Japanese citizen applying for PR - would appreciate some opinions and info!

[Kayaker]

Hi everyone, my fiance and I discovered this forum a few days ago and it's been a great source of information. It has helped us narrow down our options, and we thought it would be great if we could ask you a few questions of our own.

I am a Japanese citizen and my fiancé is Canadian. My fiancé is planning to sponsor me for PR. (As he is working full time and is able to support me, we are assuming that there will be no problem getting him approved as a sponsor.) We’ve known each other for only a few months, and although I’ve travelled to Canada twice, there is not a very large amount of “evidence” to substantiate our relationship. (more later on what "evidence" we do have or will have.) Initially we were planning to get married in June 2014 in Canada while I am there visiting. We only planned on a small ceremony but we did want our families there. This would be the best time for both our families to attend. However it seems the delay for PR applications is lengthy and so we’re considering getting married sooner. He will be visiting Japan in December 2013. From our perspective living together is of greater importance than having both our families attend a wedding ceremony. My being able to work in Canada is also important, but not as crucial. Also, an inland application is not preferable because I must have the option to leave in case of family emergency (which is likely to happen).

With these priorities in mind, our questions are:
1. Is there any reason we should consider inland application?
2. Is there any difference between getting married in Japan versus Canada as far as PR applications go?
3. Is it better to wait and get married later so we can accumulate more “evidence” or is it better to get the process underway sooner?
4. Has anyone made an outland application and then entered under the visa waiver program? If so, has anyone been denied entry or had problems such as being given a shorter term for their visit? What is the best thing to say when entering Canada? Should I mention the pending application? Should I have a return ticket dated six months or is that seen as presumptuous?
5. Would I likely have to travel to Manila for an interview with the visa office there?
6. Does anyone know how the ongoing strike is affecting the application process?
7. Would it help to call CIC and ask them some of these questions?

Evidence we have:
-receipts from his visit to me in New York (when I lived there)
-receipts from my two visits to Canada
-receipts from our travels together across Canada
-letters, emails, instant messages, facebook posts, etc
-photos together and of me with his friends and family (not a great many)
-engagement ring (and later wedding bands)

Evidence we will get:
-letters of congratulations (engagement and wedding) from friends and family
-being listed as beneficiary on each others’ life insurance policy
-would like to have joint ownership of property in Canada but am not sure it is allowed prior to my PR
-photos of him with my family in Japan

Thanks in advance! We'll continue checking the forum.

 

[DGT]

Hello!

I can maybe answer a few of these questions.

1. I would think that Outland would be preferable for you, as it will be quicker and you will have the right of appeal should there be any problems. Because you're a Japanese citizen you are visa-exempt too you shouldn't have any issue with remaining in Canada as a visitor while the process is ongoing if that's what you want to do!

2. There's no difference as to where you get married, provided that the marriage is legal and recognised as such by both the place it is performed, and Canada. So you can do it wherever you like!

3. The longer the relationship, the better as far as CIC is concerned. I would recommend getting married and then waiting a while before sending in the application.

4. I entered Canada while my outland application was underway. I brought a return ticket, which I later cancelled and applied to extend my stay as a visitor with no problems. A return ticket is definitely the way to go!

5. I don't know about this one actually. I believe that you would have to go to Manila for the interview should it be required.

6. The strike is slowing things down considerably. I got my PR while the strike was in full swing though so there is some work still going on. Be prepared for a delay though.

7. All evidence points to calling CIC being a fruitless endeavour. The application guides, and this forum will be much more helpful!

It sounds like your evidence is good, but of course make sure that your marriage certificate is in there too! That's the key as far as legal documentation goes.

I'm sure more senior members will have some advice for you too!

幸運!

 

[Rob_TO]

3. The longer the relationship, the better as far as CIC is concerned. I would recommend getting married and then waiting a while before sending in the application.

Yes i agree here. There is an unrwitten rule that you should be in a relationship for around 1 year before applying to avoid any extra scrutiny and red flags on your application (of course this doesn't apply to arranged marriages).

So this means it would be good for you to stay a couple and/or live together for a year, then get married and apply... or get married asap but still live together as a married couple for a bit before applying. When a couple has dated only a short time, gets married and then immediately applies for PR, it's looked at suspiciously by CIC.

And of course the longer you live together before submitting the app, the better it is.

5. I don't know about this one actually. I believe that you would have to go to Manila for the interview should it be required.

No, all interview are done in the country where the applicant applied from/holds passport for, so in this case it would be in Japan. CIC will not expect an applicant to do international travel, just to attend an interview. HOWEVER if you really wanted to do the interview in Manila that may be possible if you asked, i'm not sure. Since the VO would have to travel from Manila to the applicants country to do an interview, they probably only do this a couple times per year so one could end up waiting quite a while if an interview is scheduled.

