Getting permanent residency after marrying a Canadian

[mgallagher]

Hi there,

I came here May 2013 as part of the IEC programme. I am a Irish citizen and recently I got married to a Canadian woman in Ontario.

For the past year I have worked full time with the same company as a software developer.

My desire is to become a permanent resident but I feel rather overwhelmed by all the information; should I have my wife sponsor me even though I currently live in Canada and work full time? Or is there a better application route that I should take?

Thanks in advance.

 

[sbag_in]

Hi there,

I came here May 2013 as part of the IEC programme. I am a Irish citizen and recently I got married to a Canadian woman in Ontario.

For the past year I have worked full time with the same company as a software developer.

My desire is to become a permanent resident but I feel rather overwhelmed by all the information; should I have my wife sponsor me even though I currently live in Canada and work full time? Or is there a better application route that I should take



Thanks in advance.

hi mgallahager....

as an iec you can apply for an inland pr... but as you said you wife is canadian, i guess applying for a sponsored pr is your best option.. sponsorship PR is a sure thing... that i am quite certain of.. if your relationship is genuine (no disrespect meant).. which you must prove in your application to CIC... they will issue you a PR visa..

for your case, as you are living in canada, and i assume, you intend to do so in the foreseeable future, your wife will have to apply for an INLAND APPLICATION.... this will take 1.5 years minimum, going by the current trends.... as you are irish, and had you been staying in ireland, you would have been an outland aplicant.. then it would have taken you 6-7 months in all (london chc is superfast)....

so talk with your coworkers and decide if IEC to PR is a better option for you, or an inland application....

wish you luck,
SAMMY

 

[rhcohen2014]

just to clarify, it is NOT required this poster apply inland. She CAN in fact apply OUTLAND while in canada on a work visa.

For most applicants, this is recommended (especially if they are visa exempt). The one concern for outland applicants living in canada is they would need to go back to their home country IF an interviw was ever requested. Again, for most visa exempt applicants, interviews are mostly waived - especially if the application was straight forward and there was no criminal or dependant issue.

 

[jack87]

hi mgallahager....

as an iec you can apply for an inland pr... but as you said you wife is canadian, i guess applying for a sponsored pr is your best option.. sponsorship PR is a sure thing... that i am quite certain of.. if your relationship is genuine (no disrespect meant).. which you must prove in your application to CIC... they will issue you a PR visa..

for your case, as you are living in canada, and i assume, you intend to do so in the foreseeable future, your wife will have to apply for an INLAND APPLICATION.... this will take 1.5 years minimum, going by the current trends.... as you are irish, and had you been staying in ireland, you would have been an outland aplicant.. then it would have taken you 6-7 months in all (london chc is superfast)....

so talk with your coworkers and decide if IEC to PR is a better option for you, or an inland application....

wish you luck,
SAMMY

Actually, that's not right. You can apply outland even if you are currently in Canada with your spouse - plenty of people have done so without problems. Applying outland just means that the application is processed in a visa office outside Canada (since you're Irish, that would be London). A lot faster than inland, you can travel outside of Canada without jeopardizing your PR application, and you have the chance to appeal if the application is rejected. Senior members can confirm this.

 

[sbag_in]

Actually, that's not right. You can apply outland even if you are currently in Canada with your spouse - plenty of people have done so without problems. Applying outland just means that the application is processed in a visa office outside Canada (since you're Irish, that would be London). A lot faster than inland, you can travel outside of Canada without jeopardizing your PR application, and you have the chance to appeal if the application is rejected. Senior members can confirm this.

I AM SORRY FOR THE CONFUSION... I DO NOT KNOW THE RULES OF EUROPE... IN MY COUNTRY, INDIA, ACTUALLY AFTER A PASSPORT REQUEST FROM THE CANADIAN CHC, YOU HAVE TO GO BACK TO INDIA, TO SUBMIT THE PASSPORT.. INDIAN PASSPORTS CANT CROSS INTL BORDERS WITHOUT THE HOLDER PHYSICALLY HOLDING IT.... SO AFTER A PPR YOU ARE BASICALLY STRANDED IN YOUR HOME COUNTRY(INDIA) AND CAN NOT TRAVEL ANYWHERE.... I ASSUMED IT WAS SAME FOR EUROPE AS WELL....

SORRY FOR MISGUIDING, NOT INTENDED,

SAMMY

 

[rhcohen2014]

I AM SORRY FOR THE CONFUSION... I DO NOT KNOW THE RULES OF EUROPE... IN MY COUNTRY, INDIA, ACTUALLY AFTER A PASSPORT REQUEST FROM THE CANADIAN CHC, YOU HAVE TO GO BACK TO INDIA, TO SUBMIT THE PASSPORT.. INDIAN PASSPORTS CANT CROSS INTL BORDERS WITHOUT THE HOLDER PHYSICALLY HOLDING IT.... SO AFTER A PPR YOU ARE BASICALLY STRANDED IN YOUR HOME COUNTRY(INDIA) AND CAN NOT TRAVEL ANYWHERE.... I ASSUMED IT WAS SAME FOR EUROPE AS WELL....

SORRY FOR MISGUIDING, NOT INTENDED,

SAMMY

Hi, this isn't true. first, for visa exempt applicants, they don't send their PHYSICAL passport, instead a COPY of the passport is requested. Also, this person is already IN canada on a work permit. Applying outland will not force her to give up her passport.

