my wife is a canadian citizen, im an american citizen i have a few questions

[spaceexp]

Hahah
Yes my anxiety and nerves were what made me go organization crazy! Plus my mother in law has OCD and my hubby is a neat freak.... so that also led to me making sure I was organized since they both helped with some of it. haha
If i hear good news soon I'll know it paid off

Haha, and I was working as an auditor when I was gathering my paperwork. Plus I kinda diagnose myself with a mild OCD (my manager mentioned the same thing ). I think we all panic with this application, it is so extensive...

 

[AshleyAnne]

YEP!

And now I see they have my husbands mailing address off a little....GRRRRR we are in the States right now so I can't call, i have to hope email goes through....

Mailing address?

023 4567
Private Road
City
State
Postal

Our ACTUAL address??

023 Private Road 4567
City
State
Postal

Now I don't know if USPS will correct that or if we could just lose whatever they try to mail us...
So I just tried emailing CIC... Hopefully I hear an answer before next christmas lol

 

[spaceexp]

YEP!

And now I see they have my husbands mailing address off a little....GRRRRR we are in the States right now so I can't call, i have to hope email goes through....

Mailing address?

023 4567
Private Road
City
State
Postal

Our ACTUAL address??

023 Private Road 4567
City
State
Postal

Now I don't know if USPS will correct that or if we could just lose whatever they try to mail us...
So I just tried emailing CIC... Hopefully I hear an answer before next christmas lol

Seems close enough to me, but who knows. Make sure to write URGENT when you e-mail CIC, because in my experience they don't really reply without it. Or maybe it's just my bad luck again ???

 

[cillyx5]

Awesome thread.

BIG THANKS on clarifying the difference between actual outland timelines versus what's shown on the site.

Question… I keep reading that the US spouse can be in Canada while applying outland. Can someone explain this?

 

[cillyx5]

Oh ya, and… How do I ensure my outland application goes to Ottawa and not NY or LA?

Thanks for your time everyone.

 

[rhcohen2014]

Awesome thread.

BIG THANKS on clarifying the difference between actual outland timelines versus what's shown on the site.

Question... I keep reading that the US spouse can be in Canada while applying outland. Can someone explain this?

there is nothing to it really. a us citizen is free to "visit" Canada anytime they wish, having a PR application submitted doesn't change that. the important thing to remember is using the right language. Until PR is approved, a US citizen can NOT "move" or "live" in Canada, they can only visit. as a pr applicant it's usually best practice to be able to prove your ties to the US, in case the border agent asks. this doesn't always happen, though some people are pulled into secondary and are asked to prove a home/job in the US. generally, us citizens are allowed to visit for 6 months. How long they are allowed to stay per visit is up to the border agent. Once in Canada, the visitor can then apply to extend their stay within 30 days of the current visit ending. PR applicants are rarely denied extensions and it's common for people to request/get 12+ month extensions. As a visitor, the US applicant can NOT work in Canada for a Canadian employer. they have to wait until PR is approved, which is hovering around 6 months for US outland applicants.

Oh ya, and... How do I ensure my outland application goes to Ottawa and not NY or LA?

Thanks for your time everyone.

you can't. all you can do is write a clear, concise application that leaves little question about the validity of your relationship. NY does not process family class applications anymore. Currently, if an interview is called, it WILL be in LA. there is no choice there. Whether the application gets shuffled to LA for an interview is in the hands of CIC and whether they think there is an "issue" with your application. Common "issues" that can trigger an interview are: non-accompanying dependant, relationship validity, criminal history, and the applicant being a resident of the us, not a citizen.

I would say about 99.9% of US applications are waived the interview, so if your case is straightforward, it really doesn't need to be a concern.

 

[AshleyAnne]

there is nothing to it really. a us citizen is free to "visit" Canada anytime they wish, having a PR application submitted doesn't change that. the important thing to remember is using the right language. Until PR is approved, a US citizen can NOT "move" or "live" in Canada, they can only visit. as a pr applicant it's usually best practice to be able to prove your ties to the US, in case the border agent asks. this doesn't always happen, though some people are pulled into secondary and are asked to prove a home/job in the US. generally, us citizens are allowed to visit for 6 months. How long they are allowed to stay per visit is up to the border agent. Once in Canada, the visitor can then apply to extend their stay within 30 days of the current visit ending. PR applicants are rarely denied extensions and it's common for people to request/get 12+ month extensions. As a visitor, the US applicant can NOT work in Canada for a Canadian employer. they have to wait until PR is approved, which is hovering around 6 months for US outland applicants.

you can't. all you can do is write a clear, concise application that leaves little question about the validity of your relationship. NY does not process family class applications anymore. Currently, if an interview is called, it WILL be in LA. there is no choice there. Whether the application gets shuffled to LA for an interview is in the hands of CIC and whether they think there is an "issue" with your application. Common "issues" that can trigger an interview are: non-accompanying dependant, relationship validity, criminal history, and the applicant being a resident of the us, not a citizen.

