Applying for family class visa immediately after marriage

[wetjetter]

Thank you beaverdiva (great name btw!), screech339 and canuk_in_uk for sharing your expertise and experiences. I plan on doing the same once I have a handle on this PR process and some experience, as I'm so grateful for information I've learned so far from this discussion forum - it really is a gem of a find! ;D

I plan on making our PR application the best it can be, and hopefully it will be processed quickly, vs waiting for an interview. I'm a bit pessimistic though, as securing my partner's TRV via the Sinagpore office was not easy. Long story, but on the first try, it seemed the VO didn't read our application carefully or thoroughly and after ordering the GCMS notes, it was denied on incorrect grounds. We didn't have time before the holidays to reapply, so we had to accept it and gave up on our holiday to Canada. I'm hoping that the PR experience is much, much smoother!

You also have to remember that a PR can maintain his/her PR status while living with a Canadian anywhere outside Canada. So CIC is very strict on proving Canadian actually returning to settle in Canada. Otherwise, Canadians can sponsor their spouses and then return after getting PR. This is too convenient for them. And it is rather unfair as PR can return to Canada whenever they need free health care.

I'm hoping that if we apply for PR and show that my employment contract in Malaysia will finish around the time we hope to resettle in Canada, this would help our case in proving that we plan on settling permanently in Canada. Any other ideas?

As well, obviously we don't want to start filling out IMMI forms that could change over the next year, but I'd like to be as prepared in advance as possible. Any tips on what we can do in preparation in the meantime? It all seems so overwhelming (the TRV took us over a month to prepare, so I can imagine we'll need quite some time for the family class visa.)

 

[Beaverdiva]

Two basic things I found invaluable to do before we applied:-

Research on here as much as possible. Try and spend time searching for topics you think apply to your particular situation. Don't be afraid to ask basic questions because we've all been in your shoes at the beginning.

Secondly, print out immigration Guides and forms in advance and start doing drafts of them in pen or pencil - to familiarise yourself with what is required and to be organised.

When you're ready to apply you MUST check each IMM form hasn't been updated on CIC's website because if you fill in an outdated form they may return the whole application to you.

The document checklist is a good reference point.
The guide helped me to organise myself with timeframes for things like police checks and medicals.

Research is the key and be prepared for 3 months worth of hard work to complete your application.
Happy research and form-filling!

 

[screech339]

I'm hoping that if we apply for PR and show that my employment contract in Malaysia will finish around the time we hope to resettle in Canada, this would help our case in proving that we plan on settling permanently in Canada. Any other ideas?

As well, obviously we don't want to start filling out IMMI forms that could change over the next year, but I'd like to be as prepared in advance as possible. Any tips on what we can do in preparation in the meantime? It all seems so overwhelming (the TRV took us over a month to prepare, so I can imagine we'll need quite some time for the family class visa.)

Timing will be very critical. If you apply too early and PR processing is almost completed ahead of time, you are screwed. They expect you to quit your job and move at the moment of PR issue. Your papers showing you won't be moving anytime soon before getting PR will surely kill your application.

 

[wetjetter]

Two basic things I found invaluable to do before we applied:-

Research on here as much as possible. Try and spend time searching for topics you think apply to your particular situation. Don't be afraid to ask basic questions because we've all been in your shoes at the beginning.

Secondly, print out immigration Guides and forms in advance and start doing drafts of them in pen or pencil - to familiarise yourself with what is required and to be organised.

When you're ready to apply you MUST check each IMM form hasn't been updated on CIC's website because if you fill in an outdated form they may return the whole application to you.

The document checklist is a good reference point.
The guide helped me to organise myself with timeframes for things like police checks and medicals.

Research is the key and be prepared for 3 months worth of hard work to complete your application.
Happy research and form-filling!

Thank you beaverdiva for your kind words and advice! As of the last few weeks, I've been trawling through these threads, taking in information. It's all so overwhelming and I still have a million and one questions. I've been trying to find answers to my questions/our situation before posting, but I'm sure I'll be a regular poster on here over the next year ... and I plan on paying it forward once I become a little more "seasoned" like the rest of you.

 

[wetjetter]

Timing will be very critical. If you apply too early and PR processing is almost completed ahead of time, you are screwed. They expect you to quit your job and move at the moment of PR issue. Your papers showing you won't be moving anytime soon before getting PR will surely kill your application.

Screech339 - thanks for letting me know. I'm still really confused as to the timeline we should abide by. I understand that the forecast of a 27 month wait via the Singapore visa office may not apply to us and that if our application is solid enough, it could be processed in a matter of months.

The thing is, we CAN depart for Canada anytime - it doesn't necessarily have to be tied to the end of my employment contract, but it would be nice if it worked out that way.

Do you think it would be better not to highlight to the CIC that I'm working on a contract and when it's scheduled to end? (There are no legal repercussions of me ending the contract early, and my project manager would be understanding.)

