Couple of Questions about PR application

[waitinginNZ]

Hi there.
I have a couple of questions that I am hoping some of the knowledgeable people on this forum may be able to help with.
Firstly a bit about our application; My wife is a Canadian citizen, I am a UK citizen. We applied outland, and are currently being processed in London atm.
We decided wile we are waiting to head to New Zealand on a one year working visa. Now I have become concerned that we may be inadmissible as my wife is not currently residing in Canada. Will they accept that this is just a temporary thing whilst we wait?
Secondly, under what circumstances are interviews normally requested. We had a very small wedding ceremony, no family and only a few friends present, and we dind't take any pictures.
Accordingly our proof of relationship has a handful of pictures from time we've spent together and our extensive phone records and skype logs, and just a couple of emails sent between us.
Are there any general 'rule of thumbs' regarding when an interview will be requested.

As for the timeline, app received late march, SA early may, in process nov 3rd. I am worried that it has been in process for 11 days now and I see numerous people on the forum get DM very quickly after in process.
I really don't want the expense of having to go from NZ to London on short notice for an interview.

Any insight or thoughts would be much appreciated. This website has been an invaluable resource for us in this application process. Thanks again.

 

[taffy7]

You're wife is a Canadian Citizen so she can be out of the country ,no worries there. As for an interview not many Citizens from the U.K ever get requested.Now i'm not saying none but very good chance you won't be required to have one. As for small wedding , it is not out of custom for us Brits to have small wedding. It would have been better if you had photo's . As for your one year working visa , Cic will give you a date when you must enter Canada by .Many more experience forum member will give you more info .

 

[waitinginNZ]

Thanks for the input.
Sometimes this website is a bit of a curse reading posts from those people who have submitted huge photo libraries and loads of notarised letters from family members etc. My proof of relationship, in comparison, seems a bit scant!
I keep updating them as we travel around hoping that they will see this as additional proof of the continuing relationship.

Also, does anyone have a rough idea of averages for in process to DM?

 

[taffy7]

I know the feeling i am still collecting ,just in case they ask for more .In progress vary .Have a look on the London spreadsheet . Snooks has done a really good job . Even myself who is useless on computers can understand it .

 

[sam_1985]

Thanks for the input.
Sometimes this website is a bit of a curse reading posts from those people who have submitted huge photo libraries and loads of notarised letters from family members etc. My proof of relationship, in comparison, seems a bit scant!
I keep updating them as we travel around hoping that they will see this as additional proof of the continuing relationship.

Also, does anyone have a rough idea of averages for in process to DM?

I think it's fine; I would say you are close to getting approved; just make sure that when you do the landing in Canada, your partner is with you as you don't want them to have the impression that you are not intending to live in Canada after becoming PR. I read on this forum about one person being denied at the port of entry with a COPR because from what I understood the partner sponsoring was still studying in the US and the applicant stated that it seems; bottom line is that you need to ensure you demonstrate you are going to live in Canada and best way to do so is to land with your spouse! As for the interview, I would also think it's rare for Brits; am on the same boat... My wife is a UK citizen and I am the Sponsor and we also had a very small wedding wih no family from my side but some from hers! All the best and fingers crossed!

 

[waitinginNZ]

Mate, funny you should mention that thread as it is the exact one that got me worried!
Also, having looked around the forums I see that 'in process' timeframe can take a fair while for some people.
I was debating ordering my GCMS notes, but I don't want to piss these guys off. They have a big, complicated workload. I want to seem interested and active, but not pushy.
As for the interview, I guess I am low risk, white English and all that, but it's the cost of a return ticket on short notice from NZ that scares me!

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Mate, funny you should mention that thread as it is the exact one that got me worried!
Also, having looked around the forums I see that 'in process' timeframe can take a fair while for some people.
I was debating ordering my GCMS notes, but I don't want to piss these guys off. They have a big, complicated workload. I want to seem interested and active, but not pushy.
As for the interview, I guess I am low risk, white English and all that, but it's the cost of a return ticket on short notice from NZ that scares me!

You are nearly done the process, so moving to NZ for a year at this point is a risk. As per that other post, CBSA can and will refuse to land you if they realize you and your partner don't intend to take up residence in Canada immediately, even though your stay in NZ would be temporary. In your position, I would really hold off on heading to NZ. And if you haven't yet applied, then wait, as even the NZ visa in your passports would be enough to cause CBSA suspicions that you don't intend to settle in Canada. Wait for PR approval and go to Canada with your wife to land first. Then think about going to NZ.

Assuming you have no red flags (massive age difference, married right after meeting each other, criminal record, etc.), you won't be called for an interview. The chances are so low, it really shouldn't factor into any decisions that you make.

Also, ordering electronic GCMS notes doesn't affect your app in any way.

 

[waitinginNZ]

Well, we already are in New Zealand so not much can be done about that. I have a standing job offer in Canada, so I don't think we will have any trouble proving our intent to stay there, particularly as we will both be flying into Canada after we have finished this working holiday.
Must admit I am a little nervous now as I got in touch with CIC to let them know we would be in New Zealand for a while.
I figured it would help our application to show that we would rather be waiting together in New Zealand than waiting apart in our respective countries.
The NZ visa is only a stamp in the passport, not even a paper slip, so should be OK on that front.
Also, we wanted to do the NZ trip now as we are aware I will have limitations on how long I can be out of Canada once I get PR.

Thanks for the input!

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Also, we wanted to do the NZ trip now as we are aware I will have limitations on how long I can be out of Canada once I get PR.

Not really. As long as you are with your partner, any days spent outside of Canada will count towards the PR Residency Obligation.

 

[waitinginNZ]

Did this change when the rules changed back in late 2012?

I really hope my sending a case specific enquiry about us being in New Zealand hasn't hindered my application.

 

[MilesAway]

If you sent them an enquiry stating that you planned on being in New Zealand for a year, then you might have problems.

The rule has been that days spent outside Canada with your Canadian citizen spouse counted towards your days for PR, but not towards citizenship. This has not chaged.

 

[waitinginNZ]

I just said we were currently in NZ on a working holiday. Should I follow up and clarify that this is just until the PR application goes through?

 

[little_apple]

Yes, I would. And tell them where you want the COPR to be mailed to. Sometimes they send it to the wrong address. It must be an address where someone can sign for your COPR. Mine came by registered mail to the wrong address and I caught it last minute at the post office!

Your COPR might only be valid for a few weeks, depending on your medical exam. So be aware that you might have to land in Canada pretty fast.

 

[waitinginNZ]

My medicals are up in February, I have sent them updates as we travel giving them the correct postal address to use.

Thanks for your input everyone. Nice to know there's others playing the waiting game too.