Newbie In The Dark

[linalizzie]

Hi All,

I am an American and my husband is a Canadian. We hired an immigration attorney and have submitted everything to him. Our application has been in process since Sept. 13, 2010 in Buffalo, NY. The last document we received from our attorney requested money for our Right of Permanent Residence Fee. The immigration office has received the Medical information and do not require any further documentation and also don't require an interview now. Does anyone know what the next step is for us? I asked my attorney, and he said we should hear something from the immigration office within the next month, but I'm not sure what we should expect to hear. I thought it would be easier to ask people who have been through it - or are going through it - rather than pay our attorney more cash to answer my question. ;D

Thanks!
Melina

 

[CharlieD10]

Since you have been requested to pay the RPRF, your next communication from the Consulate should be a request to submit your passport for the visa to be issued. You are nearing the end!

 

[linalizzie]

Thanks Charlie!! Do you know how long the visa is good? I read on the cic website that there is an expiration date. Also - do you know if it is not possible to have dual-citizenship between the US and Canada?

Cheers,
Melina

 

[Leon]

Thanks Charlie!! Do you know how long the visa is good? I read on the cic website that there is an expiration date. Also - do you know if it is not possible to have dual-citizenship between the US and Canada?

The PR visa is usually good for a year since you had your medicals or expiry of your passport, whichever is sooner. You must land in Canada before it expires but you do not have to move right away if you still have something to finish up.

It is possible to have dual citizenship between Canada and the US. To be able to apply for citizenship, you must have lived in Canada for at least 1095 days as a PR. Processing citizenship takes about a year.

 

[linalizzie]

Once I hand over my US Passport, how long until I am issued a Canadian Passport? I will need to travel back and forth between the US and Canada frequently.

 

[Leon]

Once I hand over my US Passport, how long until I am issued a Canadian Passport? I will need to travel back and forth between the US and Canada frequently.

You hand over your US passport only to get the PR visa. It will not take long for them to put the visa in the passport and send it back to you.

Once you become a Canadian citizen, you can apply for a Canadian passport but that will be at least 4 years from now. You would then have 2 passports, Canadian and US and use the US one to enter and leave the US and the Canadian one to enter and leave Canada.

 

[linalizzie]

Thanks Leon!

 

[linalizzie]

On previous posts, I see member's progress but I do not know what each of the acronym's are - would someone please help me with them?

 

[Leon]

You can see some of them in my signature and there are more on this thread: http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/immigration-acronyms-t3007.0.html