Soon To Be Married Questions

[Cleric515]

I am a canadian citizen, she is an american citizen who wants to earn PR in Canada.

One of the questions my future wife and I have come across is which forms are important when it comes to her new last name as obtaining some of the documents take a long time.

Reason we ask this is because some of the forms can take up to 4 months, for example the fingerprints along with the cover letter can take up to 16 weeks. Personally I don't think it's important that she waits to be married to get this document as it pertains to her. The other form was the panel physician.

Just wish it was easy to include a checklist on which forms should have her new last name when we become married.

 

[mikeymyke]

It does not take 16 weeks, FYI. The info from CIC website is incorrect, it takes about 6-8 weeks. Just like they failed to mention that getting the FBI check from a channeler is NOT permissible.

 

[rhcohen2014]

actually, the current processing time per the FBI site is 30 days. It goes up and down reguarly, so as mikey suggested the info on the CIC is old. It is not accurate. go here for instructions. Keep in mind, CIC only considers the record valid for 3 months, so it's important to time receiving it with sending in your application.
http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/identity-history-summary-checks

As for the name change, do it BEFORE sending in the applicaiton. A new passport will also take about 4 weeks to get. If she starts the process with her maiden name, and wants to change it mid-process, she may not have enough time to get her passport changed before the visa office needs it. This has happened to me, so now i am waiting until after i'm approved to change my name.

 

[Cleric515]

Does she also have to wait till her name change for doing the medical process, it just seems trying to gather all this paperwork and sending it in when it's valid is such a hassle. It would be nice if she could start certain things that take a long time so that by the time we're married we could pretty much just send it in but it seems that this is not the case.

 

[rhcohen2014]

technically, yes you can get everything together and send it in once you are married. all you would need to wait for is your marriage certificate, which can take a few weeks to a month, depending on where you get married.

i think it's ok if the medical exam is in her maiden name. the doctor will be using her passport details and input it into the emedical system. there will also be a barcode for CIC. I would think that her old passport and new passport would be connected, and they will figure out it's her. you would be including the receipt in the package anyway. Always retain a copy for yourself. Since i haven't changed my name, i can't speak from experience.

The medical doesn't take long to do. When i went, i could make an appointment for any day i wanted. of course it's dependant on where you are and the panel doctor's office availability.

Really, if everything is coordinated correctly, everything can be completed around the same time.

 

[Cleric515]

the marriage certificate i believe we're getting on the day of our marriage as we're doing it through justice of the peace, smith county of texas, so i'll be able to take the original home with me to canada and she'll get a copy of it to use for whatever documents require it of her

if she decided to do the medical panel examination and fingerprints with cover letter say 2 weeks or a week before us getting married, is that going to be accepted by CIC as long as she gets a new passport and driver's license when she brings in her marriage certificate?

i know you said CIC would only consider fingerprints and cover letter valid as long as it's within 3 months so what's the acceptable timeframe on the medical panel examination?

 

[rhcohen2014]

medical exam is valid for 12 months, and cic has the ability to extend it to help the applicant get through landing, if necessary.

i'm not sure what you mean by fingerprints and cover letter. finger prints are needed to get the fbi record, they will not be returned to you, nor will they need to be submitted with the PR application.

yes, the fbi record can be done before getting married too. CIC is going to know her maiden name because of her application and birth certificate, so i don't think it really needs to be a major concern.

 

[blueangel371115]

medical exam is valid for 12 months, and cic has the ability to extend it to help the applicant get through landing, if necessary.

i'm not sure what you mean by fingerprints and cover letter. finger prints are needed to get the fbi record, they will not be returned to you, nor will they need to be submitted with the PR application.

yes, the fbi record can be done before getting married too. CIC is going to know her maiden name because of her application and birth certificate, so i don't think it really needs to be a major concern.

I sent it all under my maiden name and I'm going to change it now I actually have a file in the system to attach to. Quite a few members have done. As far as the FBI report I just sent the letter they sent me and nothing else.