American Wife on verge of Homelessness, what are the options?

[ghoner]

Hello, I just joined this forum because frankly, the official resources are confusing and of little help, and I come here in search of an answer or a clue on what to do with my situation.

I am a Canadian citizen, born canadian, working, with his own place, no criminal record. Your average joe. My wife is American, we got married in Canada about 2 years ago, but have been together for about 6 years. She came to Canada often as a visitor, up to 6 months as a time.

We were currently saving money to get started a sponsorship/residency application, but we've been, well, really unlucky. Wife doesn't have a job anymore, lost her car in a car accident, and now she's on the verge of losing her very home. I'm paying for her as much as I can, but it drained our ressources and now I have to borrow money to my family. I don't want her to become homeless. I can easily take care of her while she is in Canada because I don't have to pay for 2 rents, 2 electric bills, etc... But even if I were to buy her a plane ticket RIGHT NOW, well once again it could only be a temporary solution, and she would come back to the U.S with nothing. Sponsorship can take over a year to process. She doesn't have any degree, so I know she simply won't even get a working visa, and anyway I'm in Quebec and she doesn't speak french, so finding a job would be really, REALLY hard.

I am asking....is there anything I can do to help her out and bring her here permanently, or at least, way more than six month? She wouldn't be leeching money from the government, I can easily take care of all her needs once she's here...but unless we save a lot of money, she would come back to U.S to nothing. I basically wish I can simply take her in as a visitor, and then apply for a sponsorship, and that she could stay in Canada for the duration of the process, and then she would be safe, cause I really can't see how she or I would be refused. The problem is sponsorship takes way more than 6 months...

What can I do? I don't want my wife to become homeless just because of the processing time!....

 

[rhcohen2014]

actually current us applicants are getting approved in 3-6 months, so the sooner you get the application in the better. perhaps get a credit card to help pay the fees?

she can attempt to enter canada before submitting her application, though without significant proof of ties it will probably be difficult. if you both can start filling out the forms, and pay at least part of the fees, that will help her get in as a visitor. she can ask for six months and see what happens. if they see she has intent to apply, they *probably* won't turn her away. instead, they may stamp her passport for less time, issue her a visitor's record, or they may let her in for 6 mo. What you can do at that point is if she is allowed in, she can then apply to extend her stay and ask for 12 months so she can be there for the processing (if an extension is even needed). considering her situation, they probably will not approve her for 6 mo. at first. i suggest she does not bring it up if she can prove a current lease agreement. it's best for her to answer ONLY the questions they ask, and not elaborate. if they already know her situation from previous attempts to enter, she should NOT lie. there's a good chance they already know the answers based on her previous answers, so they are looking for consistency.

as soon as her application is in, it will be far easier for her to travel to canada as a visitor. until then, her best bet is to carry the forms and pay for part of the fees to prove her intent. also, if she has a current lease or mortgage paperwork, then have her bring that too. getting evicted takes months, so as long as her lease is valid, that prooves she has a place to go back to if she crosses before it expires.

again, the processing for us applicants isn't as long as you think it is. the stats listed online are highly INACCURATE, because they are representing stats from LAST YEAR. It is NOT a true indicator of TODAY'S processing. Currently, applicants who applied in MAY 2014 are getting approved.

 

[ghoner]

actually current us applicants are getting approved in 3-6 months, so the sooner you get the application in the better. perhaps get a credit card to help pay the fees?

[....]

again, the processing for us applicants isn't as long as you think it is. the stats listed online are highly INACCURATE, because they are representing stats from LAST YEAR. It is NOT a true indicator of TODAY'S processing. Currently, applicants who applied in MAY 2014 are getting approved.

My good sir, you just made my (and my wife) day. I can pay for the all the fees and stuff. I didn't want to borrow too much money from relatives and friends for a situation that felt like a money sinkhole, but I feel much more comfortable going all in with everything I can gather to get this over with, because after that I'll have all the time of the world to repay those I owe money to.

If what you're saying is accurate, I hate myself for not applying the last time she was visiting for 6 months, I had plenty of money then, and she wouldn't had to go through this nightmare.
But then, may I ask about something else? Sponsorship is just the first part, we still have to go through immigration papers after that, and I recall they want a clear medical bill, can that medical checkup be done in Canada? I mean your new information just thrown me off my seat, so I plan to call them to confirm everything, but now I'm not even sure what is accurate.

 

[scylla]

rhcohen2014 is correct.

Also, sponsorship and immigration aren't two separate processes. You must complete both the sponsorship (sponsor package) and immigration package (applicant package) and submit them together. (If you fail to submit both your application will be returned as incomplete). As part of this process your partner must also complete the medical before the application is submitted. Yes - the medical can be done in Canada.

 

[rhcohen2014]

she will also need to get an FBI record. they must be submitted in the application within 3 months of receiving it from the fbi. again, the information on the CIC website is inaccurate about current processing times for records. you will see on the link below, it is currently taking 30 days to process requests. they will also send the results to an address in canada.

http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/identity-history-summary-checks

definitely do not rush through getting the app together, you want to make sure you provide the information necessary and prove your relationship is ongoing and not just so she can immigrate to canada. considering you have at least 30 days for FBI processing, it's possible to get everything else done in that time.

i suggest you start scrolling through the family class sponsorship board on this forum. the information you get on there is FAR MORE accurate than anything you will get by calling CIC. It is very common for people to get inaccurate or inconsistant information when calling.

good luck!

