Both of us feeling overwhelmed and worried, please help

[drahkur]

Hi there,

My partner and I are currently trying to figure out exactly how to get the application process going, but we're not sure what to do and feel ridiculously overwhelmed. I'm a Canadian citizen, and he's an American citizen living in New York state. We've been together about a year and a half and made plans to start the application this winter, but we're only realizing now how long this will take (18 months or more?!?! 39 months for the New York City outland office seriously?). So now our projected timeframe of him hopefully coming here by the end of 2016 doesn't seem likely and we're absolutely devastated. What are we supposed to do here? What exactly is the best course of action? From what I've been reading, he can apply for a visitors visa and come here, but he can't work. During that time we can apply to the sponsorship inland, or something. This entire process is clearly overwhelming, but we assumed that there would be some way to be together in the near future. Now it seems like I won't be able to be with him for at least another year and a half. Please help; this entire process is ridiculously convoluted and made even more frustrating by the fact that I can't actually pick up the phone and talk to someone about this in depth.

Matt

 

[taffy7]

First of all take a deep breath . Now breath lol .It won't take 36 months and once read through the forums you will feel at ease . Outland is much quicker and he can be in Canada while you apply outland .


1st of all you have to been living together for 12 months before you can apply common law, if you are not living together you will either have to do this or get married

First of all read through the forms and if you have any questions ask here.

 

[canusa13]

He doesn't need to apply for a visitor's visa. Americans don't need visa to enter Canada.
It's much faster for your guys to apply outland. It should take less than 1 year. Some people get it within 6 months. Just make sure he doesn't overstay his 6 months while he's waiting for his PR and staying in Canada.

 

[drahkur]

First of all take a deep breath . Now breath lol .It won't take 36 months and once read through the forums you will feel at ease . Outland is much quicker and he can be in Canada while you apply outland .


1st of all you have to been living together for 12 months before you can apply common law, if you are not living together you will either have to do this or get married

First of all read through the forms and if you have any questions ask here.

Reading through these forums doesn't make me feel at ease when people are talking about 2 year wait times lol. But I'm trying

Also, can't we apply as conjugal partners? Though we are tempted to get married to help improve our chances here

 

[canusa13]

Reading through these forums doesn't make me feel at ease when people are talking about 2 year wait times lol. But I'm trying

Also, can't we apply as conjugal partners? Though we are tempted to get married to help improve our chances here

Is your case pretty simple (i.e. no red flags)? If so, it really won't take 2 years. It only takes this long when the case is complicated or the file goes missing. If you look at the spreadsheet, you'll see that most people (Americans applying outland) get it within less than 1 year. Some people on this board applied in June and already have their papers.

 

[Aquakitty]

Reading through these forums doesn't make me feel at ease when people are talking about 2 year wait times lol. But I'm trying

Also, can't we apply as conjugal partners? Though we are tempted to get married to help improve our chances here

Nope, definitely not. Conjugal is only for those few people who physically can't be together or can't get married or live together due to the laws of their country. That is not the case for Canadians and Americans.

If you have a straightforward application, you can expect 4-9 months wait time applying outland.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Reading through these forums doesn't make me feel at ease when people are talking about 2 year wait times lol. But I'm trying

Also, can't we apply as conjugal partners? Though we are tempted to get married to help improve our chances here

The 2 year wait time is when applying inland.

As said above, conjugal is not an option. There are no legal barriers preventing you from marrying or becoming common-law.

American apps are processed through Ottawa and average around 8 months.

 

[scylla]

We've had several Americans get through in 4 months recently. You're worrying needlessly.

However as others have said - your only two choices are common law or getting married. A conjugal application will fail.

 

[taffy7]

When i first starting looking into immigration for my husband i felt just like you . By reading through threads and having many very experience forum members helping me , my husband just landed in Canada . It will get easier .

Like i said you have two options live together for 1 full year or get married. Untill then start with getting photos and any thing you have that has evidence of a relationship .



I sent plane tickets, photos of us together, birthday cards and Christmas cards from each other , we had a life insurance policy on each other and my husband and i put each other on our credit cards as supplement card holders . The forms will be easy to fill out its all the other stuff that took time .

 

[TracyCa64]

Hi there,

My partner and I are currently trying to figure out exactly how to get the application process going, but we're not sure what to do and feel ridiculously overwhelmed. I'm a Canadian citizen, and he's an American citizen living in New York state. We've been together about a year and a half and made plans to start the application this winter, but we're only realizing now how long this will take (18 months or more?!?! 39 months for the New York City outland office seriously?). So now our projected timeframe of him hopefully coming here by the end of 2016 doesn't seem likely and we're absolutely devastated. What are we supposed to do here? What exactly is the best course of action? From what I've been reading, he can apply for a visitors visa and come here, but he can't work. During that time we can apply to the sponsorship inland, or something. This entire process is clearly overwhelming, but we assumed that there would be some way to be together in the near future. Now it seems like I won't be able to be with him for at least another year and a half. Please help; this entire process is ridiculously convoluted and made even more frustrating by the fact that I can't actually pick up the phone and talk to someone about this in depth.

Matt

Hi Matt!
I know exactly how you feel. We all felt this way. I am American, my partner Canadian. I have been here in Canada since April 2014. I have had to get extensions on my Visitor status in order to stay in Canada. My PR application was received by CIC on Oct 2, 2015, we rec'd Sponsorship approval on Dec 10, 2015 and now my file is in Ottawa being processed. It's moving along. It all seems very overwhelming, but once you gather all the info you need by reading the posts in this forum it will get better. All of the Champion & senior members will give you absolute correct info & advice, so just ask away. I can't tell you enough how much the forum has helped me in this process. Everyone is soo amazing and will always help you.

Best Wishes!!

 

[keesio]

Reading through these forums doesn't make me feel at ease when people are talking about 2 year wait times lol. But I'm trying

Also, can't we apply as conjugal partners? Though we are tempted to get married to help improve our chances here

Unless your American partner has a criminal record or history of deportation or denial of entry to Canada or applies under conjugal, it will not take 2 years. Ignore the timelines for LA / NY you see on CIC's website. The one that is applicable is Ottawa. And even than one skews long as it is a "conservative" estimate. Most americans that send in a solid application get processed under 1 year. And many are process way earlier than that. It is not that unusual to see Americans get processed in 6 months or less.

And do not try conjugal. It is has a high failure rate for US/Canadian couples.