Canadian in U.S. wishes to sponsor wife for PR in Canada: Job catch 22

[Beehivefive]

Hello. Hope this post doesn't rehash too closely other topics, but her it goes: I am a Canadian with a U.S. green card. I have lived in the States for the past 9 years with my wife (and now also with my daughter). We would like to move to my home and native land, but I feel i am running into a problem. I understand that I may sponsor my wife while still living in the U.S., but won't my application for my wife's permanent residency in Canada be rejected if I don't have a job there yet? I am confident I will be able to work once we move (to Ontario), but I don't see a way to get a job offer that is wiling to wait until my wife's permanent residency goes through--which could take a year or more, right? Basically, I feel it's a bit of a catch 22. I require a job in Ontario to sponsor my wife, but have little chance of landing a job in Ontario without moving there first. Obviously, we don't want to be split up for a year or more. We have friends and family in Canada, and a significant amount of money saved, but I don't know that these things will trump not having a job in Canada before applying for my wife's PR there. Any advice?

 

[davek1979]

You do not have to have a job in Canada but it would help. You need to show that you are making steps to move back to Canada. If you owned a home in Canada or had a lease for an apartment. A job offer in Canada would also help.

 

[sakamath]

"Having a job in Ontario (Canada)" is not a requirement for sponsoring a spouse. What you should stress on the sponsorship application is that "prove your intent" that you would be moving to Canada once the PR process is complete - show that you and your spouse have the skills to make a decent living in Canada. Of course, proving that your relationship is genuine is also important.

As a matter of fact, "having a job" in itself is not a requirement in order to sponsor a spouse. Hope this helps.

 

[Foster]

My cousin was in the same situation as you and all she had to do was as everyone else said show that you are trying to get a job because that helps. What my cousin did was basically get everything ready for the application then they sent it in. They then moved back to Canada before her husband got his PR. The more you show the better is what she told me.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

I was living and working in the UK when I sponsored my partner. I didn't have any of the suggested stuff to show that I was moving back to Canada (Canadian job, rental agreement, mortgage, university acceptance). All I had were my letters from family and friends confirming my intent to move back. There is a section that says "Give details of your plans to re-establish yourself in Canada"; as long as you can articulate a plan for when you move back, it's fine.

 

[Steph C]

People make a big deal of it, but I think it's more of an issue for people who weren't originally born in Canada and perhaps did the minimum for Citizenship and don't actually have that many ties here. They're not supposed to discriminate like that but I really think they do.

You don't need a job - just a written plan on how you intend to establish yourself. An idea might be research into school for your kid, a letter from a family member that you will stay with while looking for a place, and a summary of how you intend to support yourselves and get started.

 

[Beehivefive]

To everyone who offered advice on my question: Thank you SO much. You've all put my mind at ease. I will begin collecting as much proof of intent to move back to Canada as I can muster, as I highly doubt I'll be able to find a job while waiting for my wife's PR to be approved. That being said, would you guys recommend I get a lawyer to do the paperwork, or just do it myself?

Thanks a million!

 

[Steph C]

Your case doesn't seem that complicated, I think it's easy enough to do it yourself! We are all here if you have any Q's.

 

[Beehivefive]

Thanks, Steph! (My wife's name is Stephanie, coincidentally.)

I actually have one more query for anyone who might have an answer:

I know my wife is not eligible to work until her PR goes through, but would it be in any way possible for her to get a work permit before the PR approval. I understand that if I have a job that qualifies as "NOC," it might be possible, but unfortunately I do not. HOWEVER, her profession (television producer) actually IS a "NOC" job. If she can prove her credentials as a TV producer for the last ten years, could she get a temp work permit on her own merits? Just trying to find a way for her to start working in her field as soon as we get to Toronto, instead of waiting a year or more! Thanks a million!

 

[laura8388]

How old is she? I believe aged 18-30 she could get an 'open' work permit to work anywhere for up to 12 or 24 months... thats what I originally came here on HOWEVER Im not sure if the rules are different for differnt countries. Might be worth looking into

 

[Beehivefive]

She's just turned 31, so I guess that's not available to us. Good idea, though!

 

[Sweden]

Thanks, Steph! (My wife's name is Stephanie, coincidentally.)

I actually have one more query for anyone who might have an answer:

I know my wife is not eligible to work until her PR goes through, but would it be in any way possible for her to get a work permit before the PR approval. I understand that if I have a job that qualifies as "NOC," it might be possible, but unfortunately I do not. HOWEVER, her profession (television producer) actually IS a "NOC" job. If she can prove her credentials as a TV producer for the last ten years, could she get a temp work permit on her own merits? Just trying to find a way for her to start working in her field as soon as we get to Toronto, instead of waiting a year or more! Thanks a million!

The PR process is separate from the other work permits. So you can start her PR application, and at the same time she can try and get a work permit on her own merits if she qualifies for it.
As she is from the US, also look up "NAFTA", if she qualifies she can get a work permit at the border.
Good luck,
Sweden