Marry first or find work first?

[costaudjoe]

American applications go to Ottawa (Case Processing Pilot). Detroit is closed. They may be transferred to LA or NY for further processing, but most are done in Ottawa. All applications for Spousal Sponsorship are mailed to the Office in Mississauga, ON for Sponsor Approval.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/EnGLIsh/information/offices/missions/detroit.asp

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/offices/canada/ottawa.asp

Even Ottawa is 13 months. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/perm/fc-spouses.asp

 

[CanadianJeepGuy]

Americans applying outland are 11 months (Seattle), 13 months (New York), 14 months (Detroit), and 16 months (LA).

Posted processing times and actual processing times aren't always in sync. What I can glean from US spousal applicants is that they are getting approval within 7 to 8 months. Regardless he is still in a much better position than those of us who have spouses on the other side of the planet. My opinion based on my own experience is to be practical in the short term. Come here and get married then go back to the US and keep working to save for he and his wife. Once he gets his PR he can move to Canada with a pocket full of money. It will also give him ample time to assess the job market and potential employers in Calgary.

The posted processing time for Manila is 12 months but most have received their PR's in 7 months.

 

[amikety]

Even Ottawa is 13 months. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/perm/fc-spouses.asp

Check spreadsheet as I suggested. (And keep in mind some people never come back to update us.) Ottawa's posted time of 13 months doesn't mean all applications take 13 months. It means 80% of applications takes 13 months or less.

We recently had one user who was finished in about 3 months. Another was 11 months. Several have been within 7 months. Look at the date the COPR arrived, not the landing date. Some users have taken months to land - but their application was finished. They were eligible to land, apply for a SIN, etc immediately after getting the COPR. The link is in my signature.

There is a spreadsheet put out by the government on Open Data that gives a break down for all Visa Offices and all immigration classes. It's a beast to look at, but once you figure it out, it makes sense. (It took me several tries - I hate spreadsheets.)

Scroll down and hit "download." This will show you the fastest 20%, 50%, etc. (It will also give you exact data for number of applicants in all the classes, rejections, etc. Tons of information.)

http://www.data.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=En&n=5175A6F0-1&xsl=datacataloguerecord&metaxsl=datacataloguerecord&formid=427337D0-7C36-4FED-8428-C6A63F8C19B3

 

[costaudjoe]

The posted processing time for Manila is 12 months but most have received their PR's in 7 months.

I wonder how process times will be affected since Korean and Japanese applications are now being processed in Manila. (This is my case as our file was transferred to Manila)

 

[CanadianJeepGuy]

Check spreadsheet as I suggested. (And keep in mind some people never come back to update us.) Ottawa's posted time of 13 months doesn't mean all applications take 13 months. It means 80% of applications takes 13 months or less.

We recently had one user who was finished in about 3 months. Another was 11 months. Several have been within 7 months. Look at the date the COPR arrived, not the landing date. Some users have taken months to land - but their application was finished. They were eligible to land, apply for a SIN, etc immediately after getting the COPR. The link is in my signature.

There is a spreadsheet put out by the government on Open Data that gives a break down for all Visa Offices and all immigration classes. It's a beast to look at, but once you figure it out, it makes sense. (It took me several tries - I hate spreadsheets.)

Scroll down and hit "download." This will show you the fastest 20%, 50%, etc. (It will also give you exact data for number of applicants in all the classes, rejections, etc. Tons of information.)

http://www.data.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=En&n=5175A6F0-1&xsl=datacataloguerecord&metaxsl=datacataloguerecord&formid=427337D0-7C36-4FED-8428-C6A63F8C19B3

Good info. Thanks.

 

[costaudjoe]

Good info. Thanks.

+1

 

[CanadianJeepGuy]

I wonder how process times will be affected since Korean and Japanese applications are now being processed in Manila. (This is my case as our file was transferred to Manila)

It would appear that the only real victims of those closures were the applicants from May 2012. Currently September/October applications are receiving PPR's and or remeds.

 

[costaudjoe]

I don't think Korean applications have PPR but I could be wrong.

 

[amikety]

I don't think Korea has PPR but I could be wrong.

Visa exempt? We get PPR usually by email and email or mail a high quality photocopy/scan of our passport along with a blank page for the COPR. A few people from Ottawa (2 I think) never got PPR. Ottawa used the photocopies sent in with the application and just mailed COPR without even giving warning!

 

[costaudjoe]

Ya Korea is visa exempt. They are one of the few countries that can get 6-month tourist visas.

 

[Sweden]

Visa exempt? We get PPR usually by email and email or mail a high quality photocopy/scan of our passport along with a blank page for the COPR. A few people from Ottawa (2 I think) never got PPR. Ottawa used the photocopies sent in with the application and just mailed COPR without even giving warning!

Same for London - only non-visa-exempt get a PPR. London doesn't check anything or send any notifications... they process the application, then one day ecas turns into DM, and the COPR shows up at the door via normal post. No previous email or anything!

 

[costaudjoe]

Same for London - only non-visa-exempt get a PPR. London doesn't check anything or send any notifications... they process the application, then one day ecas turns into DM, and the COPR shows up at the door via normal post. No previous email or anything!

It sounds like a dream! ;-)