CSQ & CIC Paperwork / CBSA holding passport

[pennyverap]

If we decide that both of us will go to Mexico, I would apply for a FM3 which is a long-term non-immigrant visa, I could also apply for a FM2 which is an Immigrant Visa which is renewable every year I believe and gives me the right to eventually apply for Mexican citizenship. I could get a work permit added to my Visa but I would need to find employment first and have the employer write a letter stating that a Mexican citizen would not meet the requirements (so basically I would probably have to teach English and/or French).
I could go to Mexico as a tourist and then apply or I could apply at the Montreal Consulate which would probably be the case.
Going to Mexico would mean giving up a lot and could also be dangerous for my husband... so we're weighing the pros and cons. If we were to relocate I think we would want to stay there at least a year, start off in his home town and then go to a resort city. He has a BA in tourism, speaks 3 languages fluently and has many contacts at various hotels, so hopefully he could find a job, we don't want to spend all our savings.
I would stay here at the start and then go to Mexico, while here I would take a course for a teaching certificate.

I spoke to the CBSA Immigration Advisor yesterday to let her know that the Mexican Consulate was sending her my husband's renewed passport today. She confirmed that she contacted Vegreville so they expedite our sponsorship, said she would send the the certified copy of his passport on our behalf and said she would contact them again once she has the passport in hand.
I am extremely thankful that we got such a nice CBSA Immigration Advisor, she gave me all her contact information, told us to call her anytime and promised she would do what she could to help us out.

 

[NBaker]

Just as hoped, all thought out and checked into.

Would be something, wouldn't it, if you were to go to Mexico and it worked out well for a time. Quite an adventure.

Encouraging to hear that there was a good experience with the CBSA. Often the reports are less positive.

 

[pennyverap]

Sooooo... we got a letter from the CIC today stating...

"This letter refers to your application for permanent residence under the spouse or common-law partner in Canada Class.
It has been determined that you meet the eligibility requirements to apply for permanent resident as a member of the spouse or common-law partner in Canada class. However a final decision will not be made until all remaining requirements for becoming a permanent resident have been met. These requirements include medical etc etc"


Sooooooo, I'm guessing I have been approved as his sponsor!!!
I just sent an email to our immigration advisor to let her know so she could put a hold on his departure
Though to be honest, I will not sleep well until she confirms this for me!

We sent the medicals in last week, along with a copy of his new passport so now all that's left is his police certificates. We're getting one this week and the other the Mexican Embassy sends directly to our CPC.

I'm hoping things go smoothly from here... this has been sooooo stressful... Thank you NBaker for all your help and advice
I'm sure I'll be back asking more questions soon!

 

[MARLENE2]

Hello .. I would like to know how it ended, my husband entered to Canada as a refugee and they hold his passport I met the requeriments to be his sponsor and they are asking for a valid passport his already expire, but mexican consulate ask for the original and now say I have to ask them to send it to them?? I dont know who I have to ask or where to send a letter or whattt !

 

[pennyverap]

Hi Marlene,

You can go to your local CIC office and ask the person at the front desk for a form that you can fill out to make different requests.
On that form, explain how he needs to renew his passport and that you would like to request a meeting to get all his paperwork filled out.
IF CBSA is holding his passport, they should contact you to make an appointment for your husband to fill out all the needed paperwork to renew his passport. They will send everything to the Mexican Consulate and your husband will need to go there to finish everything.
Once the passport is ready the Consulate will send the passport to CIC/CBSA office and the advisor you met should contact your husband to let him know they have his passport and they should give him certified copies.
That's how it worked with us.

Are you in Montreal? If you are, go to 1010 St Antoine Ouest to get the form. Oh and make sure to staple a copy of the letter from Immigration Canada stating they need a valid passport for your husband to the form...

Hopefully I was able to answer your question
Let me know if you need any other info on that. I know how stressful it can be!!! Good luck!

 

[PMM]

Hi

Hi Marlene,

You can go to your local CIC office and ask the person at the front desk for a form that you can fill out to make different requests.
On that form, explain how he needs to renew his passport and that you would like to request a meeting to get all his paperwork filled out.
IF CBSA is holding his passport, they should contact you to make an appointment for your husband to fill out all the needed paperwork to renew his passport. They will send everything to the Mexican Consulate and your husband will need to go there to finish everything.
Once the passport is ready the Consulate will send the passport to CIC/CBSA office and the advisor you met should contact your husband to let him know they have his passport and they should give him certified copies.
That's how it worked with us.

Are you in Montreal? If you are, go to 1010 St Antoine Ouest to get the form. Oh and make sure to staple a copy of the letter from Immigration Canada stating they need a valid passport for your husband to the form...

Hopefully I was able to answer your question
Let me know if you need any other info on that. I know how stressful it can be!!! Good luck!

