Comments | canadabound: Need help with Canadian immigration ASAP.

joes87 in canadabound

Need help with Canadian immigration ASAP.

Jan 23, 2013 15:33

Hello, I'm Joe. I'm 25 years old and I'm currently engaged to a beautiful, 27 year old, Canadian model, Frances. Here is a picture of us from last year outside my Nebraska home.

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immigration lawyer, border crossing, entry, citizenship, physical presence in canada, income requirements, political reasons for immigration, moving companies, fees, residency, marriage ceremony in canada, inside vs. outside spousal, sponsorship, permanent residency, common law, outside spousal, marriage vs. common law

Comments 22

makeme_moo January 23 2013, 23:14:47 UTC

I don't know the answer to all of your questions, sorry, but here's a good place to start reading if you're thinking about immigrating: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/apply.asp. Other (temporary) options include student and work visas, but those aren't quick or easy to get either. I don't know that debt would prevent her from sponsoring you. Here's a page on sponsor eligibility. If she's declared bankruptcy or is currently on gov't assistance, she wouldn't be eligible. But as far as the money requirements - my husband was eligible to sponsor his first wife while only working for minimum wage at a Farm Boy. (And you'll need to set aside at least $1k for various application-related fees.)

If you go the route of spousal/partner sponsorship, you have the option of applying within Canada and staying until your application is processed. However, you won't be able to work or study.

joes87 January 23 2013, 23:39:58 UTC

Well, she's neither bankrupt or on gov't assistance. So, that's a good sign. If we do go the route of the spousal/partner sponsorship, how long would it take for the application to be processed? Also, do you possibly know, since we live in two separate countries, if our relationship would be considered conjugal or common-law or something entirely different? We've no doubt spent time together, as you can see, and both she and I will help each other out financially when need be through bank transfers and/or MoneyGram/Western Union type services. Would that possibly change our status then?

makeme_moo January 24 2013, 00:17:22 UTC

There's a page somewhere on that site that lists current processing times. For the US it's at least a year to process spousal sponsorship if you apply outside of Canada, a little quicker longer (iirc) if you apply inside. This page has relationship definitions (spousal, common-law, conjugal ( ... )

joes87 January 24 2013, 00:40:50 UTC

Thank you for your feedback on my further inquiries. I do have a couple more possible questions if you wouldn't mind: Once spousal is approved, can I then look for a job, or would the sponsorship still be in effect, meaning I couldn't work for 3 years? Or would I be able to apply for work as soon as it's approved?

Thread 11

canadianchia January 24 2013, 01:38:53 UTC

The first commenter is right, that your partner's financial state doesn't matter for sponsorship. I'm American and applied for PR via the spousal route, and my husband was approved as my sponsor with no job and no income ( ... )

joes87 January 24 2013, 02:19:49 UTC

Would it matter if currently she's living at home with her mother, as far as sponsorship is concerned? Sadly, I don't have a special/specific skill set.. I only have my job, of 4 years, at McDonald's. But everyone and their mother and even their aunt, when both the latter were younger, and brother have had a related job before in my kind of work. So, that's basically out.

canadianchia January 24 2013, 02:25:30 UTC

No, I don't think her living situation should matter. And yeah, without a more specialized skill set, the spousal route once you guys are married is probably your best bet.

joes87 January 24 2013, 02:28:12 UTC

Thanks. So, going spousal, does one have to have all 1k-ish dollars before they file, or is it kind of like an "as you go along" basis?

Thread 11