I need some guidance....

[emily3859]

I really have no idea what to do. I am an American citizen (age 20, will be 21 December 7th, 2014) who got married to a Canadian citizen (age 28) on October 30th, 2014. I just came up here to stay with him, and now we'd like to submit an application for PR. I heard that outland is faster, so we will probably go that route. Here are my questions:
1. The officer at the border was very rude to me and said that I need to know exactly what I was doing before I came up here and said I can only stay until January 27th, 2015. What do I do with that? If I submit my application will that trump what she said?
2. It said that the FBI and police check can take 16-18 weeks. Do I have to wait for that to submit my application or can I put my application in and send it later?
3. It said to select Los Angeles or New York for an interview. I can't go that far for an interview! Are there closer locations?
4. Where can I get the complete application? I've tried updating my Adobe reader about 100 times but it still won't open the forms correctly. Could someone email them to me? enreynolds2 @ gmail.com
5. How long do you think the whole application will take?
6. Will I be forced to leave Canada with an outland application? I really have nothing to go back to...
7. My husband said he may be able to put me on his work insurance. Is that true even though I'm an American citizen?
8. Judging from below do we have enough proof of relationship? What else should we add to this?

Here is our "timeline" of our relationship.

We met online about 2 years ago on a game called World of Warcraft. We were always good friends on there doing things together and what not, just playing the game. We were always seeing other people so we never decided to look at each other romantically. I got out of a relationship in July of 2014 and that's when we started talking romantically. We clicked right away and just knew we were "meant to be" (so cheesy I know) so I applied for my passport to come visit. I got my passport and came 2 days later. I stayed for about 20 days. (August 3rd 2014 - August 22nd 2014). Then I came back September 10th-18th 2014, October 9th-15th 2014 and October 26th-November 6th 2014. We got married on my last trip up here on October 30, 2014. When I was up here September 10th-18th is when he proposed and I said yes, we do not have pics of that as it was private at home as a surprise. With our marriage ceremony I have pictures of us together, 1 kissing, 1 him putting a ring on my finger and a few more. My family could not attend as they did not have passports. They got their passport and met my husband on November 28th, 2014 and I have pictures of him with my mom and with my dad. He is not in contact with his family so there are no pictures of me with family. For evidence I have the marriage ceremony pictures, Skype logs showing hours and hours of calls, no phone records because long distance was expensive with our plans but I can get text records (I think). I have a few pictures of us just sitting together (I took them.) That's really all that we have. I was thinking of having my mother and father write a letter saying that we met online around June 2012 time and met in person and started dating around this August 2014 then got married in October 2014. Also have them put in that they could not attend because of not having a passport. His roomate can also write a letter and vouch that it is genuine because he sees me here all the time... It is public on our Facebooks with congratulations from Facebook friends and my mother posted a picture of my husband and I on the day we were married...

Please help. I really do not know what to do. I am sitting here in tears at the though of having to go back to USA and leave him in Canada. Please give me a step by step instruction on what to do... I am so lost.

 

[Ponga]

Ok...calm down! You're actually one of the lucky ones that will probably make it through the ENTIRE PR PROCESS in less than 6 months!

Since you are an American, you should absolutely submit an Outland application, which you can do while you are actually IN Canada. You would then apply to extend your visitor status (online) stating that you just applied for spousal sponsorship (be sure to include a copy of your receipt) and ask for a 1 year extension. In reality, you won't need a full year, so if you're given less time, you'd still be ok.

Most American's, with a straightforward application, are seeing PR in less than 6 months!

I'll quickly answer your questions, as best I can (running out the door though):

1. In essence...yes. If you apply to extend your visitor status, you can remain in Canada until you receive a decision. Since your request is very common, I doubt you'll have any problems with the request (though nothing is ever guaranteed).

2. You can send the application now, but make sure you include a note alerting CIC that you have requested the FBI PCC and that you will forward it to them upon receipt. It's not the most ideal way to go, but they do seem to be somewhat sympathetic to this.

3. If, for whatever reason, your application is NOT processed in Ottawa (like most Americans), and your file IS sent to NY or LA, you would need to travel there if there is an interview. Again, if you have no `red flags', this should be a moot point.

4. You can download a free trial (30 days) of Adobe Acrobat, or try using a program called Foxit: http://www.foxitsoftware.com/Secure_PDF_Reader/

5. No idea. It depends on how quickly you can navigate through everything and how much you already have gathered, in the way of supplemental documents that you need (such as your birth certificate, marriage cert, your husbands CRA Option C document, your proof of relationship, etc.). I think a couple weeks minimum would be a good `guess'.