1. It is going to be difficult to "walk-in" to your local CIC as none have walkin front counter service any more. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/manuals/bulletins/2012/ob431.asp
2. Will have to make an appointment via Call Centre for any assistance.

 

[pennyverap]

At the 1010 St Antoine office, you can walk in and speak with a security officer that has various forms that can be filled out and dropped off, we last went in July and August... There isn't any advisor you can actually speak with but the form we needed was available from him...
But with all the changes they have been making, maybe the security guard isn't there anymore
As PMM stated, might be a good idea to call first to make sure...
I can only speak from my experience, I am no expert...still learning!
Thanks for the heads up PMM

 

[stayalive88]

Hey pennyverap me and my wife are have the same problem with immigration holding her passport and her having to renew her passport for the sponsorship application can you give me some advice in what to do we have a family together and i am stressed out in what we have to do.If u can help me if u can help me that would be great.

 

[pennyverap]

Hey pennyverap me and my wife are have the same problem with immigration holding her passport and her having to renew her passport for the sponsorship application can you give me some advice in what to do we have a family together and i am stressed out in what we have to do.If u can help me if u can help me that would be great.

Hey Stayalive88,

Well the CBSA won't release the passport until the refugee case has been closed. You need to make an appointment with them so your wife can fill out all the necessary paperwork to renew her passport. They will send it to the consulate where she would go to finish the renewal process. The consulate will then return the passport to CBSA.
My husband only got his passport after our sponsorship was accepted and the refugee case was closed.

Has your wife started the renewal process? If she did, she should ask the person who helped her at CBSA to make her a couple of certified copies.

Do you need any other info? I hope I helped a little bit!

 

[Kelon]

Hello all,
I really need help. mI applied under the common law spouse in Canada and we submitted our application February 24th 2012. We received a refusal letter that we did not cohabit for 1yr before the application. Meanwhile, I have a pending PRRA and H&C application. CBSA letter came advising me that a decision have been made to come in their office next week Wednesday. The issue here is we strongly believe there is an error in the sponsorship refusal. I lived alone in a small apartment since 2008 and my partner only moved in with me in dec of 2010. We decided to look for a bigger apartment and didn't see any need to add his name on the existing lease. We finally moved in September of 2011 and we both signed the lease. Our Tax declaration for 2010 shows our marital status as living common law. We both signed statutory declaration of common law relationship.
My question is, will CBSA officer consider the fact that an appeal has been made and not issue a deportation date?
Any advice will be highly appreciated.
Thank you all in advance.

 

[pennyverap]

Hello all,
I really need help. mI applied under the common law spouse in Canada and we submitted our application February 24th 2012. We received a refusal letter that we did not cohabit for 1yr before the application. Meanwhile, I have a pending PRRA and H&C application. CBSA letter came advising me that a decision have been made to come in their office next week Wednesday. The issue here is we strongly believe there is an error in the sponsorship refusal. I lived alone in a small apartment since 2008 and my partner only moved in with me in dec of 2010. We decided to look for a bigger apartment and didn't see any need to add his name on the existing lease. We finally moved in September of 2011 and we both signed the lease. Our Tax declaration for 2010 shows our marital status as living common law. We both signed statutory declaration of common law relationship.
My question is, will CBSA officer consider the fact that an appeal has been made and not issue a deportation date?
Any advice will be highly appreciated.
Thank you all in advance.

Hi Kelon,

I'm not much of an expert, all I know is really what I was told during our process. When my husband was informed that his PRRA was refused, we were told the only way to put a stay on his deportation was if we had AIP, even though we had started the sponsorship process before he even received his PRRA.
So, I would guess that unfortunately they will go forward with everything but I would suggest calling CIC. When you go meet with CBSA bring all your paperwork and explain the situation...

Good luck with everything, I sincerely hope it works out!

 

[Kelon]

Hi Kelon,

I'm not much of an expert, all I know is really what I was told during our process. When my husband was informed that his PRRA was refused, we were told the only way to put a stay on his deportation was if we had AIP, even though we had started the sponsorship process before he even received his PRRA.
So, I would guess that unfortunately they will go forward with everything but I would suggest calling CIC. When you go meet with CBSA bring all your paperwork and explain the situation...

Good luck with everything, I sincerely hope it works out!

Thank you very much. But when is AIP? Is it a written letter? We are in Quebec. We received Quebec acceptance already.

 

[pennyverap]

Thank you very much. But when is AIP? Is it a written letter? We are in Quebec. We received Quebec acceptance already.

AIP is approval in principle, it's not the same as the certificat de selection du Quebec. (I'm in Quebec as well and the CSQ basically means Quebec approves of the sponsorship, Quebec is the only province from what I know that has any immigration power)
AIP means that the sponsorship has been approved by Citizenship and Immigration Canada. You get the letter in the mail.
I would also suggest maybe getting in touch with a lawyer, my husband and I decided to hire a lawyer because of the fact that the case is always harder when a refused refugee is involved.