Question about sponsoring my soon-to-be wife through NYC office

[rzrzrz]

Hi all,

My fiancée and I are trying to plan the next couple of years and we have 3 questions. We are getting married at City Hall (NYC) in the next few weeks. She is submitting the FBI fingerprint form next week, and we will have her medical test done shortly before we finalize and send the total application. We are both employed professionals (she is an American citizen, I am a Canadian citizen, and no criminal records).

My first question: is the New York City application processing time of 22 months accurate? I have friends and acquaintances (and a lawyer we consulted with) who have claimed applications are processed in as little as 8 months (from 2-3 years ago). Is the 22 months estimate a realistic wait time or is that just a maximum? We are trying to plan our religious/social ceremony for January or June 2015 (after which we want to live together in Canada).

Second question: if my fiancée is able to get a sponsorship from her company after the PR spousal application has begun, would that be a problem? I imagine they would sponsor her for a year (or two).

Three: how long does the FBI fingerprint check normally take?

Thank you for sharing ideas and experiences!

 

[lulubeans9]

I'm a US citizen marrying a Canadian and have similar questions, would love to hear answers.

 

[scylla]

1) 10 months seems to be about right these days for straightf-forward applications. The 22 months represents how long it took CIC to complete processing for 80% of applications - meaning that many applications get through faster and some much faster. Having said that, a straight-forward application doesn't guarantee it won't take longer than 10 months. My husband is from the US and his application was processed in four months total three years ago. Unfortunately processing times have changed quite a bit since then.

2) You'll have to explain what you mean by "sponsorship". Do you mean a job offer and a temporary work permit?

3) Posted time is 5-6 weeks.

 

[Ponga]

1.The Outland application process is substantially faster than applying Inland (from within Canada). The current processing time seems to be 10-12 months total.

2. (Sorry, but I can't speak to this question)

3. The FBI PCC will take 8-10 weeks to receive. I spoke with them earlier in the week with the same question.


In the interim, just be sure to compile as much evidence of your relationship to prove to CIC that your marriage is genuine. The burden of proof is more relaxed, compared to common-law or conjugal partners.

 

[Rob_TO]

My first question: is the New York City application processing time of 22 months accurate?

ALL US resident PR application, are by default first processed in the CPP-Ottawa visa office. Only if there are some issues with your application and they intend to have an interview in the US, would the application be forwarded to the local visa office (in your case NY). But for a straightforward app the whole thing should be done in Ottawa... in around 10 months time.

Second question: if my fiancée is able to get a sponsorship from her company after the PR spousal application has begun, would that be a problem? I imagine they would sponsor her for a year (or two).

With an outland application in progress, the applicant is free to apply for any visitor, work or study visas they are qualified for. Applying for a work permit through LMO process, has no effect on the ongoing outland application.

 

[rzrzrz]

You guys are AMAZING. WOW.

THANK YOU SO MUCH! Your responses are the best Christmas present I could have asked for this year. We can go ahead and start planning our life knowing all this. Thank you!

 

[QuebecOkie]

Not wanting to move to Canada until the middle of 2015 may provide a small stumbling block. When applying outland when the sponsor is also living outside of Canada, the sponsor must prove his/her intention to move back to Canada. This may include proof of job offers, of an employer who can transfer the sponsor to a Canadian location, acceptance to a Canadian University, a lease or mortgage for a home in Canada, proof of seeking a home to rent or buy in Canada, statements from relatively/friends who are aware of the person's plans to return, proof of Canadian bank accounts, etc. Just anything that can demonstrate real plans to move to Canada.