Moving to Canada from USA because of marriage

[Juice86]

Hello,

I live in Michigan and will be moving to the Toronto area after getting married and have several questions.

**Disclaimer: I was born and raised in Michigan and my head is spinning regarding this move so please bear with me. Any help with my questions would be greatly welcomed and appreciated**

So after several months/years of discussion regarding whether she will move to America or I will move to Canada, it just seems more realistic that I will be moving there.

So my questions are:
1) How do I start this application process to become a PR of canada early so that I can work once I move there (2016ish- I can't afford to not work for several months). How does this work with applying to be a PR of Canada when I still live and work in America?
2) Should I start the process now, before marriage, or should I wait until we are married and start the process? (I work in the medical field as a physical therapist aka physiotherapist and will be needing to take board exams, apply for my health licensure, etc which will also take several months, so ideally I need to start all that sooner rather than later)
3) Roughly how long will it take? What type of costs am I looking at?
4) I'm sure several people here have similar situations--what advice do you have for me (again--head..spinning..!!)

Thanks again.

Im sure there may be several more posts regarding this issue over the coming months so any help is appreciated.

 

[canadianwoman]

Get married, then apply. Unless you have been living together for 12 months continuously, you have to be married first.
You can't move to Canada before you have the visa, but you can come visit here for 6 months (usually) and then have that time extended. However, you cannot work during your visit.
I would get married, apply, continue working until approved, then move up. Americans without any 'red flags' (obvious problems) usually get approved quickly.

 

[Panamai]

I would definitely start checking into what you will need for licensure in Canada in your field. You can start applying now to have your credentials evaluated and you should. I was an LPN in the US and had to apply to the Ontario College of Nurses to get approval to sit for the licensure exams here. I applied in January 2014 and they still have not fully made a decision. Hopefully, the entity who oversees physical therapists is more efficient and expedient. The other poster is correct about the PR application. Unless you have lived together for 12+ months, you have to wait until you are married. There are no fiance visas in Canada. The outland PR process for US citizens is *usually* done in 6-8 months. You can either pay to have your visiting time extended, or you can go back and visit the US for a few days and come back (that's what I did). I've been here in Canada for over a year getting common-law status with my partner. It's awful not being able to work, but worth it in the end.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

1) How do I start this application process to become a PR of canada early so that I can work once I move there (2016ish- I can't afford to not work for several months). How does this work with applying to be a PR of Canada when I still live and work in America?
2) Should I start the process now, before marriage, or should I wait until we are married and start the process? (I work in the medical field as a physical therapist aka physiotherapist and will be needing to take board exams, apply for my health licensure, etc which will also take several months, so ideally I need to start all that sooner rather than later)
3) Roughly how long will it take? What type of costs am I looking at?
4) I'm sure several people here have similar situations--what advice do you have for me (again--head..spinning..!!)

Hi

1. Start here http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/fc.asp

2. You must be either common-law (lived together continuously for a year) or married to apply for sponsorship, so if you aren't common-law, you will need to get married first.

3. Generally, it takes at least a month or so to put an app together. Right now, straightforward American apps are going through in around 7-8 months. The fees are $1040; you must also factor in the cost of the medical (in the US, several hundred dollars at least), police certificates, postage etc.

4. Read through the app. Go through all of the forms, the guides, the checklists. Then go through it all again.

 

[Juice86]

Thanks for the replies. I am going to have to start getting a move on everything!

Anybody have experience with an immigration lawyer? I wonder if that can help expediate the process, cut down on errors, and, depending on the fee, maybe Ill come out ahead as I will be able to work more quickly (possibly), instead of waiting for several months.

 

[MilesAway]

Thanks for the replies. I am going to have to start getting a move on everything!

Anybody have experience with an immigration lawyer? I wonder if that can help expediate the process, cut down on errors, and, depending on the fee, maybe Ill come out ahead as I will be able to work more quickly (possibly), instead of waiting for several months.

Based on what we've seen here, using an immigration lawyer will:
-increase your costs
-decrease the chances of you submitting a proper application
-increase processing time through their mistakes
-increase stress levels to really high rates.

You're really better off doing it yourself, and asking for help on the forum. Lawyers have done some spectacularly stupid things.

 

[rhcohen2014]

Thanks for the replies. I am going to have to start getting a move on everything!

Anybody have experience with an immigration lawyer? I wonder if that can help expediate the process, cut down on errors, and, depending on the fee, maybe Ill come out ahead as I will be able to work more quickly (possibly), instead of waiting for several months.

no to all of the above. immigration lawyers can't "expedite the process" - noone can. they certainly don't cut down on errors - most people report the lawyers make mistakes, causing delays and issues with applicaitons, and the fees are thousands of dollars just to have someone "look over" your application before it's sent. you are far better off using this forum and the experience of people who actually went through/are going through the process.

