Landing in Canada - future inland Sponsorship for wife

[Db1980]

As well, we have a wedding to attend in Dominican July 12-17 along with a wedding in Mexico in November!!!

 

[Hurlabrick]

Maybe a stupid comment, but our plan was to go to Florida a couple weeks after our arrival to Canada (relax and settle down a bit before our new life in Canada). Is my wife able to go? The 4 of us would go to FLA for a couple weeks and visit my mother who spends the winter down south.

Not stupid, it is a perfectly sensible question!

That could be a problem! Would you intend to fly or go by road?

The 'problem' is that your wife wont have the treasured PR card for at least 4 - 6 weeks following your landing (and maybe more).

If travelling by road, easy enough to go to the US. On return to Canada, she will not have the PR card to prove she is a permanent resident. She should take her copy of the CoPR, so CBSA can check this and look her up on the system to prove she is PR and let her back through. Travelling by road is not as crazy as it sounds, sure it is a good two or more days solid driving and boring, but apart from a few nasty choke points, driving in the US and Canada is a lot easier than the UK - you can even get to use that funny cruise control thingy without turning it on and off every 30 seconds or so - and at least you have a car while you are down there (of course would have to buy a car and sort your provincial licence first, but doable)! Simples!!!

BUT (deep breath......)

If travelling by air (to anywhere outside Canada), when she tries to get on the plane back to Canada, as she is from a visa exempt country / passport (UK), the airline will almost certainly INSIST on either a PR Card OR an ETA (one or the other - nothing in between!). Once she has applied for PR, any ETA she has / had should be automatically cancelled and you cannot apply for an ETA if you are a permanent resident (can you see how this will go around in circles?), but you do not have the PR Card that proves to the airline that you really are PR. You can try to show them a copy of your CoPR, but others experience to date has shown that this doesn't seem to cut any ice. Bottom line is that the airline may not even allow her to board the return flight, even though CBSA would probably be happy!


BUT - once she has her PR Card, just take that with you as well as her passport and guard them both with your lives. Pretty simple once you have it.

 

[Hurlabrick]

Oh, also worth saying that you can of course apply for a 'one use only' PR travel document (if you do not yet have the PR Card). Check it out here:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/travel-document/index.asp

But when you have a look at the stuff you have to provide and more importantly that processing timescales etc., I suspect you will come to the same conclusion that I did, which was to sit tight in Canada until we get the PR card or only travel to the US by road (my sister lives in NY and we would love to see her).

 

[Db1980]

Hi,

Ok I understand. In reality the FLA trip in middle of April was just an idea we had, but if it means we must drive or run into problems there will be plenty of time to trips in the future.

What about the July wedding in Dominican and November wedding in Mexico?
We have already paid a deposit for the July wedding....

This scenario is why we wer originally thinking to apply inland after we returned from the Dominican trip in July. We could go to Canada in April, go to FLA for a couple weeks, do the wedding in July and then start the Sponsorship inland. That was our ide, but now the Outland process seems better albeit it could confuse travel plans. Make sense?

 

[Hurlabrick]

Hi,

Ok I understand. In reality the FLA trip in middle of April was just an idea we had, but if it means we must drive or run into problems there will be plenty of time to trips in the future.

What about the July wedding in Dominican and November wedding in Mexico?
We have already paid a deposit for the July wedding....

This scenario is why we wer originally thinking to apply inland after we returned from the Dominican trip in July. We could go to Canada in April, go to FLA for a couple weeks, do the wedding in July and then start the Sponsorship inland. That was our ide, but now the Outland process seems better albeit it could confuse travel plans. Make sense?

No I don't understand, but it is pretty simple and you can do the sums yourself.

When your wife lands and 'declares PR', the CBSA guys will automatically apply for her first PR card there and then. It will be sent by mail to the Canadian address you give on landing. Current processing times for the first PR card are given on the XCIC website here:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/

It says 56 days for the first PR card currently. But that is NOT a guarantee, it may take longer or be quicker. there is no guarantee.

So from the date you land, add at least 56 days before you get the PR Card. If it doesn't arrive, you are in trouble if you have already booked and paid. Alternatively, apply for the once only PR paperwork as per my previous link, but note the processing timescales for that.

Your call!

 

[Hurlabrick]

Another 'left field' alternative could be, if your PR card has not arrived, to drive to a town / city in the US and get your flights to and from that city in the USA - then drive back to Canada. Your wife would need a US ESTA, but that is an easy on-line process (that she would need anyway if going anywhere near the US by air).

Depends on where you are in Canada of course!

