Almost ready to send in my PR application

[Davidsjlim]

I just had a couple questions before i sent in my spousal sponsorship forms.

1. Which fees am i paying for? Principle applicant? 475 and Sponsorship application for 75? I know that later on I am going to have to pay for the right of Permanent residence fee. But for my Initial fees which ones do I need to pay for?

2. I am sending in a work permit application with my sponsorship application do I also need to pay for my work application fees?

3. On the top of my application is it advised to write a letter explaining what I have included in my application? I am hoping that I have shown enough evidence. I have everything from our flight itineraries, pictures, insurance policy together, joint bank accounts. Just don't want the immigration officer that is reviewing my application to get confused about anything and have to question the authenticity of my marriage.

Please advise thank you

 

[Zarilenth]

I just had a couple questions before i sent in my spousal sponsorship forms.

1. Which fees am i paying for? Principle applicant? 475 and Sponsorship application for 75? I know that later on I am going to have to pay for the right of Permanent residence fee. But for my Initial fees which ones do I need to pay for?

2. I am sending in a work permit application with my sponsorship application do I also need to pay for my work application fees?

3. On the top of my application is it advised to write a letter explaining what I have included in my application? I am hoping that I have shown enough evidence. I have everything from our flight itineraries, pictures, insurance policy together, joint bank accounts. Just don't want the immigration officer that is reviewing my application to get confused about anything and have to question the authenticity of my marriage.

Please advise thank you

If the applicant has no dependents then yes you can just pay the 75 and 475 now and pay the right of permanent residence fee later. Or pay it all at once, so you wont have any delays.

Are you applying inland? I don't know much about applying inland but I have heard that you no longer submit your work permit with the original application, but only when the first stage is complete.

You can include a list of what you have included, but it's not required. It's your own choice.

 

[QuebecOkie]

Did you apply inland or outland? I applied inland, and I didn't pay the RPRF until the day I got DM/stage two approval. It didn't seem to cause me any delays. However, I've read often on this forum that outland applicants are advised to pay all fees up front to avoid delays. Your amounts are correct. Sponsor fee - $75. PR applicant fee - $475. RPRF - $490.

Note: Applicants through Québec will have to pay another $269 for the CSQ after CIC instructs them to request it. Again, ONLY for Québec, and this fee is not paid up front or to CIC, but directly to Québec's immigration ministry, MICC.

Yes, you should pay the open work permit fee as well. I don't know the fee offhand, as I didn't apply for one. Also, there is a great deal of confusion currently about the work permit. It used to be standard operating procedure to include the owp application with the PR application for those inland applicants who wanted an OWP. However, CIC has shifted the inland PR app processing from Vegreville (which processes OWP apps, too) to Mississaugua. CIC call centres reps are giving conflicting information about the work permit issue. NO ONE here can tell you for sure (since CIC can't even tell you for sure!) if submitting the OWP app with the PR app is the correct way now. My advice (take it with a grain of salt, I'm no expert, just someone who's spent too much time reading on this forum) is to go ahead and submit the OWP app, but don't depend on it for implied status. Keep the PR applicant's status current separate from the OWP submission.

You should include the checklist, but there is no need to write a separate letter. Many write a "relationship narrative," a sort of timeline/story of how their relationship developed, to include with their photos and other proofs. Not necessary, but can provide more details/answer agent's questions before they come up. Mine was very simple, providing the details of when we traveled (for the itineraries and trip photos we included), when we first met each other's families, and a brief statement at the end about the genuineness of our relationship (basically, that I'd have never left my good life in my home state full of family and friends to live in a very French area where I knew no one and didn't speak the language unless it was for the love of my life, haha).

Your proofs sound good, but if you want to include a narrative providing details/more information about the proofs you included/the timeline of your relationship's development, that's a good idea, too.

Good luck!

