Trying to understand why the approval process has to take so long.

[gsize]

I actually agree with all the points in this forum but I also agree that we do need to realize what we are getting ourselves into and need to look at all the possibilities of what may come as a result of this including file transfers, long waiting periods, denials and financial and emotional hardships. I am unhappy about the way things have been going for us but definitely have a backup plan in place if the wait becomes too long.

so the $64,000.00 question is: how long is too long. ? Looks like another lonely Christmas for me. Stay strong.....take care of your health.......stress and anxiety is a killer !

 

[Merlyns_Tim]

so the $64,000.00 question is: how long is too long. ? Looks like another lonely Christmas for me. Stay strong.....take care of your health.......stress and anxiety is a killer !

Very sorry to hear that you also are looking at another lonely Christmas. I think there may be a lot of us in that category.

For me any time away from a wife or husband is too long, ... but being realistic and giving people time to do their jobs I'd say a year after the document package is sent in would be a reasonable amount of time for them to determine if a couple is legit or not.
I also think because of the amount of medicals that do expire, getting it done before the documents go in may be too soon. Why not have people get the medical once they actually start going over their file?

 

[amikety]

Why not have people get the medical once they actually start going over their file?

Because that would delay the process. They would stop working on your file while you collect the medicals.

I think the idea of a time limit on applications is unrealistic. These CIC employees have a job to do and if it takes two years to determine a couple is genuine, it takes two years. Rushing the process or introducing short cuts will give more loopholes for criminals to jump through.

 

[bagelbagel81]

Because that would delay the process. They would stop working on your file while you collect the medicals.

I think the idea of a time limit on applications is unrealistic. These CIC employees have a job to do and if it takes two years to determine a couple is genuine, it takes two years. Rushing the process or introducing short cuts will give more loopholes for criminals to jump through.

I see it this way: Canada is doing us a favour by allowing our spouses to be sponsored in the first place. It's not a 'service' that we pay for as some people seem to believe, it's a commitment to be shown that we are serious about our spouses and will endure almost anything to be together.
If that means waiting long periods of time, then that's the way it has to be.
Immigration in Australia is exactly the same, if not worse. Especially with refugees arriving from boats that end up in detention centres or what not (different kettle of fish altogether, but it puts things in perspective). No matter what CIC does internally, there are going to be cases that take longer, and yes- it is unfair! The best you can do is be informed, and get as much support as you can from those around you. It will be worth it in the end!

 

[lunas]

I see it this way: Canada is doing us a favour by allowing our spouses to be sponsored in the first place. It's not a 'service' that we pay for as some people seem to believe, it's a commitment to be shown that we are serious about our spouses and will endure almost anything to be together.
If that means waiting long periods of time, then that's the way it has to be.
Immigration in Australia is exactly the same, if not worse. Especially with refugees arriving from boats that end up in detention centres or what not (different kettle of fish altogether, but it puts things in perspective). No matter what CIC does internally, there are going to be cases that take longer, and yes- it is unfair! The best you can do is be informed, and get as much support as you can from those around you. It will be worth it in the end!

Ugh, you don't even want to know what the American process is..I had to go through the naturalization procecss and it wasn't fun. Every country will have a similar process. In a way I understand both sides. I would love to join my husband really soon but before we got married we faced reality and we knew we'd be apart for a while.

 

[bagelbagel81]

Ugh, you don't even want to know what the American process is..I had to go through the naturalization procecss and it wasn't fun. Every country will have a similar process. In a way I understand both sides. I would love to join my husband really soon but before we got married we faced reality and we knew we'd be apart for a while.

yeah I can understand both sides too. Although I am lucky enough to be with my spouse, so in a way I am luckier than most. I just know what government bureaucracy is like, and the mentality there. Sponsor visas will continue to arrive every day of every year- the process is neverending for them. So what incentives do they have to rush ahead if they are risking approving a possible fraudulent relationship/marriage? It makes sense that they are thorough at the expense of long processing times.

 

[scos]

I see it this way: Canada is doing us a favour by allowing our spouses to be sponsored in the first place.

I don't agree with that at all. By that reasoning, Canada is "owned" by the government and we live here by consent of the government. You may believe that if you want, but that is not how it works. The citizens of this country "own" the country. The government exists to provide "good government" for the people of Canada. In reality we are giving the government the "privilege" of running the country for us.

Allowing family class sponsorships is not a favour they do for us. This country was built on immigration and people bringing their families. The government can't tell us we have to select a partner from people who are already here.

 

[bagelbagel81]

I don't agree with that at all. By that reasoning, Canada is "owned" by the government and we live here by consent of the government. You may believe that if you want, but that is not how it works. The citizens of this country "own" the country. The government exists to provide "good government" for the people of Canada. In reality we are giving the government the "privilege" of running the country for us.

Allowing family class sponsorships is not a favour they do for us. This country was built on immigration and people bringing their families. The government can't tell us we have to select a partner from people who are already here.

I agree with most of your argument. But the government at the end of the day is in control of policy, whether people like it or not. No matter which government is in control for that matter, immigration may be presented as a 'priority' but in reality the processes remain the same and keep plodding along at the same old rate it always has. I see it as a favour because the mere fact you can become a PR then a citizen based on falling in love opposed to skilled labour, heritage or refugee status IS a privilege in my opinion.
I am very lucky to be able to even go through this process without the other prerequisites that other immigrants have to go through. It allows me to be grateful for everything, rather than feel a sense of entitlement.

 

[scos]

I see it as a favour because the mere fact you can become a PR then a citizen based on falling in love opposed to skilled labour, heritage or refugee status IS a privilege in my opinion.