6. Only if you visitor extension is denied.

7. Maybe, if you are in Alberta, since they allow visitors to receive health care. The requirements vary between provinces, but most people cannot get insurance that soon.

8. Sorry, didn't have the time to read through what you have.

Good luck!

 

[Kayaker]

3. If, for whatever reason, your application is NOT processed in Ottawa (like most Americans), and your file IS sent to NY or LA, you would need to travel there if there is an interview. Again, if you have no `red flags', this should be a moot point.

4. You can download a free trial (30 days) of Adobe Acrobat, or try using a program called Foxit: http://www.foxitsoftware.com/Secure_PDF_Reader/

5. No idea. It depends on how quickly you can navigate through everything and how much you already have gathered, in the way of supplemental documents that you need (such as your birth certificate, marriage cert, your husbands CRA Option C document, your proof of relationship, etc.). I think a couple weeks minimum would be a good `guess'.

6. Only if you visitor extension is denied.

7. Maybe, if you are in Alberta, since they allow visitors to receive health care. The requirements vary between provinces, but most people cannot get insurance that soon.

8. Sorry, didn't have the time to read through what you have.

Good luck!
[/quote]

To add to what Ponga said:

3. NY no longer processes family sponsorship. "Problem cases" are sent to LA, and some of them require an interview. If you think your application is going to be one of the worst ones CIC receives, if your application screams "immigration fraud!!!" then yes, you would probably be required to attend an interview in LA. In other words, unless you have major problems such as criminal convictions, you won't have an interview. (Non-problematic cases are sent to Ottawa to be processed, and it is theoretically possible that they may require an interview. But I personally haven't heard of anyone who had an interview in Ottawa. Some visa offices require interviews more than others. Ottawa is one of the ones that don't.)

4. Instead of trying to open the link by clicking on it, try right click and "download and save". Then open the file saved on your computer. That worked for me.

6. No, you can stay in Canada while your Outland application processes. You can provide your current Canadian address. Just make sure you extend your visitor status before it expires (usually 6 months from entry).

7. Work insurance usually covers what provincial healthcare does not. (Such as corrective eyewear, etc.) So it operates on the assumption that you have provincial healthcare. If you can get provincial healthcare or not depends on the province. If you let us know which province you live in, we might be able to tell you.

8. Photos are some of the best evidence. Take more pics, some with mutual friends, or his friends, colleagues, whatever.
We sent in tons of proof, such as facebook chat logs (only excerpts) Skype logs, facetime logs, hundreds of pages of copied love letters sent by snail mail, excerpts from what'sapp, etc. When we were approved, we got back our relationship proof. Most of the call logs and chat stuff, whatever was text-based, looked untouched. The photos looked ruffled a bit, and had lost its clip. Also, facebook screenshots showing photos, us checking in together, our engagement announcement (with comments from everybody) and wedding pics (again with congratulations from everybody) did look like it had been looked through. We also had everyone who had met our significant other (my parents, his family, friends of his, friends of mine) write a testimonial letter. They were not notarized. We also sent copies of passport stamps, boarding passes, hotel receipts etc.
Probably, one of the most important things you can do is to sit down and write a personal statement about your relationship. Don't write "it just happened" and leave it at that because CIC is not going to take your word for it. Show your thought process, what made you see each other as life partners, what convinced you to trust each other, why you decided to base your future in Canada, why certain things did not happen (such as why there was no family at the wedding), what plans you have for the future, etc. Show your reasoning behind each decision you guys made. My husband wrote 2 or 3 pages, I wrote 11. (We also met online on a game, and were married shortly after first meeting.)

 

[emily3859]

To add to what Ponga said:

3. NY no longer processes family sponsorship. "Problem cases" are sent to LA, and some of them require an interview. If you think your application is going to be one of the worst ones CIC receives, if your application screams "immigration fraud!!!" then yes, you would probably be required to attend an interview in LA. In other words, unless you have major problems such as criminal convictions, you won't have an interview. (Non-problematic cases are sent to Ottawa to be processed, and it is theoretically possible that they may require an interview. But I personally haven't heard of anyone who had an interview in Ottawa. Some visa offices require interviews more than others. Ottawa is one of the ones that don't.)

4. Instead of trying to open the link by clicking on it, try right click and "download and save". Then open the file saved on your computer. That worked for me.

6. No, you can stay in Canada while your Outland application processes. You can provide your current Canadian address. Just make sure you extend your visitor status before it expires (usually 6 months from entry).

7. Work insurance usually covers what provincial healthcare does not. (Such as corrective eyewear, etc.) So it operates on the assumption that you have provincial healthcare. If you can get provincial healthcare or not depends on the province. If you let us know which province you live in, we might be able to tell you.