 

[ghoner]

Okay, thank you very much. I should've checked this forum eons ago, god I feel dumb. In Quebec getting an appointment with a doctor can take sometime months, I will try to get one as soon as possible, but do you know if getting a checkup for an immigration process take a faster route since it's made with only specific doctors (In the U.S, we had checked and the closest approved doctor for this was in Dallas, or something like that, which wasn't close to her at all. Is this inaccurate too?) And would getting a medical checkup in the u.s would simply be faster than in Canada? She lives in Texas right now, if that can help. She doesn't have a lease, she's with family, but her family turns out to less than cooperative, to say the least. I've been treated better by complete strangers.

So I won't call them then, it seems this forum will be our salvation, I'll be sure to check it thoroughly. I didn't want to start a thread for nothing, but I feel that when it comes to immigration, everyone have its own particular situation and there's not a universal answer for all of them. Thank you again for your taking the time to answer, and sharing your knowledge, you have no idea how a relief this is to us.

 

[rhcohen2014]

there are specific panel doctors that cic uses to process the medical exam. i think texas only has the one in dallas. since this is a voluntary exam, it does not take months to get an appointment. in CT i was able to go whenever i needed to. you definitately do have to call up ahead of time and make an appointment. if you find the list of panel doctors available in quebec, give them a call and see when their first available appointment will be, i bet you will be surprised as to how quick you can get her in.

when you call, make sure the doctor is familiar with the EMEDICAL system. this is the new online system for medical exams, and some doctors are still not up to date about it. specifically, applicants have noted difficulties with the dallas panel doctor's office knowing how to do things correctly. she may be better off getting it done in canada, and it can be significantly cheaper. in CT, it cost me $400 for exam and xray.

when she goes, she will need her passport, and possibly some passport photos (each doctor has their own rules, and may take pictures themselves), and a check or cash for payment. once the exam is complete, she MUST get the EMEDICAL receipt from them. this will be a printout with a bar code and her personal info. this is the form that goes in application.

 

[Rob_TO]

List of CIC panel physicians that can do immigration medicals: http://www.cic.gc.ca/pp-md/pp-list.aspx

With an OUTLAND application, the medical should be the last step right before you submit the application.

 

[scylla]

Okay, thank you very much. I should've checked this forum eons ago, god I feel dumb. In Quebec getting an appointment with a doctor can take sometime months.

So I won't call them then, it seems this forum will be our salvation, I'll be sure to check it thoroughly. I didn't want to start a thread for nothing, but I feel that when it comes to immigration, everyone have its own particular situation and there's not a universal answer for all of them.

As others have said, you can only use physicians from the panel list. Getting an appointment should take a matter of days.

Although it might not feel that way yet - there are absolutely universal answers and a set process that effectively apply to everyone. It's just a matter of understanding that process and following it exactly.

 

[ghoner]

Ok, thanks. While I'm not the village's idiot, I admit Administrative paperwork is not something I find easy to work with, especially since official ressources just seem to contradict themselves with outdated informations. Before the link to the list of Physician was posted in this thread, the one I had found was only showing, like half of the doctors that Rob_TO posted.

I got a question....I checked on the family sponsorship sticky, and getting approved as a sponsor takes 55 days outland, and 12 months inland? When you people said about 3-6 months for the whole process, you meant Outland only then? So in my case it must be all done in the U.S, as she'll have to be there for the interview, and therefore cannot travel to Canada during the process, is that right?

 

[scylla]

There are two stages to the outland process. The 55 days only represents the first stage. You need to add on the second stage processing time.

There are two stages to the inland process as well. The 12 months only represents the first stage. You need to add on the second stage processing time.

Americans rarely need to attend interviews. If an interview is required and she has applied inland - it will be held in Canada. If she applies outland - the interview will be held in the US.

 

[scylla]

Just to clarify - you have to decide how you will apply - outland or inland. These are two separate application processes / methods.

If you haven't done so already, read the first post here before you do anything else:

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/spousal-sponsorship-t46995.0.html

 

[rhcohen2014]

and on that note... DO NOT APPLY INLAND. Your wife will no doubt see a quicker approval by applying OUTLAND. there really is NO reason for a US citizen to apply inland right now.

 

[Leon]

Agreed, the processing time for inland is so long compared to outland for a US citizen that it is not really advisable for you to apply inland.

Immigration is a little touchy though about people moving to Canada without a proper visa so she definitely should not pack up and show up with all her stuff in a U-haul at the border or she might have a problem. Better to put her stuff in storage and she comes to visit you like she has done before. When her 6 months are almost up, she can apply to extend and once she gets her PR, she can go pick up her stuff from the US.

 

[ghoner]

Agreed, the processing time for inland is so long compared to outland for a US citizen that it is not really advisable for you to apply inland.

Immigration is a little touchy though about people moving to Canada without a proper visa so she definitely should not pack up and show up with all her stuff in a U-haul at the border or she might have a problem. Better to put her stuff in storage and she comes to visit you like she has done before. When her 6 months are almost up, she can apply to extend and once she gets her PR, she can go pick up her stuff from the US.

Well she came to visit 6 months at a time several times before without trouble, so I'm not too afraid with that. As for her stuff, it's not like she really had a home of her own, there's no furniture or appliances, just books, clothes and trinkets, and we plan to ship it in advance, we've been doing a bit at a time already for a year or so.