US outland applicants' thread :)

[surleplateau]

CaliforniaWifey,

What James said: most folks, especially US-Canada, don't need a lawyer or representative except with extenuating circumstances.

It's very easy in the beginning to feel overwhelmed and doubtful. First step:

1. Breath. Exhale. Inhale. It will be okay!

2. Read slowly. Read carefully. Read the guide(s) and the instructions on the forms.

3. When in doubt with a question/form, Google the exact phrase. Often times I found the answers to my questions by narrowing my search to site:canadavisa.com (this forum), and I usually also narrowed my search to the last 1-2 years for recent posts.

For the checklists:

The Sponsor's Checklist is from the Point-of-View of the Sponsor, so the forms will reflect that. And the Applicant's checklist will be from the Applicant's point-of-view. This sounds simple right now, but when you're wondering how to fill some stuff out, just Google the question and you'll see plenty of examples and explanations.

If a form is Not-Applicable, then you can just write N/A on the checklist and skip that form.

Breath!

 

[Mybarbiehead]

Hi everyone..

I'm a US outland applicant for my American husband. I am wondering if most of you did this on your own or if you hired a lawyer?? I'm finding it's extremely confusing as I thought "all" I had to complete was the Document Checklist which was IMM008, 5669, 5406 (for myself and husband), and 5490. But now I'm seeing IMM5481, 1344, 5409, 5540..

this amounts to around 10 pdf documents. AM I CORRECT HERE???? WHY IS THIS SO DAMN CONFUSING?

Also, the FBI background check takes 3 months.. did anyone send the application without the FBI background check?

Also, where do you send the application? I can't find an address? Maybe I can send the package to this address then have the FBI background check also sent to this address?

Hi Californiawifey,

I am an American citizen and my husband is a Canadian citizen. We submitted our paperwork in December 2015. We hired an immigration lawyer on the advice of many of my husband's coworkers who are permanent residents and had already been through the process. We also wanted everything to go as smoothly and as quickly as possible.

In hindsight, we really wish that we had just done it ourselves. I personally filled out all the forms and gave them to the lawyer on a USB drive, so his office could make any changes necessary without having to retype everything. I gathered all the documents requested by the cic. I also caught a number of mistakes that the lawyer and his assistant made while "correcting" our forms. Essentially, I did every bit of the work and then some because I found errors made by the lawyer. The only thing I didn't do was physically stuff everything into an envelope and mail it to the CIC. Frustratingly, I have no idea when he mailed the package or when it was received.

Even though I handed the lawyer a complete and orderly package of documents, the lawyer managed to use up our retainer of $3500 in the blink of an eye (We paid our imigration fees of $1040 separately.). He even had the nerve to ask us to leave him a blank, signed check in case we racked up any more fees. Obviously, my husband told him no. It makes me wonder how many of his clients actually believe that it's the way things are done in Canada and have literally given him a blank check with complete access to their money.

Anyway, my point is that if you have an uncomplicated case and speak and read English well, take your time and do it yourself. It turned out to be a much simpler process than I expected, especially thanks to the wealth of information that I found on this forum.

 

[CamL-W]

Hi Guys,

I have a few questions re: landing.

My Husband will be landing in Ottawa from South Carolina on Feb. 14th. I know he will need his COPR, but what else will he need? He will only be bringing clothes and in about two months we will go back to South Carolina to go get the rest of his bigger stuff. Will this be a problem? Another really big question is how will he let them know what his Canadian address will be? He got his COPR in South Carolina but we don't want his PR Card to be sent there!! We want them to send the card to my Ottawa address. I think that's it for now. Thanks in advance!

 

[nyctomtl]

Hi Guys,

I have a few questions re: landing.

My Husband will be landing in Ottawa from South Carolina on Feb. 14th. I know he will need his COPR, but what else will he need? He will only be bringing clothes and in about two months we will go back to South Carolina to go get the rest of his bigger stuff. Will this be a problem? Another really big question is how will he let them know what his Canadian address will be? He got his COPR in South Carolina but we don't want his PR Card to be sent there!! We want them to send the card to my Ottawa address. I think that's it for now. Thanks in advance!

I think you need to list everything you have at landing on form B4 AND everything that will follow (form calls it "goods to follow") on a separate B4. I think you only have one shot and need to be complete. And then when you eventually bring up the other items, customs will compare it to your list of goods to follow. I think that's how it works.

 

[CamL-W]

I think you need to list everything you have at landing on form B4 AND everything that will follow (form calls it "goods to follow") on a separate B4. I think you only have one shot and need to be complete. And then when you eventually bring up the other items, customs will compare it to your list of goods to follow. I think that's how it works.

Ok makes sense. Thank you! Any idea about PR Card?

 

[rugrat907]

Ok makes sense. Thank you! Any idea about PR Card?

They will confirm the Canadian address for the PR card when he lands, so no worries that it will be sent to the U.S.

