US Citizen Sponsorship Stay-Ques

[concorde411]

Hey Guys!!

1. My fiance and I are getting married in November in which case after our honeymoon I will be returning to NJ and my wife will accompany me to help me move.

Question: When we land in Montreal (my fiance was born and raised there) will they let me stay for the time it takes for my application to be processed even if at Canadian Customs we show them proof our our weddings i.e, wedding pics, marriage license (from Quebec), ou application already filled out just waiting to be sent? I vaguely remember hearing that they allow newlyweds to do this.

Also, my half of the application is probably 100 pages long (mostly proving our relationship).
1. Is that too much?
2. Can I put it all in a binder-like-book and make it with a table of contents etc? So far, that's the best way I can figure out how to make our application as simple as possible for the immigration agent. How did you guys orginize/send yours?

Last question: If they do allow me to stay while the application is being processed, will they let me travel outside the country? i.e, back to the USA in case I have a family emergency?

Thank you all for your help and kind attention!!!

Cheers!!!!!!

 

[sogwap]

I know it sounds strange but unless you have already filed for PR, it is best not to say you are married and are moving to Canada as they may deny entry. However you can't file PR until after you are married.

As a US citizen you are more than welcome to visit for up to six months. During that time you can file for PR either Out-land or In-land. Before the end of six month you can file for a visitor extension allowing you to stay longer. Although the extension could be denied. As a US citizen that is applying for PR, assuming there are no other issues you should have no problem staying as a visitor during the duration of the PR process.

As for proving your marriage, I'm not sure if they return the evidence you submit. That's a lot of work that you may never see again. Though I could be wrong about this.

Your best bet is to apply Out-Land as it is generally much quicker and it also allows you to freely travel between the US and Canada. My understanding is you can even stay for up to six months at a time. 50% of Out-Land applications are processed in 6 months.

 

[concorde411]

Thank you so much for your response!!!

Well, what I meant when I said that we were going to show proof of marriage, i.e, marriage license, wedding photos, etc, I meant that we were just going to show it to the immigration agent at the airport in Montreal.

Thanks for the heads up though. So you think it's best for us to get married and then apply before we land together in Montreal.

But tell me, what are your thoughts on actually sending the application?

Also, my half of the application is probably 100 pages long (mostly proving our relationship).
1. Is that too much?
2. Can I put it all in a binder-like-book and make it with a table of contents etc? So far, that's the best way I can figure out how to make our application as simple as possible for the immigration agent. How did you guys orginize/send yours?

Last question: If they do allow me to stay while the application is being processed, will they let me travel outside the country? i.e, back to the USA in case I have a family emergency?

Thank you so much for all your help!!

Cheers!

 

[YorkFactory]

Well, what I meant when I said that we were going to show proof of marriage, i.e, marriage license, wedding photos, etc, I meant that we were just going to show it to the immigration agent at the airport in Montreal.

I don't really know whether this would make a CBSA agent think that you had a high likelihood of overstaying your allowed time in Canada. Probably depends on the agent and how many ties you could show to the U.S. (job, family, home, etc.).

Thanks for the heads up though. So you think it's best for us to get married and then apply before we land together in Montreal.

Just so we're clear—you should be aware (if you're not already) that when most people around here talk about "landing," they are referring to the process when one officially becomes a permanent resident of Canada. The term was a lot less opaque when permanent residents were called "landed immigrants."

But tell me, what are your thoughts on actually sending the application?

Also, my half of the application is probably 100 pages long (mostly proving our relationship).
1. Is that too much?
2. Can I put it all in a binder-like-book and make it with a table of contents etc? So far, that's the best way I can figure out how to make our application as simple as possible for the immigration agent. How did you guys orginize/send yours?

We wrote a cover letter and included our own table of contents (in addition to the two that are part of the CIC forms). I don't know how many pages it was, but it ended up being just shy of five pounds when I mailed it.

Last question: If they do allow me to stay while the application is being processed, will they let me travel outside the country? i.e, back to the USA in case I have a family emergency?

Each time you cross the border, you can be turned back, unless you are a citizen or permanent resident of Canada. That's just how it goes.

As for proving your marriage, I'm not sure if they return the evidence you submit. That's a lot of work that you may never see again. Though I could be wrong about this.

We didn't get anything returned to us, but most of what we submitted was copies of various pieces of paper, so it's not a huge problem. We can just print them again if we need them.

 

[concorde411]

Right, but what I meant was would the agent let me stay, even after providing proof of marriage, to stay for the duration of the time that it takes to process my application?

Also, would sending my application in a binder and make it like a book be acceptable? What are the rules as to sending the application?

PS: Have any US Citizens had any problems extending their visitor stay in Canada for more than 6 months? (those who arrivied in Canada by plane, not car because I hear that car is a little easier to be approved for 6 months) Which brings me to my last point, have any US Citizens had any difficulty being granted a 6month visitor permit on their when they first arrived in Canada?

Thanks you all, every one!!!

 

[YorkFactory]

Right, but what I meant was would the agent let me stay, even after providing proof of marriage, to stay for the duration of the time that it takes to process my application?

It's up to the agent. Basically, you will need to satisfy the agent that you will leave Canada at the end of your allowed stay. You can request an extension when your time is about to expire, but the length of your allowed stay will always be a defined length of time, like three months or six months. "As long as it takes" is not something they're going to allow.

Also, would sending my application in a binder and make it like a book be acceptable? What are the rules as to sending the application?

I forgot to address this above, but you shouldn't staple or bind anything together in a way that makes it even somewhat difficult to separate. All of our stuff was clipped together with paper clips and/or binder clips (the large ones that are usually black).

 

[AllisonVSC]

Do not put your application in a book or a binder. I also suggest, like Yorkfactory, just using paper clips for each section and a table of contents. A hundred pages (so far) is not too much, just make sure each piece of evidence serves a purpose...no need to send a copy of every email exchange. Mine was over 200 pages because the burden of proof is heavier for outland conjugal partners who don't have marriage licenses and wedding photos.

Crossing the border is definitely not a given. I traveled back and forth from the US to Canada several times a year since 2004, and though I have been asked some impertinent questions I had always been allowed in until last summer when I arrived with my car to spend three months (my summer holiday) with my partner. I was denied entry on the basis I didn't have proof of significant ties to the US. I was able to return to the border the next day with proof (I own a home in the US though I haven't actually lived in it for years and had my pay stubs from work) and entered Canada. I left later in the summer to fly to France with my partner and was hassled again at immigration at the Toronto airport when I returned. I was given a leave by date and was told if I wanted to remain in Canada after that date I would have to apply for an extension. I was also told that the extension only allowed me to stay in Canada and would not guarantee me entrance again if I left. I applied for an extension given that I had applied for PR and wanted to wait it out in Canada, but my PR was approved before my temporary extension request was processed.