US Citizen Immigrating to Canada with Husband, New Here and Need Help!

[amberlynnloves]

Hello Everyone!

I have been browsing your forums for a little bit now and I am really not finding the answers I need. Here is a little bit about us.

My husband is a Canadian Citizen. We are living in the USA as he is a current green card holder here in the states. I am an American Citizen. We would like to move to Canada now that we are married and think that Canada has more opportunities in the job market then what we have here in the small 6,000 person town we live in.

Here are my list of questions that I hope to have answered:
1. Since he is living here as a PR, can he sponsor me to move to Canada?
2. I have searched and searched for processing times of the applications, but I cannot locate anything. We are applying OUTLAND.
3. Where can I locate the forms needed to file?
4. As an American, I filed bankruptcy a few years ago. This has been discharged. Will the CIC look at this as a negative thing for me to immigrate?

This will help me get started! I really appreciate anyone's help and assistance with this.

Thank you for your time!
-Amber

 

[rhcohen2014]

Hello Everyone!

I have been browsing your forums for a little bit now and I am really not finding the answers I need. Here is a little bit about us.

My husband is a Canadian Citizen. We are living in the USA as he is a current green card holder here in the states. I am an American Citizen. We would like to move to Canada now that we are married and think that Canada has more opportunities in the job market then what we have here in the small 6,000 person town we live in.

Here are my list of questions that I hope to have answered:
1. Since he is living here as a PR, can he sponsor me to move to Canada?
2. I have searched and searched for processing times of the applications, but I cannot locate anything. We are applying OUTLAND.
3. Where can I locate the forms needed to file?
4. As an American, I filed bankruptcy a few years ago. This has been discharged. Will the CIC look at this as a negative thing for me to immigrate?

This will help me get started! I really appreciate anyone's help and assistance with this.

Thank you for your time!
-Amber

1.yes, though CIC will require him to prove his intentions to move back to Canada upon approval. there are many ways to do this properly in your application.
2. glad you haven't happened upon the posted times on the CIC website becasue they are not accurate and cause confusion. US applications that are straightforward and do not require interviews are processed in Ottawa. Currently US citizens are seeing approvals in 3-7 months. In my signature, you will see a link to the Ottawa spreadsheet where you can see a majority of 2014 applicants are already landed.
3.go to the CIC website. google citizenship and immigration canada, and the official site will pop up. it will probably have a .gc somewhere in the address. Anyway, go to the area that is for immigration and look up SPONSORING A SPOUSE OUTSIDE OF CANADA. There are 3 groups of forms: the country specific instruction guide, the sponsor's application forms and the applicant's application forms. (i am sure someone more generous than me will post the link soon)
4. Well it depends. Was your husband a part of the bankruptcy? if so, that *could* be a problem, as that is usually one of the disqualifiers for sponsors. However, I don't believe CIC cares if an applicant has filed for bankruptcy. I don't think it comes up in the applicant's application, only the sponsors. I am sure a more senior member can confirm.

 

[amberlynnloves]

Oh goodness! That was most helpful! No, my husband was NOT part of the bankruptcy as I did this prior to us filing our USA immigration forms for him to move here!

I look forward to more input! Thank you!

 

[Ponga]

Welcome!

1. Yes. As he is a Canadian citizen, he can sponsor you without him needing to be in Canada.
2. For a straightforward application for an American citizen, the Outland processing is taking ~ 4-6 months. This is because most (but not all) applications from an American are being processed entirely in Canada. Only those with potential red flags (such as doubts about the relationship with the sponsor, criminal or medical inadmissibility issues, etc.) are sent to LA for processing. This is why soooo many Americans are landing so quick!
3. Start by reading the very first thread here (Spousal Sponsorship) and then fin your way to the CIC website and download the Outland forms:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/fc.asp

You will be sending in the following (in teh same package):
a. His application to sponsor, along with required documents
b. Your application for Permanent Residence
c. Your evidence of relationship, supporting documents, etc.
d. The receipt for the fees ($75 + $475 + $490= $1040). You can defer the last fee and pay it when CIC requests it, if you need to.
4. No.

Good luck!

 

[Ponga]

Forgot to ask-
Does he plan to keep his Green Card status? If so, the time that you and he live in the US, will still count towards your Canadian RO (Residency Obligation), which is 730 days out of five years...much more lenient than the US requirement of 6 months/year!

 

[amberlynnloves]

I would like him to keep the green card status, yes. Eventually, we would both like to apply for dual citizenship when that time comes.

 

[amberlynnloves]

Oh, one more question!

On the CIC website it says that Sponsered Spouses are EXEMPT from medical exams. Is this true?

 

[rhcohen2014]

Oh, one more question!

On the CIC website it says that Sponsered Spouses are EXEMPT from medical exams. Is this true?

No. you will certainly need to get a medical exam. it is required for immigrating to canda. i am not sure where on the CIC site you are reading this information. sponsored spouse means the APPLICANT. a Spouse who is a SPONSOR does NOT need to have a medical exam, only the person seeking PR status does.

 

[blueangel371115]

Oh, one more question!

On the CIC website it says that Sponsered Spouses are EXEMPT from medical exams. Is this true?

They are excessive medical exempt. Is that what you mean? They ( applicant)still have to have the exam but they aren't as fussy with medical conditions. They basically look for if you are severely disabled and need constant care ( a draw on the health care system) and whether you have a contagious disease (like TB).