Marriage (getting a Canadian passport for my wife)

[jeffrey99]

Hi All,

I am from Hong Kong and basically was born in Canada. After I was born, I moved back to Hong Kong which I studied and worked here. I will be getting marry in Hong Kong soon and I would like to apply a Canadian passport (or getting a Canadian citizenship for my wife) for her. Appreciate if you can let me know what process and requirements I have to go through.

Thanks alot for your help!

 

[zardoz]

Hi All,

I am from Hong Kong and basically was born in Canada. After I was born, I moved back to Hong Kong which I studied and worked here. I will be getting marry in Hong Kong soon and I would like to apply a Canadian passport (or getting a Canadian citizenship for my wife) for her. Appreciate if you can let me know what process and requirements I have to go through.

Thanks alot for your help!

This is NOT possible. You can't "apply" for her. These are the required steps.

1) You sponsor her as your spouse for Canadian permanent resident status.
2) She lives in Canada for an absolute minimum of 3 years.
3) She then can apply for citizenship.

In total, this will probably take at least 5 years to complete, possibly much longer. You will have to leave Hong Kong and return to Canada.

 

[Msafiri]

As per Zardoz there is no immediate and automatic grant of citizenship by marriage to a Canadian Citizen...well not anymore..you are 60 years too late for that. In addition to point 2 above under amendments to immigration legislation she will likely get a 2 year probationary PR status (unless you have kids already at PR application stage). This will be reviewed at the 2 year mark and if your relationship is still ongoing its 'upgraded' to full PR status.

Depending on the residence requirements at the time she applies for citizenship she may need to be a PR for 3 or more years and have physically resided in Canada for the same duration to guarantee that her application is processed as routine.

Depending on her Local CIC Office, whether CIC believe her declared residence, if she passes the relevant language tests, if she passes any interviews and/or hearings with a Citizenship Judge the process may take anywhere between 7 months to 4 years based on the current timelines.

Its a long haul is the message here - as always Canada like any other country can fast track your application for citizenship for service and/or the benefit of the country e.g. if you are a world famous Olympian that can get a gold medal in your sport then you possibly have a deal!

 

[jeffrey99]

Hi Zardoz and Msafiri,

Super! Thanks for your help! I guess I can't just leave Hong Kong...sigh.......Maybe I will just wait till I retired....which is a long way..

 

[Msafiri]

Actually all is not lost.....under the mother of all loopholes from an immigration perspective (based on the current law) any absences from Canada where a PR is accompanying a Canadian Citizen spouse are disregarded i.e. not a breach of the RO. Post marriage and PR acquisition your spouse can remain outside Canada until you retire...this law is absurd and unlikely to carry on like this in the long term for non military/diplomatic/other federal service postings.

 

[Leon]

The trick is getting PR for her in the first place. As a Canadian citizen, you are allowed to sponsor your spouse even though you currently don't live in Canada. You must however prove to immigration that you will be moving to Canada when your spouse gets her PR.

If you succeed in that and get her PR, under the current rules, she would continue to meet the residency obligation as long as she lives with you anywhere in the world for at least 2/5 years