Hong Kong processing times - 19 months??!!!

[toby]

I forgot to mention I'll have in the neighborhood of USD 100,000 to take back with me. Will the government try to take some of it in taxes? I also have gold and some diamonds...not sure what they will do about that stuff. Obviously I will transfer the majority of the cash...but I'm worried I'll be taxed...even though that money was earned outside of Canada while I was a non-resident for tax purposes. We get killed in taxes back home...so I really hope the government will let me bring it in without having to give them a cut.

No, that's your capital. No tax on it, but there will be tax on any investment income earned from that $100,000 once you reside in Canada and become a taxpayer again..

Just declare its value plus the value of any other assets you are bringing into Canada at the time you reside in Canada again.

For other assets offshore, establish their value at the time you reside in Canada. That becomes the Cost Base, and when you sell an asset, only profits above its cost base are taxable.

 

[Fencesitter]

Hi Fran,

Thanks for your reply and the information.

The whole idea of 'fraud' blows my mind. To think that people would do such a thing is crazy, but at the same time, makes me proud to be a Canadian; Canada must have a great reputation if people would go to such lengths to obtain permanent residency. For me, though, my marriage is totally legit. We have a son. We have two awesome schnauzers! We've been together for years. We're happily married. All we want is to make a move to Canada and live out our years in a free country. That's basically what it boils down to...although our life in China has been really great. No complaints...we're just thinking of our son's future...and Canada seems a better place to start a family.

My wife and I will complete all the applications either today or in the next couple of days. If I have any questions pertaining to the various questions on the applications, I will post back...or just do a search of this forum to try and find the solutions.

Have a great weekend! One week off for me...one of the things I will miss about life in China - public holidays are awesome here!!!!

;D

 

[FranFran]

Hi Fran,

Thanks for your reply and the information.

The whole idea of 'fraud' blows my mind. To think that people would do such a thing is crazy, but at the same time, makes me proud to be a Canadian; Canada must have a great reputation if people would go to such lengths to obtain permanent residency. <- I've heard that marriage fraud is a big problem for applications from Southern China, especially those from Fujian and Guangdong, that's why if selection interviews are needed, it can take nearly 19 cases for approval For me, though, my marriage is totally legit. We have a son. We have two awesome schnauzers! We've been together for years. We're happily married. All we want is to make a move to Canada and live out our years in a free country. That's basically what it boils down to...although our life in China has been really great. No complaints...we're just thinking of our son's future...and Canada seems a better place to start a family.
<- Totally agree that Canada should be a better place to start a family. That's why I chose to move to Vancouver instead having my husband resettling in Hong Kong. I understand though that China and Hong Kong seem to be better places for career-oriented persons.
My wife and I will complete all the applications either today or in the next couple of days. If I have any questions pertaining to the various questions on the applications, I will post back...or just do a search of this forum to try and find the solutions. Do drop your questions here or in my inbox. One gentle reminder, your wife will be needed to hand in 6 immigrant photos. Remember not to write at the back of photos. I did and was asked to resend the photos in August!

Have a great weekend! One week off for me...one of the things I will miss about life in China - public holidays are awesome here!!!!<-Enjoy your holidays - it happens that the one-day National Holiday in Hong Kong this year is on Saturday! :'(

;D

 

[steaky]

<-Enjoy your holidays - it happens that the one-day National Holiday in Hong Kong this year is on Saturday! Cry[/color]

Well, you still have a public holiday on the following wednesday!

 

[steaky]

No, that's your capital. No tax on it, but there will be tax on any investment income earned from that $100,000 once you reside in Canada and become a taxpayer again..

Just declare its value plus the value of any other assets you are bringing into Canada at the time you reside in Canada again.

For other assets offshore, establish their value at the time you reside in Canada. That becomes the Cost Base, and when you sell an asset, only profits above its cost base are taxable.

No, there are no taxes on currency gains investment. If you are selling your offshore assets (e.g. stocks and real estate) at a loss, you can use that to offset any future gains.

I have used two companies for handling my shipping from China to Vancouver. One full container and the other charge by cubic metre. I will try to find the pricing.

 

[Fencesitter]

^ Cheers!

Just going over the supporting documents I will include with all applications. There's a ton of stuff, from rental contracts, airfare, hotels, videos, pictures, e-mails, letters from friends and family stating our relationship is genuine, and some other stuff. If immigration Canada doesn't believe our marriage is real, well, I don't know what else to do to prove it to them.