I would say about 99.9% of US applications are waived the interview, so if your case is straightforward, it really doesn't need to be a concern.

If you already have a work visa prior to applying for immigration is that still an issue? Or can they still apply outland?

As for Visa office, on your form they ask what visa office you WANT, you say Ottawa and then they also ask if an interview is needed where is the best location for you. My husband and I chose Seattle since that was an option. If you application is questioned it will be forwarded to LA however, just Ottawa if they think it is fairly straight forward and issue free.

 

[rhcohen2014]

If you already have a work visa prior to applying for immigration is that still an issue? Or can they still apply outland?

yes, an applicant CAN apply outland even though they are currently IN Canada on a work visa. there is NO rule that says anyone currently residing in Canada MUST Apply inland! in fact, it's actually the opposite. CIC RECOMMENDS applicants to apply outland to enjoy quicker processing. Whether the person is a visitor, worker or student, it doesn't matter. Again, applying OUTLAND has NOTHING to do with where the applicant is. it has to do with where they are from and where the application is processed.

As for Visa office, on your form they ask what visa office you WANT, you say Ottawa and then they also ask if an interview is needed where is the best location for you. My husband and I chose Seattle since that was an option. If you application is questioned it will be forwarded to LA however, just Ottawa if they think it is fairly straight forward and issue free.

that question is no longer on the application form. it was changed in November, so really it is a moot issue. Also, that form that asks for your preference in interview locations, it's old and shouldn't even be in the application. I have no idea why it hasn't been taken out. (unless it was taken out recently) The ONLY office in the US that processes family class applications is LA. There is NO choice in interview location right now.

 

[AshleyAnne]

That is what I thought


Interesting about the visa offices, our application in July was current and requested all of that information!
I can't believe they haven't taken it out! Well hopefully we won't need an interview since we've been living together for 2 years so it won't be an issue haha

 

[cillyx5]

Thanks for all the info guys. I'm going to download the forms and look at the instructions this weekend.

 

[AshleyAnne]

Best of luck!!

 

[fruitball4u]

If I am currently in Canada on a temporary work permit, what do I need to do to extend my stay until my PR application goes through? I tried looking at the "extend my visit" tab, but it was talking about visas, which I don't have, as I'm a US citizen. Does anyone know the correct form to fill out?

I'll be applying for PR hopefully in April and my temporary work permit expires in June.

 

[spaceexp]

If I am currently in Canada on a temporary work permit, what do I need to do to extend my stay until my PR application goes through? I tried looking at the "extend my visit" tab, but it was talking about visas, which I don't have, as I'm a US citizen. Does anyone know the correct form to fill out?

I'll be applying for PR hopefully in April and my temporary work permit expires in June.

I am not sure if you can extend your work permit, but you can try to stay as a visitor. Try to fill in this questionnaire: http://onlineservices-servicesenligne.cic.gc.ca/eapp/eapp.do

Make sure to put that you will "visit", "more than 6 months" and it will give you forms to change your conditions from worker to visitor.

Maybe someone else can elaborate on this in detail, but I remember when I extended my stay as a visitor, the form had an option to "change the conditions of your stay".

 

[fruitball4u]

I am not sure if you can extend your work permit, but you can try to stay as a visitor. Try to fill in this questionnaire: http://onlineservices-servicesenligne.cic.gc.ca/eapp/eapp.do

Make sure to put that you will "visit", "more than 6 months" and it will give you forms to change your conditions from worker to visitor.

Maybe someone else can elaborate on this in detail, but I remember when I extended my stay as a visitor, the form had an option to "change the conditions of your stay".

Yeah, I'm not trying to extend my work permit, just trying to stay in the country! Thanks for the link. I'll check that out now.