US applicants

[rhcohen2014]

Hello all!
I would love to connect with other US citizens applying for permanent residency. Our application was received on March 17, so we are just waiting for some news. What has your experience been like so far? How long has your application been in process? I've seen approval rates for other countries mentioned before - does anyone know approval rate for US applicants? Has anyone been able to stay in Canada over 6 months while the application is in process?

This is such a nerve racking experience so any where to give/receive positive support would be amazing!

Wishing everyone a speedy process!

 

[keesio]

Hi!
I think you have an outland application. If so, the below two threads are where most Americans doing outland hang out:
http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/cppottawa-t118769.0.html
http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/us-outland-applicants-thread-t106068.0.html

I sponsored my wife from the US via outland last year. Took about 7 months from submission of the application to when she got her COPR (landing papers). You can see the full timeline under my profile name to the left of this post. Other than one small hiccup where the case officer could not find her FBI certificate (which he/she found 3 days later), it was pretty smooth sailing.

I don't have any exact numbers but the approval rate for US citizens without any red flags is very high. US citizens get a lot of leeway from CIC in many areas in regards to relationship authenticity and such. So unless you do have any major red flags, I would anticipate a fairly smooth process

Good luck!

 

[rhcohen2014]

Great! thanks for the thread links. i will certainly check them out! i'm hoping it's smooth sailing for us. i received an exclusion order in 2012 for visiting too much when we were just dating, so i hope that doesn't put me in the red flag category. I haven't had issues going across since (fingers crossed!)

 

[keesio]

That would be a red flag I'm afraid. But if you left on your own after the order, and were able to return to Canada without issue, it's most likely ok - as I mentioned, US citizens get good leeway with CIC in general.

As for staying past 6 months, yeah there are a few who have done this without issue. Before your 6 months is up, you can apply for an extension. There is a poster with the user name 'amikety' who I believe did just that multiple times. Stayed in Canada for over a year (or maybe two) with extensions while she got her application together, mailed it and waited for COPR.

 

[rhcohen2014]

EESH! thanks for the info. I seem to be moving up the trust ladder with CBSA. My first 2 visits back after the end of my exclusion order, i received paper visitor passes. The first one, i had to actually check out with them on my way out. They took my passport, and we had to point the car to the US before they would give it back. The second I didn't. After that, i didn't even have to get out of the car to go to secondary! The guy at the station said that because i have been following the rules and leaving on time, they've uped my status. I was lucky to have been his first car for his shift, literally saw them switch shifts before i got to the window. I certainly know from experience how it really depends on each agent and their mood. I still believe the woman who gave me the exclusion order wanted a gold star for the day because the US and Canada had just signed an agreement that day to crack down on illegal border crossings! I will just keep my fingers crossed things go quickly and we don't run into issues. Thanks again!

 

[missmatalini]

Hubby and I sent our application in on February 11th - It was received on the 14th and we now have Sponsorship approval.


I've been in Canada sine July of 2013. We're heading on 9 months since I've been here and I applied and was granted visitor status until September of 2014 (My husband and I are going home to have our big wedding reception since when we got married it was a tiny wedding with his side of the family) I obviously cannot work or go to school.

I'm hoping we get lucky enough to have PR by October - not going to hold my breath though

 

[rhcohen2014]

Hubby and I sent our application in on February 11th - It was received on the 14th and we now have Sponsorship approval.


I've been in Canada sine July of 2013. We're heading on 9 months since I've been here and I applied and was granted visitor status until September of 2014 (My husband and I are going home to have our big wedding reception since when we got married it was a tiny wedding with his side of the family) I obviously cannot work or go to school.

I'm hoping we get lucky enough to have PR by October - not going to hold my breath though

Wow! Best to luck to you on your application. How were you able to get a visitor pass for so long? Did you just ask for it? Visit for a shorter time and just asked for an extension? Also, do you work remotely?