US outland applicants' thread :)

[Florida Bear]

While you might not have noticed, the US no longer discriminates against same sex couples with respect to immigration either - indeed, the first green card granted was to a same sex couple in Florida. Not that Canada isn't a great country, but the US has made some progress.

Yeah I noticed, kind of hard to live here and not. Saw all the SCOTUS decisions and today's ruling of joint tax treatment. Sadly it doesn't change the fact that the protection isn't in all states. But yes the US is making some progress and will get there eventually.

And on top of it I received my AOR today, what a great feeling!

 

[lawgrrl]

No, the email just acknowledged that the application was received.

I can't imagine why I wouldn't meet the requirements, except that I currently live in the U.S. and will need to re-establish myself in Canada. I'm just paranoid that something will go wrong and I'll not only have my application denied, but that I'll lose all the money we paid in advance.

My Canadian husband had been living in the US for 24 years when we applied, and we'had been married 18 years. He did need to supply some add'l evidence of his "intent to re-establish" in Canada, but otherwise our app was processed in record time. Don't volunteer for extra grief by worrying!

 

[ExiledCanadian]

Don't volunteer for extra grief by worrying!

My husband likes to tease me by saying I'm not happy if I'm not paranoid about something. I reply that just because I'm paranoid, it doesn't mean they aren't out to get me.

What type of extra evidence did your husband provide? I've struggled with how to prove I intend to re-establish myself in Canada. In our application, I simply said that my entire family lives in Edmonton, including my daughter, and that I want to come home to be with my mother, who is 90. I also included a copy of a job application I had submitted recently.

 

[Spoken05]

Question for you guys

I applied for spousal sponsorship for my husband (from U.S) in March 2013 (see timeline)

Do you think we should request GCMS notes or email CIC asking for an update of our file?

Is there even a point to any of these as it has only been 5-6 months? Would it hinder our application by asking CIC of an update since I know they do not like too many emails?

It's just that I know January and February applicants are being given PPRs...

 

[lawgrrl]

My husband likes to tease me by saying I'm not happy if I'm not paranoid about something. I reply that just because I'm paranoid, it doesn't mean they aren't out to get me.

What type of extra evidence did your husband provide? I've struggled with how to prove I intend to re-establish myself in Canada. In our application, I simply said that my entire family lives in Edmonton, including my daughter, and that I want to come home to be with my mother, who is 90. I also included a copy of a job application I had submitted recently.

Everyone's experience with additional evidence will vary, depending on the sponsor's situation. My husband is self-employed, so what he submitted wouldn't be the same as what you might submit. Just keep in mind that the "family class" exists to re-unite families in Canada; if you & your spouse are living together legally in the US, you have no need to be "re-united" in Canada!
In your situation, you might get letters or e-mails from family members saying how excited they are that you are returning. Your mom could write that she's looking forward to you helping her out (we did that with my husband's parents). For yourself, you can create a profile on LinkedIn.ca and post a resume on monster.ca, both free, both stating that you're planning on returning to Canada in 6 months or so. Also, you may want to subscribe to listings from job boards such as Workopolis.com and Indeed.ca. If CIC asks, you can show them screen shots of your profiles and copies of the job listings you're receiving, as well as any other apps that you submit.
No one has asked you for any further support to your app yet, but I believe in the old Girl Scout motto--"Be prepared" Good luck! ;D

 

[Ambber29]

LA could not find my husbands medical before, but now we see on ECAS its says medical has been received does it mean they found it?
we had interview on Aug 14 we passed the interview.
so now how many days for passport request
and after they request the passport how many days it takes to return it.

 

[computergeek]

LA could not find my husbands medical before, but now we see on ECAS its says medical has been received does it mean they found it?

Not only did they find it, he received a passing evaluation (M1/2/3).

we had interview on Aug 14 we passed the interview.
so now how many days for passport request
and after they request the passport how many days it takes to return it.

Usually there is more processing after a successful interview. PPR could be as little as two weeks or six months (or longer) depending upon how long it takes to complete background checks, if medicals expire, etc.

 

[Ambber29]

She said security is done on the file. I asked her

 

[computergeek]

She said security is done on the file. I asked her

Then it will be whenever she gets around to sending it because that would sound like everything time consuming is done.

 

[cempjwi]

Everyone's experience with additional evidence will vary, depending on the sponsor's situation. My husband is self-employed, so what he submitted wouldn't be the same as what you might submit. Just keep in mind that the "family class" exists to re-unite families in Canada; if you & your spouse are living together legally in the US, you have no need to be "re-united" in Canada!
In your situation, you might get letters or e-mails from family members saying how excited they are that you are returning. Your mom could write that she's looking forward to you helping her out (we did that with my husband's parents). For yourself, you can create a profile on LinkedIn.ca and post a resume on monster.ca, both free, both stating that you're planning on returning to Canada in 6 months or so. Also, you may want to subscribe to listings from job boards such as Workopolis.com and Indeed.ca. If CIC asks, you can show them screen shots of your profiles and copies of the job listings you're receiving, as well as any other apps that you submit.
No one has asked you for any further support to your app yet, but I believe in the old Girl Scout motto--"Be prepared" Good luck! ;D

I might add that the purpose of the family class is to "unite in Canada" (re-unite assumes that they have been separated, which is not always accurate - and as you say, this will be true for couples living together in Canada or abroad). Because there is a requirement for the expat Canadian citizen to establish in Canada by the time the applicant becomes a PR (land), the term "unite in Canada" still applies. The priority continues to be the same for a citizen living in Canada or not. I guess it could be all semantics as well, but I doubt it.

However, as you mentioned, the requirement to provide proof of "the intent" to return to Canada only applies to Canadian citizens that reside abroad.

You may fulfill that requirement in many ways, depending on your particular situation but it all boils down to starting to build an attachment to Canada in some way. Any or a combination of the following works: records of job applications, job interviews and job offers, rental places searches (including having contacted a realtor), college/university admission or conditional admission letters, opening bank accounts in Canada, letters from family in Canada, establishing a business in Canada (even if only on paper). Anything that shows the intention of returning to Canada. The more reliable the source the better. I would think that an offer of employment would seal the deal.

 

[Isometry]

Does anyone know how long it takes to get a copy of your file once you've ordered it? I ordered mine last November and haven't heard anything yet.

 

[computergeek]

Does anyone know how long it takes to get a copy of your file once you've ordered it? I ordered mine last November and haven't heard anything yet.

They are bound by statute to provide it to you within 30 days, with the option for extension under unusual circumstances. If you've been waiting 10 months they've lost something and you should be in contact with the ATIP office.

 

[ExiledCanadian]

So I checked my case status online this morning and it now says "Decision Made. We sent you a letter on September 4, 2013 about the decision on your application." I didn't receive an email with my SA as others have mentioned. Would they have sent it hard copy instead because I am in the U.S.? Or does the lack of an SA in my email herald bad news? (See? I told you I'm paranoid.)

 

[shanmba1174]

So I checked my case status online this morning and it now says "Decision Made. We sent you a letter on September 4, 2013 about the decision on your application." I didn't receive an email with my SA as others have mentioned. Would they have sent it hard copy instead because I am in the U.S.? Or does the lack of an SA in my email herald bad news? (See? I told you I'm paranoid.)

Everyone receives hard copy only. COPR should take 2 weeks ... So you still have time..

 

[nsr]

hello guys,

Decision made on ecas, now how long will it take for LA to dispatch my PPR to USPS, then how long USPS will take to ship it from LA to Toronto( regular mail, because LA only ships to canada with regular mail)

any ideas?

Thanks