Outland Spouse...does it really take 15 months?

[Canuck4ever]

Hello, I am a Canadian with a green card, living in the US for the past 17 years. I am married to an American...she is in University finishing her bachelors and will be graduating Dec 2014. We want to move home asap afterwards (like the next day) so we are in the process of filling out the permanent residence spousal forms. I have a couple questions. First, the processing time is saying 15 months which really suck as we want to come to Toronto right away (Dec 2014). We would have applied earlier but thought she wouldn't graduate till May 2015. Since her graduation date has been bumped up a semester we want to come right away. Secondly, we have been married for 5 years and been together for 11. Her passport does not have her married name on it as we were waiting till it expires but now I am wondering if we should send for an updated one so it doesn't become a "red flag" but that will take 4 to 6 weeks. Also, do we need to send a photo copy of this passport with the application? I have read about the passport request but don't know what that means. Right now we are getting her medical and waiting for the background check to arrive. Again, just not sure about the passport thing but almost ready to send. Very exited/nervous Sorry for the long winded post...Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. [/i]

 

[canuck_in_uk]

First, the processing time is saying 15 months which really suck as we want to come to Toronto right away (Dec 2014). We would have applied earlier but thought she wouldn't graduate till May 2015. Since her graduation date has been bumped up a semester we want to come right away. Secondly, we have been married for 5 years and been together for 11. Her passport does not have her married name on it as we were waiting till it expires but now I am wondering if we should send for an updated one so it doesn't become a "red flag" but that will take 4 to 6 weeks. Also, do we need to send a photo copy of this passport with the application? I have read about the passport request but don't know what that means. Right now we are getting her medical and waiting for the background check to arrive.

Hi

The posted processing time is how long it takes to process 80% of apps, so most are done faster than that, some quite a lot faster. I believe Ottawa is averaging around 10 months right now, have a look at the Ottawa thread and spreadsheet.

It is in no way a red flag for her passport to be in her maiden name. However, the passport name is the name that will be on the PR card, so it is up to her to decide if she wants to apply for a new passport in her married name or simply use her current one. There are several applicants on here who submitted the current passport with the maiden name but then updated CIC with their new passport and the name change; be advised, that can possibly (or possibly not) cause a delay.

She will need to send a copy of the passport with the application. As she is visa-exempt to Canada, she will not get a passport request at the end of the process; that is only for non visa-exempt people that must have a visa put in their passport. I believe that Ottawa does request an updated photocopy of the passport before issuing the COPR.

If the app isn't finished processing by Dec 2014, she can enter Canada as a visitor while she waits for PR.

PS. Too much bold

 

[Canuck4ever]

Thank you very much for your reply and for the very useful information. I am not sure you worded this properly or else I just don't understand but you said " 15 months wait is for 80% and most are much faster. To me, 80% "is" most which only leaves 20% to possibly be quicker. Also, I think I saw the spreadsheet somewhere (can't find it now) and it didn't seem to make sense. There was a graph giving percentages that ad up to more than 100. I don't get it I guess. Having said that, I will hope for a quick outcome to this process and see what happens.

Also, you said they will ask for an updated copy of her passport near the end of the process...what if the updated one has her married name on it? Will they change it on her PR card or should we just leave it and not take the chance of delaying the process in anyway. ( I guess that's up to us eh?)

Finally, if we go to Toronto in December if she is still waiting, do we have to leave our stuff here and re enter when we get accepted or how does that work?
Thanks again for the help, really appreciate it.

 

[SadieRoo]

My husband had a Canadian Green Card in the States as well, married an American me….. we did the Outland paperwork as we wanted to relocate back up to Canada to be near his family and friends and it was about a 9 month wait…….

 

[Canuck4ever]

Thank you so much SadieRoo for the very encouraging post! Quick question...Did you do this recently, like since the website has been saying Ottawa 15 months?
Thanks again for the response!

 

[scylla]

The 80% / 20% split explained to you earlier is correct. 80% of applications are processed by the posted processing time or faster. 20% take longer.

 

[Rob_TO]

Thank you very much for your reply and for the very useful information. I am not sure you worded this properly or else I just don't understand but you said " 15 months wait is for 80% and most are much faster. To me, 80% "is" most which only leaves 20% to possibly be quicker. Also, I think I saw the spreadsheet somewhere (can't find it now) and it didn't seem to make sense. There was a graph giving percentages that ad up to more than 100. I don't get it I guess. Having said that, I will hope for a quick outcome to this process and see what happens.

The 80% stats are NOT "averages" for 80% of the apps. It means for 80% of the apps submitted, the longest one took 15 months.

You can download more detailed timelines in excel format that show the 50% stat, which would be a more useful indicator of "average" (i have no idea why CIC doesn't use the 50% stat on their site). Right now the 50% stat for CPP-Ottawa (where US apps are processed) is 9 months.

 

[Canuck4ever]

Thanks Scylla...So basically it is 15 months or quicker and people are saying if all goes well it can be 9 or 10 months is what I am getting.

 

[Canuck4ever]

Rob_TO...Thanks very much for clearing that up for me. Makes much more sense now. Awesome, very encouraging. Looks like we might make it for Christmas after all. Cheers!

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Also, you said they will ask for an updated copy of her passport near the end of the process...what if the updated one has her married name on it? Will they change it on her PR card or should we just leave it and not take the chance of delaying the process in anyway. ( I guess that's up to us eh?)

Finally, if we go to Toronto in December if she is still waiting, do we have to leave our stuff here and re enter when we get accepted or how does that work?

When they ask for the passport copy, that is the end of the process; they just need to issue the COPR. If it has a different name and you haven't informed them previously, I imagine it will delay the COPR. If she decides to get the new passport, update CIC as soon as she has the new one so that they can adjust the app accordingly. That is definitely up to you guys to decide. There are a few other threads on here about people who did this, have a search and read through them.

Technically, she cannot "move" to Canada until she has PR. She can bring a few bags and that's it. As a returning Canadian, you can bring everything else under your name but I would advise having the bulk shipped to Canada after you have crossed over. The two of you showing up at the border with all of the stuff, even if you say it's all your stuff, wouldn't go down very well with the border officers. You guys can come over together with a few bags and then ship everything else after under your name.

 

[Canuck4ever]

Thanks Canuck_in_UK...With any luck, we will have our COPR by December and can just move home. As for the passport name, we have decided to get a new one now to avoid any problems or delays. We will expedite it and be able to send our application to Mississauga in 2 to 3 weeks.

Thanks to everyone for the help in this tedious process...We greatly appreciate it.

"GO Leafs GO"

 

[canuck_in_uk]

"GO Leafs GO"

In light of this new information, I hereby retract any and all previous help and advice given...

 

[Canuck4ever]

Ha, nice Canuck_in_UK... Well, if it makes you feel better, the Leafs lost tonight...Oh well, as long as we win gold in Sochi...
Thanks again everyone for the help!