 

[Davidsjlim]

I am applying for in-land. Its kinda of ironic because I have a work permit till next year 2015 but only with one employer but I was recently let go. So from what I know I will have status till that expires. So I would let to get a open work permit so I can get working again.

 

[QuebecOkie]

If you have a current OPEN work permit that doesn't expire until 2015, you should be good to go. If it was a limited or closed work permit good for only that one employer, then you can't work for another. Did your former employer do an LMO (labour market opinion) to be able to hire you?

If you truly have a current OWP good to 2015, due to all the confusion around the OWP issue right now with the Vegreville to Mississaugua changes, I wouldn't worry about applying for an OWP with your PR app. Wait for AIP/stage one approval, and then you can apply for an OWP online after that with NO doubt and NO confusion.

 

[truesmile]

As I understand it, from a senior member's post on this subject. The so-called "new rules" concerning submitting an OWP are not in place yet, and you should still include your application for OWP with your PR application. Am simply re-posting what I've seen here. Unless someone can prove otherwise . . .

 

[Davidsjlim]

It is not a open work permit it is just for one employer yes they did conduct a labor market opinion but yes i will include the OWP application with my PR application. Am I able to pay for my work permit fees before they issue it to me or do i have to send that in with the application? Because I dont want to pay for it if they are going to return it to me due to confusion getting the money back is going to be a hassle working with the government.

Do i send my PR application to vergville or mississagua?

 

[QuebecOkie]

Mississaugua. All PR apps now go to Mississaugua.

I really can't provide you a definitive answer on the OWP thing. If it were me (since you don't have a current OWP), I would include it and pay the fee. There's just really no way to know *for sure* that things are still being done the "old way" until we start to see progress on 2014 applicants' applications, and see whether their OWPs are being issued just as they used to be.

 

[Davidsjlim]

Am i able to pay for the OWP fee later? or do i have to pay that upfront?

 

[truesmile]

Not sure if you can, but even if so that would only cause delays. I concur with QuebecOkie, I would also pay for it up front.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

There is really no advantage for an American to apply inland.

Understand that you will not get the OWP until after first stage approval, currently taking 9 months. For the first 9 months of the process, you will NOT be able to work. Your closed work permit allows you to stay in Canada until it expires but it doesn't allow you to work anywhere else.

As well, you will not be able to leave Canada without risking your inland app. If you have a look through the threads, there are several recent ones from inland applicants asking about travelling outside Canada for family events/weddings/holidays etc. The general consensus is "Do it at your own risk". If they are denied re-entry to Canada, the inland app is cancelled.

Compare that with an outland app through Ottawa, where you will be a PR in 8-10 months and you can travel out of Canada without risking your app.

 

[QuebecOkie]

Good catch. Didn't realize OP was American until I saw your post and looked up some of the OP's earlier posts.

I'm American as well, and I applied inland. I regretted that decision many times over the months following my application. I wanted to visit my family, but wasn't comfortable putting my application at risk. Felt very trapped. I got pretty lucky, and I landed a couple weeks shy of a year after sending my app, but some take a good bit longer.

I would definitely have applied outland, if I knew then what I know now. The work permit is not much of an advantage, when it may take about as long to get that as it would take to get your full PR status with an outland application.

 

[Davidsjlim]

can i apply outland but still remain in canada? the addresses that i put on the application are all canadian am i still able to do that?

 

[QuebecOkie]

Absolutely you can. Many here have done so. It is perfectly fine to stay with your spouse in Canada while you wait out an outland PR application. (I did NOT know that when I applied, hence my inland application and a lot of regrets.)

 

[truesmile]

I will post for additional emphasis that "yes" you absolutely can. I struggled with this point even after we had submitted our 'outland' application, until I finally "got it"! If it makes you feel better (it did for me), designate your sponsor (who would be in Canada anyway) as an "Authorized Representative" (only one extra form), and once you do that they only ask for THAT representative's address. It also means that if needed CIC will speak with your spouse who might need to be calling on your behalf.