Adding spouse after CoPR

[sam406]

Hello,
I received my CoPR and visa couple of months ago. But then I got married in the US and my spouse is a citizen. I have planned to add my spouse to my application and wmailed CIC about my change of marital status. I still haven’t received any reply from CIC. I have few questions regarding adding my spouse to my application.

- Can I request a change of my marital status and not apply for my spouse’s CoPR and visa, since my spouse is a US citizen and can enter Canada anytime.

- If I add my spouse to my application, then how long does it takes for CIC to process it and what documents will be required to submit.

- If CIC does not respond to my request to add my spouse or change my marital status on my application and if in that meantime my CoPR expires, then Can i reapply again with my spouse?

 

[zardoz]

Hello,
I received my CoPR and visa couple of months ago. But then I got married in the US and my spouse is a citizen. I have planned to add my spouse to my application and wmailed CIC about my change of marital status. I still haven’t received any reply from CIC. I have few questions regarding adding my spouse to my application.

- Can I request a change of my marital status and not apply for my spouse’s CoPR and visa, since my spouse is a US citizen and can enter Canada anytime.

- If I add my spouse to my application, then how long does it takes for CIC to process it and what documents will be required to submit.

- If CIC does not respond to my request to add my spouse or change my marital status on my application and if in that meantime my CoPR expires, then Can i reapply again with my spouse?

1) No, your spouse MUST be added to your application, even if non-accompanying. You MUST NOT attempt to land using your existing COPR. Your spouse being a US citizen is of no relevance

2) Usually a few months. Your spouse will have to undergo mandatory medical, background and security checks. If your spouse is inadmissible your PR application will be refused/cancelled. IRCC will inform you of what you are required to submit.

3) Yes, you can abandon your PR application and start the process from the very beginning again.

 

[sam406]

So, I want ask another question referring to #3 above. Can I abandon my appication even before the CoPR and Visa expires, and will I be able to apply right away after the application is abandoned?
If yes, then what is the process to do so?

Thank you so much for the prompt response!

 

[zardoz]

So, I want ask another question referring to #3 above. Can I abandon my appication even before the CoPR and Visa expires, and will I be able to apply right away after the application is abandoned?
If yes, then what is the process to do so?

Thank you so much for the prompt response!

If you really want to go down that route, you probably need to return your copr with a letter of explanation. It seems overly drastic however. Just resend another Case Specific Enquiry to the issuing visa office and make sure that you mark it Urgent.

 

[sam406]

Thank you for the prompt reply. I will go agead and put urgent in the subject line for them to respond to my request quickly.

I have one more question. Can i add my spouse as a non-accompanying individual to my application, so that way they won’t have to issue a PR for my spouse?
My spouse is a US citizen and can enter Canada at any time for upto 6 months.

 

[DelPiero07]

Thank you for the prompt reply. I will go agead and put urgent in the subject line for them to respond to my request quickly.

I have one more question. Can i add my spouse as a non-accompanying individual to my application, so that way they won’t have to issue a PR for my spouse?
My spouse is a US citizen and can enter Canada at any time for upto 6 months.

Well yes, but her documents still have to be assessed (medicals, PCC, etc).

 

[zardoz]

Thank you for the prompt reply. I will go agead and put urgent in the subject line for them to respond to my request quickly.

I have one more question. Can i add my spouse as a non-accompanying individual to my application, so that way they won’t have to issue a PR for my spouse?
My spouse is a US citizen and can enter Canada at any time for upto 6 months.

You can, but it will save you almost no time and you will still have to have your COPR returned and reissued with the updated information. Please note that a US citizen has to follow the same rules and regulations for entering Canada as any other "foreign national". Canada is not the 51st state (yet) and can quite legitimately refuse entry to any US citizen, at the sole discretion of the CBSA officer(s) at the border. (Exactly as CBP has been doing to Canadian citizens trying to visit the USA.)

 

[scylla]

You can, but it will save you almost no time and you will still have to have your COPR returned and reissued with the updated information. Please note that a US citizen has to follow the same rules and regulations for entering Canada as any other "foreign national". Canada is not the 51st state (yet) and can quite legitimately refuse entry to any US citizen, at the sole discretion of the CBSA officer(s) at the border. (Exactly as CBP has been doing to Canadian citizens trying to visit the USA.)

Completely agree with the above. Makes zero sense to add your spouse as non-accompanying. It will take just as long to ad them as accompanying. And also agree that entry or how long someone is allowed into Canada is never guaranteed - even for Americans.

 

[sam406]

Definitely I agree to your response above. I am also willing to add my spouse as accompanying individual. But, after I add my spouse, can she enter separately into Canada, just in case if she has to delay her entry because of work related issues?

 

[zardoz]

Definitely I agree to your response above. I am also willing to add my spouse as accompanying individual. But, after I add my spouse, can she enter separately into Canada, just in case if she has to delay her entry because of work related issues?

Yes. That is permitted, and because you are the Principal Applicant, you have to land before, or at the same time as your spouse anyway.

 

[sam406]

Any idea on what documents will I be need in order to add my spouse to my appication?

 

[zardoz]

Any idea on what documents will I be need in order to add my spouse to my appication?

You will be informed of the requirements by the visa office.

 

[ehsanmht]

Hello,
I received my CoPR and visa couple of months ago. But then I got married in the US and my spouse is a citizen. I have planned to add my spouse to my application and wmailed CIC about my change of marital status. I still haven’t received any reply from CIC. I have few questions regarding adding my spouse to my application.

- Can I request a change of my marital status and not apply for my spouse’s CoPR and visa, since my spouse is a US citizen and can enter Canada anytime.

- If I add my spouse to my application, then how long does it takes for CIC to process it and what documents will be required to submit.

- If CIC does not respond to my request to add my spouse or change my marital status on my application and if in that meantime my CoPR expires, then Can i reapply again with my spouse?

Hello,

Would like to know your spouse adding status.I also have a possibility of getting married and I have my COPR. Please let me know what have you done to add your spouse to your application and whats your application status?

TIA

 

[khare89]

@zardoz / All experts,


Hi,
I applied from India as a single applicant for PR under express entry. I got married after my ITA, To let CIC know about my marital status, I sent my marriage certificate along with my passport and COPR email to vfs global services in India. I landed in Canada but got to know my marital status is not updated. Now I am told to leave the country asap and get my application updated before landing to Canada. Kindly guide me what was wrong in my procedure and what is the right way to update them again with my spouse after coming back to India.
Thanks

 

[zardoz]

@zardoz / All experts,


Hi,
I applied from India as a single applicant for PR under express entry. I got married after my ITA, To let CIC know about my marital status, I sent my marriage certificate along with my passport and COPR email to vfs global services in India. I landed in Canada but got to know my marital status is not updated. Now I am told to leave the country asap and get my application updated before landing to Canada. Kindly guide me what was wrong in my procedure and what is the right way to update them again with my spouse after coming back to India.
Thanks

You should NOT have attempted to land until you were issued a new COPR with your updated marital status... The correct method is to raise a Case Specific Enquiry to the issuing visa office, ideally with the word URGENT in the first sentence. Was your visa cancelled and/or your CoPR confiscated by CBSA?