 

[scylla]

A very good immigration lawyer can certainly decrease the stress of the process - although there won't be any impact on your processing times. Very good lawyers are expensive. Expect to pay several thousand dollars.

 

[RajaJi]

Thanks for the replies. I am going to have to start getting a move on everything!

Anybody have experience with an immigration lawyer? I wonder if that can help expediate the process, cut down on errors, and, depending on the fee, maybe Ill come out ahead as I will be able to work more quickly (possibly), instead of waiting for several months.

It does not expedite the process, if you file your application through a Lawyer. Lawyer's fees can be in several thousand dollars. Application is not very complicated. You can save money if you do it yourself. Read and follow the instructions/guides carefully and seek help on these forums.

Choice is yours.

 

[Juice86]

Thanks for the replies.

Glad I asked, and good to know that several people have experience with this and may be willing to help. I won't go the lawyer route

For me, the main thing is to start working as soon as I move to Canada--but it seems that is not the most realistic option. Maybe, after marriage and while living in Canada, I can continue to work in Michigan (while my application is being processed).

 

[rhcohen2014]

Thanks for the replies.

Glad I asked, and good to know that several people have experience with this and may be willing to help. I won't go the lawyer route

For me, the main thing is to start working as soon as I move to Canada--but it seems that is not the most realistic option. Maybe, after marriage and while living in Canada, I can continue to work in Michigan (while my application is being processed).

just remember, anytime you go to canada to stay with your husband, you are not "living" or "moving" there. it is very important to use the right langugage at the border, and remember until you are approved as a PR, you are ONLY allowed to "visit" your husband. CBSA has been known to give people problems because of the use of the wrong language upon entry.

If you can work remotely for your US company while in canada, this is the best option for outland applicants. CBSA loves to see you have a job outside of canada you will continue while there. it alleviates their concern you will not try to work illegally in canada... which is their major concern at the border.

 

[RajaJi]

OP will be the Husband in this case

 

[Juice86]

Lol, yes that is correct RajaJl .

This may be a stupid question, but are we able to go to the courthouse several months ahead of the wedding and get the marriage license? That way, I could start the paperwork. Is that allowed? (Forgive the ignorance if it's a stupid question)

 

[MilesAway]

Nope, they need the actual marriage certificate, not the license. You can, however, start filling out the forms ahead of time. Send off for the police checks, get things translated and notarized as required (if required).

 

[keesio]

Hello,

I live in Michigan and will be moving to the Toronto area after getting married and have several questions.

**Disclaimer: I was born and raised in Michigan and my head is spinning regarding this move so please bear with me. Any help with my questions would be greatly welcomed and appreciated**

So after several months/years of discussion regarding whether she will move to America or I will move to Canada, it just seems more realistic that I will be moving there.

So my questions are:
1) How do I start this application process to become a PR of canada early so that I can work once I move there (2016ish- I can't afford to not work for several months). How does this work with applying to be a PR of Canada when I still live and work in America?
2) Should I start the process now, before marriage, or should I wait until we are married and start the process? (I work in the medical field as a physical therapist aka physiotherapist and will be needing to take board exams, apply for my health licensure, etc which will also take several months, so ideally I need to start all that sooner rather than later)
3) Roughly how long will it take? What type of costs am I looking at?
4) I'm sure several people here have similar situations--what advice do you have for me (again--head..spinning..!!)

Thanks again.

Im sure there may be several more posts regarding this issue over the coming months so any help is appreciated.

My wife had a similar situation as you. I sponsored her to Toronto from the NYC. It was outland sponsorship and I stayed in Canada while she continued to live and work in the US until her application was complete. It took about 7 months to process her application. Filed it all ourselves so total cost was $1040 for the application fees. It was pretty smooth.

She is also a physiotherapist who was licensed in NYS. She needed to get licensed in Ontario (where we live). She had get credentialed first (her education and work from the US recognized) and had to take (and pass) a practical exam and clinical exam before she can get fully licensed. My wife just found out that she passed her last exam (clinical) and is now ready to be licensed. She landed on October 2013 and it is Feb 2015 so as you can see, the whole process can take some time. I suggest to start hitting the books again ASAP if you wish to shorten that timeline of getting licensed in Canada - she didn't start studying until after she arrived and because she has been out of school for a long time (graduated 10+ years ago), she needed to refresh all the stuff she forgot. If you are not that far removed from school and the coursework is still fresh in your mind, you probably don't need as much time to study before taking the exam. Also, the whole process was also pretty costly - probably spent over $3K in various test and credentialing fees. While you have to be a PR to take the exam, I think you can start the credentialing process before. You may want to look into that.

I think you will have more angst over getting licensed in Ontario vs the actual immigration part. At least my wife felt that way (and me too). US outland sponsorship for US citizens ws easy if you have no red-flags. The most annoying aspect of it in the past was getting your FBI clearance letter (which took several weeks or more) but now US citizens living in the US can use an FBI Channeler (much quicker) so that is less of an issue now.

Good luck!