 

[CamL-W]

They will confirm the Canadian address for the PR card when he lands, so no worries that it will be sent to the U.S.

Awesome! Thank you!

 

[rockgurl1965]

Hi everyone..

I'm a US outland applicant for my American husband. I am wondering if most of you did this on your own or if you hired a lawyer?? I'm finding it's extremely confusing as I thought "all" I had to complete was the Document Checklist which was IMM008, 5669, 5406 (for myself and husband), and 5490. But now I'm seeing IMM5481, 1344, 5409, 5540..

this amounts to around 10 pdf documents. AM I CORRECT HERE???? WHY IS THIS SO DAMN CONFUSING?

Also, the FBI background check takes 3 months.. did anyone send the application without the FBI background check? Like pretty much what everyone said, I will add, start collecting all the photos, proof, any and all paperwork as early as possible. I started collecting literally 5 months before I intended to send in my application. Be careful, do not try to rush, that is when mistakes will happen. Come here often as needed. Read the instructions carefully, triple check everything you do. It can be daunting. Keep plugging away. You can do it.

Also, where do you send the application? I can't find an address? Maybe I can send the package to this address then have the FBI background check also sent to this address?

 

[fleuredeflorida]

Hubby got COPR today! WOOOO! Here is my complete timeline...Hope it can help others.

Application filed: June 1st 2015

Sponsor File In Process: July 8th 2015
Sponsor File Decision Made: July 28th 2015

Primary Applicant File In Process: August 4th 2015
Primary Applicant File Decision Made: January 10th 2016
CORP Received: January 19th 2016

Congrats! Your post gives me hope- my fiancee and I are about to start this process (we are getting married here in US - she is Canadian- on Feb. 14) and we have been a little daunted at the potential processing times.

On average, is it about 6-10 months, really, for a outland application to process? I am a US citizen and my fiancee is Canadian. This board was recommended to me by friends and has been super helpful so far!

 

[CamL-W]

Congrats! Your post gives me hope- my fiancee and I are about to start this process (we are getting married here in US - she is Canadian- on Feb. 14) and we have been a little daunted at the potential processing times.

On average, is it about 6-10 months, really, for a outland application to process? I am a US citizen and my fiancee is Canadian. This board was recommended to me by friends and has been super helpful so far!

First off, congrats on the upcoming nuptials! On average an application for an American with no red flags (criminal record, big age difference, etc) takes about 7-10 months. Some people it's been faster and some a bit longer. During the whole process just keep your head high and all will be ok. I promise that when you get that Decison Made, all the time waiting you will forget about. Yes the process is hard, but it's so worth it, and we're some of the lucky ones that can get an application done in (most of the time) less than a year.

 

[Sunset0505]

Hi Guys,

I have a few questions re: landing.

My Husband will be landing in Ottawa from South Carolina on Feb. 14th. I know he will need his COPR, but what else will he need? He will only be bringing clothes and in about two months we will go back to South Carolina to go get the rest of his bigger stuff. Will this be a problem? Another really big question is how will he let them know what his Canadian address will be? He got his COPR in South Carolina but we don't want his PR Card to be sent there!! We want them to send the card to my Ottawa address. I think that's it for now. Thanks in advance!

LIST EVERYTHING he will be bringing on the B4 form other wise he will be screwed...lol...I have read that people have left stuff in storage and gone back a few years later and never claimed the big stuff in
the first place and then your dealing with duty...taxes and a great big hassle!!!

 

[CamL-W]

LIST EVERYTHING he will be bringing on the B4 form other wise he will be screwed...lol...I have read that people have left stuff in storage and gone back a few years later and never claimed the big stuff in
the first place and then your dealing with duty...taxes and a great big hassle!!!

Ok will do!! Thank you for the advice!

 

[rugrat907]

Ok will do!! Thank you for the advice!

I bookmarked his thread from May about the B-4 forms and documentation - lots of detail here (maybe too much!) but I've found it useful in preparing my documents as I prepare to land next week.

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/b4-form-guide-for-entering-canada-t291843.0.html

Hope it helps!

 

[CamL-W]

I bookmarked his thread from May about the B-4 forms and documentation - lots of detail here (maybe too much!) but I've found it useful in preparing my documents as I prepare to land next week.

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/b4-form-guide-for-entering-canada-t291843.0.html

Hope it helps!

Awesome!!! Thanks!

 

[triple p]

Decision made on Jan 19, 2016 for hubby's PR on ECAS. Criminal Rehab approved Nov. 8/15. Still nervous. His original medical was done Oct 1, 2014 and our law firm stated his FBI clearance should have expired in Dec., 2015.

We did send an email with additional evidence that a second FBI clearance had been submitted, but received DM before we could send them the second clearance. I just hope they automatically extended his medicals and were fine with original FBI clearance. I wish the online system would say what the decision actually is. The waiting in between is so stressful. Thank you guys for all of your help and support during this process!!!