 

[Db1980]

Hi,

Sorry got caught up yesterday with work. Again, I appreciate the help and answers to my questions. We only live a few hours from Buffalo so the option to cross into the US and fly from there along with return could be an option. As well, thank you for letting me know about the "one use only" option. Will keep that in mind if needed.

I'm looking at the applications I must fill out for my wife and am a little confused regarding the "Additional Dependants/Declaration form IMM 008DEP. It states in the complete guide that this form should be filled out "only if you have more than five dependants on your application". Which to me means that we do not fill in this form because it does not apply to our situation. Although, when I selected that we would be filling out an application for my spouse from Sweden this form is listed and does not say this.

Below is what I see are the forms I/we shall fill in:

Document Checklist - Spouse (including dependent children of Spouse) IMM 5533

Sponsor
1. Application to Sponsor, Sponsorship Agreement and Undertaking (IMM 1344)
2. Sponsorship Evaluation and Relationship Questionaire (IMM 5532)
* both include information regarding Applicant (my wife)

Applicant
1. Generic Application Form for Canada (IMM 0008)
2. Additional Family Information (IMM 5406)
3. Schedule A - Background/Declaration (IMM 5669) - to be done online after Sponsor is approved

Questionmark? Additional Dependants/Declaration (IMM 0008DEP)???

Thanks,

 

[Hurlabrick]

Hi,

Sorry got caught up yesterday with work. Again, I appreciate the help and answers to my questions. We only live a few hours from Buffalo so the option to cross into the US and fly from there along with return could be an option. As well, thank you for letting me know about the "one use only" option. Will keep that in mind if needed.

I'm looking at the applications I must fill out for my wife and am a little confused regarding the "Additional Dependants/Declaration form IMM 008DEP. It states in the complete guide that this form should be filled out "only if you have more than five dependants on your application". Which to me means that we do not fill in this form because it does not apply to our situation. Although, when I selected that we would be filling out an application for my spouse from Sweden this form is listed and does not say this.

Below is what I see are the forms I/we shall fill in:

Document Checklist - Spouse (including dependent children of Spouse) IMM 5533

Sponsor
1. Application to Sponsor, Sponsorship Agreement and Undertaking (IMM 1344)
2. Sponsorship Evaluation and Relationship Questionaire (IMM 5532)
* both include information regarding Applicant (my wife)

Applicant
1. Generic Application Form for Canada (IMM 0008)
2. Additional Family Information (IMM 5406)
3. Schedule A - Background/Declaration (IMM 5669) - to be done online after Sponsor is approved

Questionmark? Additional Dependants/Declaration (IMM 0008DEP)???

Thanks,

You need to actually download and look at the forms in question - it is pretty clear what is going on when you have a play.

You MUST complete the basic IMM0008.

You will see when you look at the PDF on screen that there is an 'Add Dependant' button.
If you have any dependants, then click that once - it add a section for one dependant that you need to fill out,
At the bottom of the section it just added is the 'Add Dependant' button, so if you have a second dependant, click it again. Again it adds another dependant.

Due to some sort of limitation, this process will work ON THIS FORM up to a maximum of 5 dependants. So what they are saying is that if you have MORE than 5 dependants, use the 'overflow' form they refer to. But as you say, this does not apply to you.

You really need to jump in, download the forms and start having a play. You will find that completing them is a long process - not so much coz it is hard, it is just that you have to gather a lot of information you may not have immediately to hand. I used a separate 'to do' list for each form to keep a track of what I had left to add etc. until it was ready for submission.

 

[Db1980]

Hi,

Yes when I said I had been looking I should have actually said I had download the applications and gone over them a few times. As well, my wife and I had started a "to do list" as you mentioned. We are in the process of obtaining letters, photocopies, photos, etc. We are confident we can have everything in order to send out application by the end of next week.

Another thing, in the Document Checklist it says that I (the Sponsor) need to provide the most recent "Notice of Assessment" from Canada Revenue Agency. And if you cannot provide this, provide an explanation or an equivalent document. This will be my case as I was granted Swedish Permanent Residence (Uppehållstillstånd) on April, 13 2012) and worked here in Sweden. Would it be enough for me to explain this and also show my 2015 Swedish Tax return (Deklaration)? Would this be considered an equivalent document?

My father is also sending by FedEx (as of yesterday) proof that I will be employed by his company with all necessary details explained along with a letter that my family will stay with my parents until we get our own place.