8. Photos are some of the best evidence. Take more pics, some with mutual friends, or his friends, colleagues, whatever.
We sent in tons of proof, such as facebook chat logs (only excerpts) Skype logs, facetime logs, hundreds of pages of copied love letters sent by snail mail, excerpts from what'sapp, etc. When we were approved, we got back our relationship proof. Most of the call logs and chat stuff, whatever was text-based, looked untouched. The photos looked ruffled a bit, and had lost its clip. Also, facebook screenshots showing photos, us checking in together, our engagement announcement (with comments from everybody) and wedding pics (again with congratulations from everybody) did look like it had been looked through. We also had everyone who had met our significant other (my parents, his family, friends of his, friends of mine) write a testimonial letter. They were not notarized. We also sent copies of passport stamps, boarding passes, hotel receipts etc.
Probably, one of the most important things you can do is to sit down and write a personal statement about your relationship. Don't write "it just happened" and leave it at that because CIC is not going to take your word for it. Show your thought process, what made you see each other as life partners, what convinced you to trust each other, why you decided to base your future in Canada, why certain things did not happen (such as why there was no family at the wedding), what plans you have for the future, etc. Show your reasoning behind each decision you guys made. My husband wrote 2 or 3 pages, I wrote 11. (We also met online on a game, and were married shortly after first meeting.)

Thank you so much. We will both sit down and write a letter of how things happened. I did not have an engagement announcement on Facebook but I do have the marriage one. I hope that is enough. Also, we are in Ontario.

 

[curlysue]

@Emily3456
I think you have received some great advice...
It looks like you have a great start and will be able to get some detailed proof of relationship.
You should start reading up on the old posts US/Canada and on the application prep and get your application filed as soon as you are ready

Do renew your visitors visa before it expires, and you should be good to stay with hubby till the process is done.
Best of luck!!

 

[Ponga]

Thank you so much. We will both sit down and write a letter of how things happened. I did not have an engagement announcement on Facebook but I do have the marriage one. I hope that is enough. Also, we are in Ontario.

All you can do is send whatever you have. The fact that you're from the U.S., works to your advantage because your not fleeing from a country in utter turmoil, or economic/social ineptness. Uh...actually...you are. LOL!

Seriously though, coming from the U.S. to Canada is generally pretty easy. He, being ~8 years older, shouldn't be that big a deal.

If possible, get your name on his lease or mortgage papers, open a joint bank account (which you can do at Scotia Bank or TD, as a visitor), joint cell plan, etc., just for added proof. If you were applying as a common-law couple, the aforementioned would pretty much be required, but as a married couple they're not, but it could help prove your relationship is genuine.

Also, be prepared to have a `Condition 51' on your PR, because you will not have been married for two years before applying. It's not a big deal and it simply means that you and your spouse must continue living together (in Canada or anywhere else in the world, since he is a Canadian citizen) for two years after your land as a PR.
You could each still travel independently, but ONLY for short periods of time. The $64K question is..."How does CIC define a `short period of time'"?

Oh...and Happy Birthday, a few days early!

 

[emily3859]

All you can do is send whatever you have. The fact that you're from the U.S., works to your advantage because your not fleeing from a country in utter turmoil, or economic/social ineptness. Uh...actually...you are. LOL!

Seriously though, coming from the U.S. to Canada is generally pretty easy. He, being ~8 years older, shouldn't be that big a deal.

If possible, get your name on his lease or mortgage papers, open a joint bank account (which you can do at Scotia Bank or TD, as a visitor), joint cell plan, etc., just for added proof. If you were applying as a common-law couple, the aforementioned would pretty much be required, but as a married couple they're not, but it could help prove your relationship is genuine.

Also, be prepared to have a `Condition 51' on your PR, because you will not have been married for two years before applying. It's not a big deal and it simply means that you and your spouse must continue living together (in Canada or anywhere else in the world, since he is a Canadian citizen) for two years after your land as a PR.
You could each still travel independently, but ONLY for short periods of time. The $64K question is..."How does CIC define a `short period of time'"?

Oh...and Happy Birthday, a few days early!

Thank you! One last question, my passport still has my maiden name. Is that going to be an issue?

 

[curlysue]

Passport having maiden name should not be an issue-not everyone chooses to change name...and even when you do, it is understood that it takes time to transition everything...

 

[Alurra71]

Thank you! One last question, my passport still has my maiden name. Is that going to be an issue?

No, it is not an issue, but your PR card and immigration documents will all have your maiden name. You can change this at a later date, but if you want all the initial things in your married name, best to renew your passport with your married name. You can send your passport to the US with your marriage certificate while in Canada and it will be fine if you choose.