And how early exactly, is too early to apply for PR? I assume that somewhere in the application, it asks you for your anticipated date of arrival. Providing all of your documents are in check and nothing comes off as fishy, does the CIC try to meet your anticipated date of arrival? Would 6 months to a year before we'd ideally like to resettle in Canada be OK to apply?

 

[screech339]

Screech339 - thanks for letting me know. I'm still really confused as to the timeline we should abide by. I understand that the forecast of a 27 month wait via the Singapore visa office may not apply to us and that if our application is solid enough, it could be processed in a matter of months.

The thing is, we CAN depart for Canada anytime - it doesn't necessarily have to be tied to the end of my employment contract, but it would be nice if it worked out that way.

Do you think it would be better not to highlight to the CIC that I'm working on a contract and when it's scheduled to end? (There are no legal repercussions of me ending the contract early, and my project manager would be understanding.)

And how early exactly, is too early to apply for PR? I assume that somewhere in the application, it asks you for your anticipated date of arrival. Providing all of your documents are in check and nothing comes off as fishy, does the CIC try to meet your anticipated date of arrival? Would 6 months to a year before we'd ideally like to resettle in Canada be OK to apply?

No such thing as applying too early so long as you have proof that you will leave for Canada when PR is issued. If CIC is not convinced, your application will not be approve.

 

[Buletruck]

I'm still really confused as to the timeline we should abide by. I understand that the forecast of a 27 month wait via the Singapore visa office may not apply to us and that if our application is solid enough, it could be processed in a matter of months.

To give you an idea, we just went through the PR process in Singapore and from start to finish took 5 1/2 months (Application received by CIC June 17, landed November 28).

 

[wetjetter]

To give you an idea, we just went through the PR process in Singapore and from start to finish took 5 1/2 months (Application received by CIC June 17, landed November 28).

Wow, that's amazing they processed your PR so quickly! One can only hope.

Do you guys think it would help if we applied about 6 months before my employment contract is up, and mention that in the application? Or is it better not to mention I'm working on a contract at all?

 

[Buletruck]

I don't know that CIC cares if you are working contract or not. There emphasis will be on whether you intend to settle in Canada after your wife/spouse gets her PR. You'll need to show you intend to resettle. I wouldn't hold any information from them, as it could be misconstrued as misrepresentation if they dig into it. Your evidence seems pretty solid, so there should be any complications, so why risk it.

We applied outland from Canada once I got settled here and she just came in on the TRV we got her and waited for the results. Made sure we had everything ready before we left (documents, police certificates, notarized translations) and popped them in the mail as soon as she arrived. We had done the medical in Canada on a previous trip here about a month earlier.

 

[Buletruck]

Your evidence seems pretty solid, so there should be any complications, so why risk it.

That should read "Shouldn't", not should.........

 

[wetjetter]

I don't know that CIC cares if you are working contract or not. There emphasis will be on whether you intend to settle in Canada after your wife/spouse gets her PR. You'll need to show you intend to resettle. I wouldn't hold any information from them, as it could be misconstrued as misrepresentation if they dig into it. Your evidence seems pretty solid, so there should be any complications, so why risk it.

Thanks Buletruck for sharing your experience. I definitely wouldn't want to misrepresent anything in our case. I'm hoping that if we apply say 6 months before my contract is up, and I provide proof of the end of my contract approaching, it will be one piece of evidence to show that we are planning on moving to Canada. It's going to be tough to prove! I'm now wondering if I should go ahead of my partner and settle in, like you did. We'd hate to be separated, but that might be favourable in the eyes of the CIC.

 

[Beaverdiva]

It comes down to personal choice really. You have various options available to you but in terms of timing and when to apply I would look at the following:-

Leave applying until you have firm plans to settle in Canada, by which time you would presumably have arranged living accommodation and employment etc - which will go in your favour as far as CIC Is concerned in terms of settling there.

Marry now, or very soon, return to Canada alone and wait for your partner to get PR. Processing times aren't really that reliable - ours said 28 months when we submitted via London, yet I've just had my PR confirmation through in less than 5 months...

It's what works out best for you both at the end of the day. Being apart is horrible but definitely worth considering in my opinion. Only you can decide how soon you want to settle in Canada but bear in mind that if you apply ahead of 2018 and it IS processed quickly there's a deadline given to land as a PR so you/your partner need to be ready because CIC won't extend the deadline.

Hope that's given you something to consider

 

[zimgirl]

Hi I am new here how do I post my timeline. Thanks

 

[Beaverdiva]

Just another point...

You mentioned if marrying immediately before applying looks suspicious but it worked out okay for us.

We brought our plans forward when the age limit for dependants was lowered. If we hadn't, my eldest daughter would have been too old to be included. So I flew over and we got married in NS, had a civil ceremony with 2 witnesses, no family present, no wedding reception or party it was really low-key. We submitted our application 3 months later and explained why the wedding was brought forward. We never received any requests for additional documents and like I said earlier, we were processed in under 5 months.

CIC will be able to see when a relationship's genuine.

 

[Beaverdiva]

Hi I am new here how do I post my timeline. Thanks

You need to have posted 10 times before you can add a timeline to your profile.