Why should falling in love be a lesser reason to skilled labour or heritage or refuge status? The main difference is you have a non-citizen with no rights to be in our country wanting entry compared to a citizen wanting to bring in their family. They are two different things. And the citizen's needs should trump the immigrant or the government. As for a sense of entitlement that is a matter of perspective. While many today do have a sense of entitlement (both rich and poor), so too does government. But that discussion isn't really pertinent to here.

 

[bagelbagel81]

Why should falling in love be a lesser reason to skilled labour or heritage or refuge status? The main difference is you have a non-citizen with no rights to be in our country wanting entry compared to a citizen wanting to bring in their family. They are two different things. And the citizen's needs should trump the immigrant or the government. As for a sense of entitlement that is a matter of perspective. While many today do have a sense of entitlement (both rich and poor), so too does government. But that discussion isn't really pertinent to here.

I don't think it is a lesser reason, by any means. Each has it's own hardships. I guess I am looking at it from the perspective of the applicant, rather than the sponsor. From a sponsor's point of view as a citizen it would seem more frustrating because you are already a citizen trying to move forward with the existing rights you already hold. As an applicant I am grateful for the opportunity to be considered. Two different perspectives. The choice to have a family before immigrating is one that I wanted to avoid, so I see that as something that has come down to choice to have a family and prioritising that first before choosing to immigrate; rather than the idea that families are being forced apart because of the government.

 

[Merlyns_Tim]

I don't think it is a lesser reason, by any means. Each has it's own hardships. I guess I am looking at it from the perspective of the applicant, rather than the sponsor. From a sponsor's point of view as a citizen it would seem more frustrating because you are already a citizen trying to move forward with the existing rights you already hold. As an applicant I am grateful for the opportunity to be considered. Two different perspectives. The choice to have a family before immigrating is one that I wanted to avoid, so I see that as something that has come down to choice to have a family and prioritising that first before choosing to immigrate; rather than the idea that families are being forced apart because of the government.

I can see both sides to the argument. Some people will always see the glass as half full while others see it as half empty. I myself can be a bit negative at times.

Being a sponsor I don't see it as the government doing us a favor, but more as an obligation to citizens who have found their true love in another country. Sure it's important to make certain it's not a fraud who's going to walk right past the sponsor once they land and just take advantage of his or her 3 year responsibility for them as well as our social systems, but it's also important to understand that legitimate couples wouldn't have married in the first place if they didn't want to live together.

I think they (the government and CIC) have realize a lot of people who marry outside Canada are on a second or sometimes third marriage, and funds for travel aren't unlimited since in a lot of cases a lot of sponsors are already paying child support or spousal support (sometimes both) while also sending money to take care of their new husband or wife. It can be enough hardship just trying to save for their trip here on top of all the other daily costs, to prevent them from being able to go back and spend time with them as they go through an all too often extended waiting time.
In my case I have been 20 months since I've been able to touch my wife, so yes I do get a bit upset about the wait. If that didn't bother me I'd have to ask myself if I married the right person.

 

[Kiwi12]

Hi Tim, I honestly know exactly how you feel. We are a little older than some of the sponsors and I know myself that all I want to do is get this process over with so I can work on my retirement and live the life I have always dreamed of. It is unsettling and I spend most of my days pretending this doesn't bother me and continually reassuring my partner that everything will be fine, when really, I have no idea about this. When I try to examine what the CIC is doing with the applications I realize, like any job, when there is a timeline, nobody is going to go out of there way to move an application along if they don't have to. The best that we can do, if the time ever comes when this is all said and done, and it seems like it never will, is use our experience to help someone else along.

 

[Merlyns_Tim]

Hi Tim, I honestly know exactly how you feel. We are a little older than some of the sponsors and I know myself that all I want to do is get this process over with so I can work on my retirement and live the life I have always dreamed of. It is unsettling and I spend most of my days pretending this doesn't bother me and continually reassuring my partner that everything will be fine, when really, I have no idea about this. When I try to examine what the CIC is doing with the applications I realize, like any job, when there is a timeline, nobody is going to go out of there way to move an application along if they don't have to. The best that we can do, if the time ever comes when this is all said and done, and it seems like it never will, is use our experience to help someone else along.

Well said Kiwi12,
It can be frustrating to say the least. For me it gets harder to go into work every day now since for the past year and a half, almost every day about a half a dozen different people ask me if there's anything new yet, and for so long I've been saying any day now. It gets so I don't even want to face anyone any more till it's all over.
I also refused to take any vacation time this year as I waited and planned on using it all with my wife, .. which in itself wasn't easy at my age, but the time came when I had to use it or lose it so I'm now on my last week of four weeks in a row of vacation and without the wife. Anyhow it's as hard on her as it is me, .. maybe harder but she's better at not letting it show. We just hope we get good news really soon, .. and I hope you do too.

 

[lunas]

For me it gets harder to go into work every day now since for the past year and a half, almost every day about a half a dozen different people ask me if there's anything new yet, and for so long I've been saying any day now. It gets so I don't even want to face anyone any more till it's all over.

Awe my husband feels the same about not wanting to face other people. Even when I go visit, people ask us about news and when I'm moving to Canada. I visit him every two or three months and that helps but it's still hard. I only told a handful of friends at work and that's about it. It helps avoiding unnessary explanations or expectations and well, it's in a way..job security hehe

 

[amikety]

Awe my husband feels the same about not wanting to face other people. Even when I go visit, people ask us about news and when I'm moving to Canada. I visit him every two or three months and that helps but it's still hard. I only told a handful of friends at work and that's about it. It helps avoiding unnessary explanations or expectations and well, it's in a way..job security hehe

Besides my husband, I told two people. One lived out of state and was the kind of person that didn't gossip - she was an awesome person in all ways - great friend.

The other was a co-worker who I thought was my friend. She told everyone at work. It was very annoying.