Welcome
You are starting to think about this in good timing. Long story, short - the application material and instructions you need are available at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/fc.asp. A few additional thoughts:
It's good that you are starting the process early. Given that you want to move in about a year and a half, your timing may be just perfect. Take your time to put together your application and submit it. You will likely have your PR sponsorship decision within 10 months of applying since the London Visa Office is one of the fastest (it is a two-step process; the first step takes 3 months or so and the London VO (visa office) is completing step 2 for 80% of the applications within 7 months). You can check for updated timing at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/perm-fc.asp closer to your application date.
CIC has a wealth of information, including instructions that walk you through each question on each form. Go through the application material I provided at the top and go through the instructions and the individual forms - do a dry run of filling them out, so to speak. The bulk of your time will be spent putting together the evidence of your relationship (photos, documents, phone bills, bank statements, etc, etc, etc) and finding bits and pieces of info you may not have readily available. You can pull it all together and submit when ready (just make sure you check the instructions and forms for changes right before you mail in your application).
Completing the application requires that you prove that you have a genuine relationship so start pulling together your photos and other records you may want to submit as backup to the explanatory notes you'll write. You'll also need copies of your marriage records, birth certificates and other documents that you may need to pull together so it makes sense to look over the application earlier rather than later and assess what you have and what you'll need. If any of the documents are not in English or French, you'll need translations which can take time too.
As you write out your timeline, consider that you'll want to time the application and your medical exam based on how much flexibility you have. Your approval will likely expire 12 months after you do her medical exams (they can be extended in specific situations and you can also do another one but given how fast London is, this is unlikely). Similarly, you'll need to submit your police certificates within 3 months of the issue date. Also, you'll have to land before your PR visa expires (though you can go back to Belfast to wrap things up - sell your house, graduate, etc - before moving)
Since you are living abroad, they will be looking to make sure your wife has a plan in place to go back to Canada and that you have sufficient savings or a support system that will ensure you succeed after you move without requiring financial assistance from the government. So, start planning your financials so you can show savings consolidated in a couple accounts (less to show) combined with a reasonable plan for moving and settling in (sufficient savings for a hotel or staying with family, reasonable plans go sever ties and set new one up, etc)
Good luck. Keep asking questions
Irish147 said:
Hi All,
I need a bit of advice. My wife is a Candaian/British citizen and I am British citizen. We have been living in Belfast for 6 years and been married for 5 years and she is currently completing her nursing registration by 2014. We are looking to move back to Canada in 2014 and dont know where to begin so any advice would be greatly appreciated?
We will both be applying through the London office and she will be my sponsor. Has anyone had any experience in this or can offer advice as we want to start to organise things as soon as possible after graduation!!!
She will be qualifying as a mental health nurse and I am an part qualified account. If anyone has advice on jobs etc... as well we would really appreciate it...
Thanks again for any advice...
Simon
