Timeline process from biometrics/medical to approval

[JulvaiBC]

Hello everyone,

I'm reading and seeing different things on the topic and therefore I wanted to start a new thread.


My Canadian partner and I are currently living in the UK. We have started the application process by sending all the documents back in August 2020.

We have received a few emails from the immigration office and my partner has been approved as a sponsor.
From my end ( non Canadian) I have done the biometrics and the medical exam earlier this week.

A few questions we still have:
- how long from the biometrics/ medical being done until being processed/approved? It would be great to have some input from others.

- when both leaving outside Canada and once we get approved - how long do we have to move to Canada? Ive read 3 months to 12 months is that correct?

Many thanks in advance for all your help
J.

 

[bian07]

Nobody can say how long it will take, every application is different.

And usually the copr, the document you need to travel, is valid for 12 months from the date of the medical.

 

[JulvaiBC]

Nobody can say how long it will take, every application is different.

And usually the copr, the document you need to travel, is valid for 12 months from the date of the medical.

Thanks! From you personal experience how long did it take to get approved from the medical/biometrics?

Just trying to plan the resale of our property etc

 

[armoured]

You can look at the tracker spreadsheet to get some idea but there is a wide variance, and there was before covid, as well. But taking 12 months from the date of your medical as a fairly (highly?) probable 'end date' for landing (validity of the COPR) would likely be reasonable.

Are you a UK citizen or other ETA country?

If so, you basically have the option of moving before your PR status is finalized, although you'd be without the ability to work until then, and other complications such as health care, etc.

So I'd suggest turning it around and looking at when you wish to move and how you wish to do it - all at once with everything settled, how much time you'd be willing to be without the PR status while in Canada, what you need to make it work, etc. For some concerns such as school year might be the most important. If you want to do the 'classic' sell the house, hire movers, send the stuff and move all at once, be able to work from the day of arrival, etc., a different approach where you'd probably want the COPR before departing. Obviously money and employment matters.

Within that very broad range - well, if you moved in the next months, you'd have a higher risk of waiting longer; if you moved in the first quarter of next year (or planned on that rough timeframe), you'd probably have less or little time to wait and perhaps have the COPR before you left. In between is in between.

IRCC can always surprise of course and come back sooner and then you decide whether to move your departure up.

 

[JulvaiBC]

You can look at the tracker spreadsheet to get some idea but there is a wide variance, and there was before covid, as well. But taking 12 months from the date of your medical as a fairly (highly?) probable 'end date' for landing (validity of the COPR) would likely be reasonable.

Are you a UK citizen or other ETA country?

If so, you basically have the option of moving before your PR status is finalized, although you'd be without the ability to work until then, and other complications such as health care, etc.

So I'd suggest turning it around and looking at when you wish to move and how you wish to do it - all at once with everything settled, how much time you'd be willing to be without the PR status while in Canada, what you need to make it work, etc. For some concerns such as school year might be the most important. If you want to do the 'classic' sell the house, hire movers, send the stuff and move all at once, be able to work from the day of arrival, etc., a different approach where you'd probably want the COPR before departing. Obviously money and employment matters.

Within that very broad range - well, if you moved in the next months, you'd have a higher risk of waiting longer; if you moved in the first quarter of next year (or planned on that rough timeframe), you'd probably have less or little time to wait and perhaps have the COPR before you left. In between is in between.

IRCC can always surprise of course and come back sooner and then you decide whether to move your departure up.

Loads of good suggestions in there - thank you so much. We were thinking of doing something like that and put the house up for sale from Xmas this year and go once the sale is complete.

My partner is Canadian and we have a bit of savings so we should be alright. My concern was that I didn't want to miss the paperwork or have a situation where they send my COPR in the UK when I'm already in Canada. I've heard stories of people being denied because they were already there. However I am a UK citizen so could be there on a tourist visa

 

[armoured]

My concern was that I didn't want to miss the paperwork or have a situation where they send my COPR in the UK when I'm already in Canada. I've heard stories of people being denied because they were already there. However I am a UK citizen so could be there on a tourist visa

I've never heard of someone being denied because they were already in Canada (the reverse for inland applicants can happen if they are out of the country).

The process for outland applicants who are in Canada is reasonably predictable and mostly works well, although they are making some changes (with some teething problems), as now they are doing 'virtual landings' where they basically just send the COPR. (And prior to these changes the standard passport request letter had very clear language about what to do if in Canada - i.e. submit in Ottawa). Now it just seems best to update address as in Canada so they send the correct instructions/start the correct procedure.

So in your case overall you can be reasonably confident that if all goes well, your copr would likely have a final validity date one year from your medical; and that if you go to Canada before getting PPR/COPR, your biggest issue would likely be how long you have to wait for the PR status to be finalized (and the employment/health insurance ramifications of that).

A flag - since you're with a Canadian citizen returning, you may get a request for more evidence of intent to return to Canada, and keep collecting information so as to be able to respond (should you get one).

 

[LotusLeodis]

I've never heard of someone being denied because they were already in Canada (the reverse for inland applicants can happen if they are out of the country).

The process for outland applicants who are in Canada is reasonably predictable and mostly works well, although they are making some changes (with some teething problems), as now they are doing 'virtual landings' where they basically just send the COPR. (And prior to these changes the standard passport request letter had very clear language about what to do if in Canada - i.e. submit in Ottawa). Now it just seems best to update address as in Canada so they send the correct instructions/start the correct procedure.

So in your case overall you can be reasonably confident that if all goes well, your copr would likely have a final validity date one year from your medical; and that if you go to Canada before getting PPR/COPR, your biggest issue would likely be how long you have to wait for the PR status to be finalized (and the employment/health insurance ramifications of that).

A flag - since you're with a Canadian citizen returning, you may get a request for more evidence of intent to return to Canada, and keep collecting information so as to be able to respond (should you get one).

I didn't realise my UK spouse on an outland application could wait for part of the time on a tourist visa.

We, too, are starting to plan for house sale, mover quotes, getting real estate agents to help with housing etc. in the next six months, but not too sure of timelines, concerned about intent to return and we don't really want to be separated.

 

[armoured]

I didn't realise my UK spouse on an outland application could wait for part of the time on a tourist visa.

Yes, it's not that uncommon. Some even apply outland while already based in Canada.

We, too, are starting to plan for house sale, mover quotes, getting real estate agents to help with housing etc. in the next six months, but not too sure of timelines, concerned about intent to return and we don't really want to be separated.

Yes, may make sense to consider. Obviously there are other inconveniences (working, health insurance, etc), but you can at least be together. Hopefully yours will go quickly enough that it won't be a major issue.

 

[esam99]

since you are a brit, u can move to canada now during the pr process

 

[LotusLeodis]

since you are a brit, u can move to canada now during the pr process

I am Canadian-British. Spouse is British only.

 

[armoured]

I am Canadian-British. Spouse is British only.

Won't hold it against either of you.)