I think we'll end up shipping some of our stuff and selling the rest. We'll check to see how much to purchase new and then plan our budget. I will definitely ship my exercise bike, performance rims for my car, possibly our bed and sofa, and a few other smaller items. I hope to keep the cost for shipping under USD 2,000.

Anyway, time to fill in all the applications. One thing I don't know about is where does my wife need to go to get the police clearance? Any old police station? We're in Guangzhou.

Should my wife also do the medical now or wait? This is what I understand when submitting documents:

1. Part 1
2. Part 2
3. Part 3 (not sure if the medical needs to be done and sent in with all other documents???)
4. Supporting documents
5. Payment
6. Wait a couple of months until we hear back from immigration
7. Possible interview
8. More waiting
9. Send any additional documents that immigration asks for...
10. Get visa!!!
11. Leave China!
12. Hello Canada!!
13. Pay a boatload of taxes!
14. Enjoy the rest of our lives!

 

[FranFran]

Hi

To obtain the police certificate, please visit: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/security/police-cert/index.asp
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/security/police-cert/asia-pacific/china.asp

 

[FranFran]

I don't know when your wife needs to hand in the medical results. May be you can drop a call to the offices of Designated Medical Practitioners in Guangdong.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/dmp-md/medicalinfo.aspx?CountryID=1992&CountryName=China,%20People's%20Republic%20of

Anybody here have ideas on this?

 

[Fencesitter]

Hi all,

I have a question regarding form IMM5409 (Statutory Declaration of Common-law Union). My wife and I got married in Guangzhou, China. We went to the Canadian consulate and I filled out a form and the consular signed it (non-impediment). We got married in Guangzhou (we have the marriage certificates in Chinese). Do I need to have these officially translated prior to filling out the IMM5409 form (or other immigration forms)? Is our marriage considered a 'common-law union' as outlined in the IMM 5409 form? I am confused and do not know how to proceed. Any help or information would be greatly appreciated!

By the way, my wife is not a co-signer, and in the guide it states "This form must be completed and signed by the sponsor and common-law partner, only if the latter is a co-signer on the application." So if I am only sponsoring my wife, and she is not a co-signer, do I still fill out IMM 5409?? Based on the quote above, I assume I do not fill this form out...right??

Thanks!
Fencesitter

 

[Fencesitter]

I am also confused about IMM 5491 number 18. Are they asking for a letter from my current employer OUTSIDE of Canada? Or is this only for employment INSIDE Canada? The Option C printout should arrive in a week or two, but it won't show much since the latest entry is from 1997. All other income was earned outside of Canada since that time because I have been living abroad for more than 10 years. So at this point I have no idea what I am supposed to do for number 18. I don't want to get a letter from my current employer because they will think I am getting ready to leave them high and dry (which is not the case). I plan on leaving in 2013 and I will follow the contract (I'm not going to leave them without notice!!).

If anyone could clarify...

 

[steaky]

Hey Fen,

Don't bother about IMM 5409 because you and your wife are married. You do need to take your marriage certicate to the local notary office both for authenticate and translation. You do not have a cosigner.



Steaky

 

[Fencesitter]

^ Thanks.

Do you know anything about IMM 5491 number 18?

 

[swervetech69]

Let me get this straight guys, hong Kong also deals with mainland applications from southern China i guess? Is this why the process takes so long? My wife is Taiwanese and doesnt require an interview and apparently goes through the same process as someone from Hong Kong. Will it be faster for Taiwanese and HK residents than mainland? I would certanly think that makes sence. I will go back to Canada and apply to speed things up.

 

[steaky]

Let me get this straight guys, hong Kong also deals with mainland applications from southern China i guess? Is this why the process takes so long? My wife is Taiwanese and doesnt require an interview and apparently goes through the same process as someone from Hong Kong. Will it be faster for Taiwanese and HK residents than mainland? I would certanly think that makes sence. I will go back to Canada and apply to speed things up.

If you go back to Canada to process "outland", it's the same because application in your case would initially goes to CPC Mississauga and then to HK visa office. Alternatively, you and your taiwanese wife (using her taiwanese passport) can go to Canada to start the "inland" processing. Read this for more info:

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/spousal-sponsorship-t46995.0.html

 

[swervetech69]

Steaky any idea about my question about mainland residents going through the HK office. I wont bring my wife with me because she wont be ble to work in Canada. I preffer o apply seperatly, also because i her the process will be faster that way