For those in canada requiring visas in their passport, it is possible to stay in canada and receive the PR from an outland visa offic. The visa office will have to send it somewhere within it's own country, which can be a family member who then sends it to the applicant already in canada. That applicant can then go to the us border and "flagpole" to land. While not having a passport limits traveling, it does not prevent someone needing a visa from getting their pr while in canada.

 

[sbag_in]

Hi, this isn't true. first, for visa exempt applicants, they don't send their PHYSICAL passport, instead a COPY of the passport is requested. Also, this person is already IN canada on a work permit. Applying outland will not force her to give up her passport.

For those in canada requiring visas in their passport, it is possible to stay in canada and receive the PR from an outland visa offic. The visa office will have to send it somewhere within it's own country, which can be a family member who then sends it to the applicant already in canada. That applicant can then go to the us border and "flagpole" to land. While not having a passport limits traveling, it does not prevent someone needing a visa from getting their pr while in canada.

I guess you are right.....
may be i should have Known better before commenting.... ??? cheers....

 

[mgallagher]

So what I understand from all of you is that...

1) I can apply for Sponsored PR via:
a) Inland - taking 1.5 years
b) Outland - taking 6-7 months

sbag_in - No disrespect taken; our relationship is genuine

2) Outland applications run the risk of being invited for an interview in my home country (or the London office because I am from Ireland). Which means having to incur the expense of flights, accommodation, etc.

3) I can travel outside of Canada during the application process and not jeopardise PR status.

The follow up questions that I have are:
- Once I submit my PR application can I apply for an Open Permit and if so does it allow me to work while in Canada?
- With regard to PR processing times I came across this tinyurl.com/82p4blb
which states that that it takes up to 5 months to process an application. Can anyone comment on this?

I would like to thank: sbag_in; rhcohen2014 and jack87 for their responses and taking the time to help a stranger.

 

[rhcohen2014]

So what I understand from all of you is that...

1) I can apply for Sponsored PR via:
a) Inland - taking 1.5 years
b) Outland - taking 6-7 months

sbag_in - No disrespect taken; our relationship is genuine

2) Outland applications run the risk of being invited for an interview in my home country (or the London office because I am from Ireland). Which means having to incur the expense of flights, accommodation, etc.

3) I can travel outside of Canada during the application process and not jeopardise PR status.

The follow up questions that I have are:
- Once I submit my PR application can I apply for an Open Permit and if so does it allow me to work while in Canada?
- With regard to PR processing times I came across this tinyurl.com/82p4blb
which states that that it takes up to 5 months to process an application. Can anyone comment on this?

I would like to thank: sbag_in; rhcohen2014 and jack87 for their responses and taking the time to help a stranger.

if you apply OUTLAND it's ok to travel outside of canada, there is no risk to the application. Not true for INLAND, as the risk is being denied entry upon returning. At that point, your application would be cancelled and you'd have to start again.

Only inland applicants are eligible for work permits, not outland applicants. If you are already working legally in canada, then this won't apply to you, unless your current work permit expires during processing. For the most part, it's not recommended to choose inland just to be eligible for a work permit. It takes 11-12 months before it's even processed, and in that time you can potentially have already landed as an outland applicant.

 

[mgallagher]

My mind has melted looking at all the forms and reading all the information which I find confusing and contradictory at times. Where can I go to submit an outland application for sponsored PR?

 

[PMM]

Hi

My mind has melted looking at all the forms and reading all the information which I find confusing and contradictory at times. Where can I go to submit an outland application for sponsored PR?

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

 

[vaida]

My mind has melted looking at all the forms and reading all the information which I find confusing and contradictory at times. Where can I go to submit an outland application for sponsored PR?

I know it looks overwhelming when you see the forms and everything, but once u start filling it out it gets easier to understand what/where/why There's also a step by step guide that helps a lot, and for you I think it shouldn't be a problem to understand stuff as you're from Ireland, lots of ppl with English as a second or third language are able to do it, so no worries. cheers!

 

[canuck_in_uk]

My mind has melted looking at all the forms and reading all the information which I find confusing and contradictory at times. Where can I go to submit an outland application for sponsored PR?

It is a lot but just go through it methodically. Start by reading through BOTH guides and BOTH checklists. The applicant checklist is found under Part 3. Then start going through the forms and collecting your documents. It generally takes several weeks (at least) to actually put together a complete app.

 

[Awesomeg]

I guess you are right.....
may be i should have Known better before commenting.... ??? cheers....

Not a problem... your opinion adds information to the forum....
and you can learn also...
Yes, there are visa exempt countries and they do not need to submit the actual passport,
just a copy...
and I also was not clear if the person is already in Canada had the option of in land and outland application...

 

[Awesomeg]

It is a lot but just go through it methodically. Start by reading through BOTH guides and BOTH checklists. The applicant checklist is found under Part 3. Then start going through the forms and collecting your documents. It generally takes several weeks (at least) to actually put together a complete app.

It is overwhelming the process of application.....
It took us over a month to have all together...
it was very stressful for my spouse and myself....

too much....
and I did not know about the forum... to ask for advise in
my moments of confusion ...
But we did it... and the application passed almost all the hurdles...
and we are close to the end... and now waiting our status to change to "In Process"