US outland applicants' thread :)

[canamera]

Hi everyone,

A little info before my question:


Sponsoring American Spouse Outland
AOR: Oct. 9, 2012
Medical Received

To our knowledge our application is complete to the fullest extent. We have done this when I immigrated to the US so we were very thorough.

I'm employed at a good job in Toronto, my wife is here on visitor status.

I'm wondering if anyone with a similar app has received any information past the medical being received. Has anyone had a passport request yet?

What can we expect next? We hopelessly check our status every few days and nothing has changed since October. Any insights most appreciated.

Best,

Matt

 

[computergeek]

Well, my plan is to do tax compliance work for US expats when we arrive in Canada (I'm a tax lawyer in the US), so I'm not going to complain too loudly (the more screwed up and complicated it is, the more work I'll have), but yes, it's effing nuts.

Interesting. I tried to find someone to handle my returns, but I couldn't get a quotation for anything less than $10k - when I could get anyone to consider handling it at all. I dread asking my lawyers any question about cross-border tax issues as every time I do it costs $6k to get an answer. I've basically been forced to educate myself - and it's crazy. Everything from my life insurance company asking for a W8-BEN form - and no explanation on why or for whom - and figuring out they want it for my spouse and under US law there would normally be a 30% withholding on life insurance proceeds unless I take a treaty position to the contrary. Or the fact that in doing work for a US company (on behalf of a Canadian) the US company will withhold 30% unless they too are given a W8 taking a treaty position (in that case, 0%).

Let me know when you get set up and where. I could definitely use a good tax attorney.

 

[computergeek]

Hi everyone,

A little info before my question:


Sponsoring American Spouse Outland
AOR: Oct. 9, 2012
Medical Received

To our knowledge our application is complete to the fullest extent. We have done this when I immigrated to the US so we were very thorough.

I'm employed at a good job in Toronto, my wife is here on visitor status.

I'm wondering if anyone with a similar app has received any information past the medical being received. Has anyone had a passport request yet?

What can we expect next? We hopelessly check our status every few days and nothing has changed since October. Any insights most appreciated.

Best,

Matt

In the perfect application you hear three times:

- Sponsor approval (I'm assuming that is what you mean by "AOR")
- PPR
- COPR

The shortest time between sponsor approval and PPR I've heard for Ottawa is three months. Our application took 97 days from sponsor approval to PPR and I think that was one of the shortest on record.

No matter how straight-forward your case, until it gets to the front of the queue, an officer isn't going to look at it. What you want is an application that is complete and allows the first officer to pick up your file and review it and determine it is complete.

 

[Canuck20]

Hi everyone,

A little info before my question:


Sponsoring American Spouse Outland
AOR: Oct. 9, 2012
Medical Received

To our knowledge our application is complete to the fullest extent. We have done this when I immigrated to the US so we were very thorough.

I'm employed at a good job in Toronto, my wife is here on visitor status.

I'm wondering if anyone with a similar app has received any information past the medical being received. Has anyone had a passport request yet?

What can we expect next? We hopelessly check our status every few days and nothing has changed since October. Any insights most appreciated.

Best,

Matt

Hi Matt,

They seem to be currently dealing with April, May applications. There is a spreadsheet for CPP - Ottawa that you can have Shylox add your information too. It shows all of the updates for people with applilications in the same category as you are. Most of us monitor progress that way. You can see the link to the spreadsheet in my signature area.
Send a PM to Shylox to have your information added if you like.

Pat (Canuck20)

 

[IvanP]

Interesting. I tried to find someone to handle my returns, but I couldn't get a quotation for anything less than $10k - when I could get anyone to consider handling it at all. I dread asking my lawyers any question about cross-border tax issues as every time I do it costs $6k to get an answer. I've basically been forced to educate myself - and it's crazy. Everything from my life insurance company asking for a W8-BEN form - and no explanation on why or for whom - and figuring out they want it for my spouse and under US law there would normally be a 30% withholding on life insurance proceeds unless I take a treaty position to the contrary. Or the fact that in doing work for a US company (on behalf of a Canadian) the US company will withhold 30% unless they too are given a W8 taking a treaty position (in that case, 0%).

Let me know when you get set up and where. I could definitely use a good tax attorney.

Is there a "like" button here? Good to know there's going to be demand for me when I get there!

 

[parker24]

Hi All!!

Hubby's COPR got to his US address today! We're having it sent up on Monday via USPS. We're very nervous about his car though, because we still don't have his title and by the sounds of it, won't have it until around Dec 30th. We can put it on the B4 form right? ???

 

[computergeek]

Hi All!!

Hubby's COPR got to his US address today! We're having it sent up on Monday via USPS. We're very nervous about his car though, because we still don't have his title and by the sounds of it, won't have it until around Dec 30th. We can put it on the B4 form right? ???

Yes, it goes on the B4 form. If he's bringing it "later" you should list it on the "goods to follow" list.

 

[Shylox]

Hi Matt,

They seem to be currently dealing with April, May applications. There is a spreadsheet for CPP - Ottawa that you can have Shylox add your information too. It shows all of the updates for people with applilications in the same category as you are. Most of us monitor progress that way. You can see the link to the spreadsheet in my signature area.
Send a PM to Shylox to have your information added if you like.

Pat (Canuck20)

Yupp, I'll gladly add anyone who would like to be added to the Ottawa spreadsheet and/or update any info if you're already on it, just send me a PM =)

 

[Shylox]

Hi All!!

Hubby's COPR got to his US address today! We're having it sent up on Monday via USPS. We're very nervous about his car though, because we still don't have his title and by the sounds of it, won't have it until around Dec 30th. We can put it on the B4 form right? ???

Yayy Parker! =) Congrats!!

I hope mine doesn't get sent to the US, it would be a real pain if I had to have my mom forward it to me here in Canada.

 

[parker24]

Yes, it goes on the B4 form. If he's bringing it "later" you should list it on the "goods to follow" list.

Isn't the B4 form, the goods to follow form?

After all this is over, I'm so done with forms!!!!!!!!!! :-\

 

[kafkaesque]

Yayy Parker! =) Congrats!!

I hope mine doesn't get sent to the US, it would be a real pain if I had to have my mom forward it to me here in Canada.

Yeah, I have had to do that. More waiting, whoo!

They send the copr to whatever address you have in ecas.

 

[parker24]

Yayy Parker! =) Congrats!!

I hope mine doesn't get sent to the US, it would be a real pain if I had to have my mom forward it to me here in Canada.

We put a return envelope in with the US address, so we were expecting it to go there If you don't include one, they will send it to the mailing address on file.

 

[Shylox]

We put a return envelope in with the US address, so we were expecting it to go there If you don't include one, they will send it to the mailing address on file.

Perfect! That's the first straight answer I've been able to get about this haha I've been told that I should include a letter when I send in my passport copies asking that they please send it to my address in Canada, not my residential address.

 

[parker24]

Perfect! That's the first straight answer I've been able to get about this haha I've been told that I should include a letter when I send in my passport copies asking that they please send it to my address in Canada, not my residential address.

You could. But like I said, if you don't include the return envelope, they will send it via regular mail to Canada Just (obviously!) Make sure your address is up to date in ECAS and it is in the "Return Address" on the envelope

 

[Canuck20]

Hi All!!

Hubby's COPR got to his US address today! We're having it sent up on Monday via USPS. We're very nervous about his car though, because we still don't have his title and by the sounds of it, won't have it until around Dec 30th. We can put it on the B4 form right? ???

Congratulations parker24. Great news