I Got my Visa Through a CSQ

[woamenon01]

Hello

After a two-year roller-coaster, I finally got my immigration visa for Canada. I first applied for a CSQ and was pushed around for some time. Then, I finally got it and applied for the visa thousands of miles away from my country of residence. I actually live in the USA but had to apply somewhere in Africa. I got the visa a few days ago and do not have time left.

My question is: Can I choose any other Province instead of Quebec? Can I enter Canada at any port of entry or should I first go through Quebec?

I have the possibility of driving to the border, but I would like to know whether I may encounter problems.

Thank you for your help and good luck for those still in line!

 

[Mike_MRK]

first of all congratulations
second of all if you can post and share your timelines with us..

and regarding that, yes you can drive directly to Canada if you're nearby, there will be not problem at all since are your papers are legal and you are ready with the required papers as funds declaration, etc..

regarding landing in Quebec, as you have a CSQ, then you need to land in Quebec, and you need to have a permanent address there for any correspondence, as for the CSQ holders they must have a permanent address for all the legal papers, etc..

Good Luck and God be with you dude..

 

[zygurn]

Hi,

From what I understand, you can "land" anywhere in Canada but since you -have- a CSQ, you must also clear yourself with MICC whose offices are only withing Quebec. If you land in Pierre Trudeau for instance, you go to CIC office and then MICC (someone explained me this was the procedure). If you land at Pearson, you do your "landing" there but you finish your procedure in any MICC office within Quebec. If you plan to land outside Quebec, you must be able to convince the immigration officer of your intent to stay in Quebec to complete your landing, when asked about an address to send your PR card, it must be within Quebec, it cannot be sent anywhere else but within Quebec. If it's a friend's address, the officer might not accept it, if he doesn't, he will ask you to submit an address to CIC within 180 days (within Quebec). Once you have landed, you can live anywhere in Canada, there's no restriction of movement just cause of the fact you have a CSQ; but you also must remember you signed a Declaration of Intent to Reside in Quebec and while this won't restrict you (you won't get in trouble) it may be brought up if you plan to obtain Canadian Citizenship.

 

[woamenon01]

Thank you guys!

I started my process back in December 2007. Before that, I made a lot of readings and talked to various people in Canada that I have known for a long time. It turned out the federal process is much longer and more complicated. Quebec was much quicker and I knew some people in the US who did that and got a visa within six months. That is what I thought would happen to me. But I came across difficult times.

Instead of being treated in Montreal, my application was forwarded to Paris after different exchanges of correspondence that lasted almost 8 months. Paris, because I am a native of a French-speaking African country and the Quebec Immigration Office in Paris oversaw my country. Then, things sped up quickly. I got my CSQ with their second correspondence with instructions to get send my federal application to a Canadian High Commission in an African country. So I did and eleven months later, I received my visa after lots of troubled nights.

I do intend to live in Quebec but it is easier for me to enter Canada at another port of entry. I guess I am going to have to be as convincing as I can.

Thank you!

 

[charninder]

Hi woamenon01,

Congrats for your CSQ Visa. Can you share your timeline with us and can you give me the link for applying through CSQ/

Thanks.