Canadian Husband/kids - US Spouse

[julies879]

Like most, it's easy to get overwhelmed by all the information out there. Our situation is this:

Husband is Canadian, I am American, our girls have US citizens and will have their Canadian citizenship certificates by the time we intend to move. The only sponsorship that will take place is for me, the wife. We want to move to British Columbia in August or Sept to be near family and friends.

We want to apply for my PR after we are living there but does that make crossing the border with our families belongings impossible this fall? Will they allow us [mainly me, the American] to cross if we have all of our paperwork filled out and necessary documents in hand and ready to go for an outland sponsorship?

 

[Ponga]

Why wait? Submit an Outland application now and there's a good chance you'll have your PR approval when you're ready to actual move. Most Americans complete the process in less than 8 months (some as quick as 4) because the application is processed in Ottawa, rather than NY or LA. The times shown on CIC's website, especially for Americans, is not accurate.

Note: Until you are approved, you really shouldn't move anything into Canada, that would not be something that a visitor would bring.

 

[scylla]

Apply for PR now using the outland method. You could very well be approved by the time you want to move.

If you follow your plan, it's always a bit of a dice roll what will happen at the border. Plus you won't be able to work or study or be covered by the health care system until after you have PR.

Applying now will make the process much less painful.

 

[julies879]

Uhhh. Duh. Why didn't we think of that?! We have no super strict timeline so that makes complete sense. I guess I was intimidated and had on blinders to what our options were/are.

Just to be certain: is there any way I could grab a link to the application?

 

[scylla]

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/fc.asp

 

[julies879]

Does it really take 13-15 weeks for the FBI background check?!

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Does it really take 13-15 weeks for the FBI background check?!

Yes. You can submit the PR app without it; include a letter explaining that you've applied for it and will forward it on as soon as it arrives.