confused.....

[s_elle]

I am a 23 year old canadian citizen. My boyfriend of 2 years (american citizen) and I have been talking about getting married. We have already decided that he would relocate here. I am just so confused about the whole process.
1 - would we have to wait to apply until we were married?? We cannot apply as common law bc we have not lived together, and the only reason we have not lived together is bc of money and work.
2 - once we apply can he live in canada? Does he have to wait until the appl. is approved to relocate?
3 - while waiting for the appl to be approved can he obtain employment here?
4 - he has a child that is a canadian citizen. will this help?
5 - (stupid question) - if he were to get a temp. visa and live with me for for 1 year, could we then apply as common law? what are the restrictions on a temporary visa?
6 - What is the appoximate cost of all of this??

I don't even know where to begin.....

 

[PMM]

Hi

I am a 23 year old canadian citizen. My boyfriend of 2 years (american citizen) and I have been talking about getting married. We have already decided that he would relocate here. I am just so confused about the whole process.
1 - would we have to wait to apply until we were married?? We cannot apply as common law bc we have not lived together, and the only reason we have not lived together is bc of money and work.
2 - once we apply can he live in canada? Does he have to wait until the appl. is approved to relocate?
3 - while waiting for the appl to be approved can he obtain employment here?
4 - he has a child that is a canadian citizen. will this help?
5 - (stupid question) - if he were to get a temp. visa and live with me for for 1 year, could we then apply as common law? what are the restrictions on a temporary visa?
6 - What is the appoximate cost of all of this??

I don't even know where to begin.....

1. Start at www.cic.gc.ca
2. You can't apply until to sponsor until you are married or c/law relationship for 1 year.
3. He could live in Canada if he was admitted as a visitor, but would be unable to work. If you were married and he was in Canada, you could submit an in-canada spousal application, but he would not be able to work until you recieved AIP (Approval in Principle) about 7/8 months into the process.
4. It probably would be faster to have the application processed through Buffalo as an out of Canada sponsorship.
5. The child does not help.
6. If he was admitted as a visitor for a year, so you could apply as c/law, he would be unable to work or attend school.
7. Application $550.00, RPRF $975.00, Cost of medical & xray, cost of getting US criminal records check $18.00 US from FBI, plus pictures.

PMM

 

[Mariac819]

PMM Answered beautifully.

I am a US citizen, my husband is a Canadian Citizen. We just applied for Spousal sponsorship.

We are applying outland because it is faster than inland and I will NOT be able to work until I am approved.

Having a Canadian child does not help or speed up the process unless they are over 18 and can sponsor him as a parent which takes even LONGER than inland spouse.

US citizens are processed in the Ottawa Visa Office which has been moving at a decent pace for outland applicants.

We payed $1500 in total everything.

The Guide is pretty straight forward and has all the information you need. You can get it at the link PMM posted.

 

[beholder69]

Well yeah, but the OP asked that in 2006, so I'll take a wild guess they're both either in Canada already by now or the US if they changed their minds ;D

 

[Mariac819]

Well yeah, but the OP asked that in 2006, so I'll take a wild guess they're both either in Canada already by now or the US if they changed their minds ;D

Good catch! .lol