ensure you haven't missed anything crucial before you submit your application. Missing / incorrect information can create significant issues and delays in the processing of your application. If you feel uncomfortable reading through the guide yourself or don't have time, they you should hire an immigration lawyer or consultant to do this work on your behalf.