 

[Hurlabrick]

Another thing, in the Document Checklist it says that I (the Sponsor) need to provide the most recent "Notice of Assessment" from Canada Revenue Agency. And if you cannot provide this, provide an explanation or an equivalent document. This will be my case as I was granted Swedish Permanent Residence (Uppehållstillstånd) on April, 13 2012) and worked here in Sweden. Would it be enough for me to explain this and also show my 2015 Swedish Tax return (Deklaration)? Would this be considered an equivalent document?

I am the Canadian sponsor and had to answer the same question, albeit I live in the UK (not Sweden). But by the sounds of what you have said, you are going to do the same thing I did, which is explain and send them the most recent equivalent of you annual tax return / statement of earnings. FYI, I sent them the UK P60 (annual official document sent to UK Revenue every year to tell that what I earned in total, how much tax I paid from those earnings and therefore what I retained as taxed income.

I don't even know why they want it since AIUI there is no minimum income requirement for spousal sponsorship, but hey - whatever they asked for, I sent them (whether it made sense to me or not) - and if it was not PRECISELY what they seemed to ask for, I included an 'attachment' to the form number in question (signed, dated etc.) with an explanation!

 

[Hurlabrick]

PS - the following Wiki FAQ on spousal sponsorship on another site may help you, worth a read. Do bear in mind that it has not yet been fully updated to reflect the new application pack, but then several of the forms are still the same and much of the non-form related stuff is still accurate. Check it out here:

http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Spousal_Sponsorship-Canada/FAQ

I would also strongly suggest you courier your pack to the correct address (there is a special address in Robert Speck Parkway, Mississauga for couriered pack that need to be signed for - all on the CIC website), rather than use Swedish post (or whatever).

FedEx, DHL, UPS etc. would all work. It will be fully tracked all the way and take 3 / 4 days to get there (and cost not much more). I sent mine Royal Mail track / trace and signed for - it was tracked until it went on the plane to Canada then radio silence until it was finally delivered and signed for in Canada three weeks later (having got hung up in customs as most this that are not couriered do!).

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Ok I understand. In reality the FLA trip in middle of April was just an idea we had, but if it means we must drive or run into problems there will be plenty of time to trips in the future.

What about the July wedding in Dominican and November wedding in Mexico?
We have already paid a deposit for the July wedding....

Hurlabrick seems to be confused about what you are asking, as he is providing answers for travelling AFTER becoming a PR.

The FLA trip and the Dominican in July should be no issue, especially if the kids are travelling with you. Carry proof of the PR app and proof of financial support and remember that your wife is entering as a visitor each time, not living in Canada.

If the PR app is still in process in November, then same as above, there should be no issues. If the PR app is approved before November, she can just hold off on landing and complete it when returning from Mexico. The COPR is generally valid for one year from the date of the medical, so she should have until 2018 to land.

Questionmark? Additional Dependants/Declaration (IMM 0008DEP)???

Not needed. Just mark N/A on the checklist.

 

[Hurlabrick]

Hurlabrick seems to be confused about what you are asking, as he is providing answers for travelling AFTER becoming a PR.

Yes I was - DOH!

 

[Db1980]

Hi guys,

Thanks for the reply regarding submiting tax papers for my application. I am sure this will be no issue and can also show a photocopy of my Swedish "Uppehållstillstånd".

Ok, so now I'm under the impression that my wife, myself and 2 kids could fly to FLA in April? Am I correct?
As for the wedding in July, just myself and my wife will be going and this should also not be a problem? Correct again? November wedding attendance has not been confirmed as I let the groom know I could not commit as we would be in the application process for my wife and wanted to be sure she could attend or not.

We will book flights home for the 4 of us to depart April 3. We will send our applications on Thursday of next week (as by then all documents, photos, photocopies will have arrived to us and been gathered). We will show CBSA all information needed on arrival in Toronto (signed receipt and Sponsor Approval letter). I'm obviously assuming and am confident I will be approved.

Should I include in our application package a copy of our booked and paid flights on April 3? We will book a return date for Sept 10 (obviously not to be used, but was cheaper then 4 oneways).

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Ok, so now I'm under the impression that my wife, myself and 2 kids could fly to FLA in April? Am I correct?
As for the wedding in July, just myself and my wife will be going and this should also not be a problem? Correct again? November wedding attendance has not been confirmed as I let the groom know I could not commit as we would be in the application process for my wife and wanted to be sure she could attend or not.

Should I include in our application package a copy of our booked and paid flights on April 3?

Yes, you can go on your trips. Just remember she is entering as a visitor each time while she waits for the PR app to be processed.

Yes, include a copy of your tickets for your proof of intent to return to Canada.