Anyways from a wealthy visa-exempt country like Japan, the odds of requiring an interview is very slim. The longer the relationship is before applying, the less chance there will be for interview.

7. All evidence points to calling CIC being a fruitless endeavour. The application guides, and this forum will be much more helpful!

Yes indeed. If you ever have a question and call CIC about it, make sure you also call again and ask the same question to a different rep. You'll find you may get several different answers or recommendations depending who you talk to. In my experience the members on this forum, are smarter than the CIC reps on the phone!

 

[Kayaker]

Thanks for all the info, it helps to hear from people who’ve gone through it!

Just to clarify, is there anyone out there who has had trouble at the border trying to enter under the visa waiver program? Do they get suspicious if you say you have a Canadian fiancé/spouse? Do you say that you have a PR application pending? Would I have to show them ties to my home country, such as a permanent job, or is a return ticket sufficient?

Thanks again for the help, and if anyone else has any suggestions or would like to share their experience, we would be very very grateful!

 

[DGT]

Thanks for all the info, it helps to hear from people who've gone through it!

Just to clarify, is there anyone out there who has had trouble at the border trying to enter under the visa waiver program? Do they get suspicious if you say you have a Canadian fiancé/spouse? Do you say that you have a PR application pending? Would I have to show them ties to my home country, such as a permanent job, or is a return ticket sufficient?

Thanks again for the help, and if anyone else has any suggestions or would like to share their experience, we would be very very grateful!

Just be absolutely straight up and honest with them. I entered and was asked a few questions about our situation (I was travelling with my wife, helping her through with her imports and bringing our cat into the country!). The lady asked what our relationship was, so I said "I am her husband. I have a PR application going through London. (I showed my application receipt and she looked up the details). She asked how long I was staying and I showed her my return ticket and stated that I'd be staying until then unless my PR application was approved prior to that.

And that was it! Just be upfront and honest and you should be absolutely fine! I would say that the worst thing that could happen to you would be that the CBSA officer wouldn't give you the full 6 months, and just give you until the date of your return flight. An outright refusal of entry is unlikely for a Japanese citizen.

Try not to worrk!

 

[Kayaker]

Thanks, DGT! Just what we wanted to know... will be very nervous when the time comes but I am guessing/hoping that it isn't exactly their job to keep PR applicants out of the country.

 

[Kayaker]

No, all interview are done in the country where the applicant applied from/holds passport for, so in this case it would be in Japan. CIC will not expect an applicant to do international travel, just to attend an interview. HOWEVER if you really wanted to do the interview in Manila that may be possible if you asked, i'm not sure. Since the VO would have to travel from Manila to the applicants country to do an interview, they probably only do this a couple times per year so one could end up waiting quite a while if an interview is scheduled.

Thanks Rob_TO!

Does anyone know how far in advance they tell you about a scheduled interview? I was just wondering, what if I am visiting Canada at the time?

 

[DGT]

Thanks, DGT! Just what we wanted to know... will be very nervous when the time comes but I am guessing/hoping that it isn't exactly their job to keep PR applicants out of the country.

I was super nervous too! It is always nerve wracking, but you'll be fine I'm sure. Best of luck to you both!

 

[Sweden]

Thanks Rob_TO!

Does anyone know how far in advance they tell you about a scheduled interview? I was just wondering, what if I am visiting Canada at the time?

the answer is... it depends because the interview would have to be scheduled in Japan, most likely, you would know in advance (maybe 3 to 4 weeks). If you're visiting Canada at that time - well you would have to go back to Japan, as interviews can not happen in Canada at a CIC office. However, if you do require an interview and happen to be in Canada at that point - make sure you bring the proofs to the interview, as you were visiting your partner! you can also preemptively send the information to your Visa Office (Manila). Once the stage 1 is approved, you will have a file number. If you do come to Canada to stay with your partner, make sure you inform your VO about it, as you can add "later evidence" to your file that way... and staying with your partner goes a long way to demonstrate that you have a genuine relationship.

Don't worry too much about an interview... unless there is something very unusual about your relationship (huge age difference, previous sponsorship for your sponsor, complicated story before meeting each other, etc.), it's unlikely that you would be interviewed: interviews are there when CIC suspects that the relationship is not genuine, and you are trying to gain entry to Canada through it... but being from Japan, visa exempt and high living standards, that's unlikely to be the case...

Good luck,
Sweden

 

[frege]

1. Is there any reason we should consider inland application?

Outland seems preferable for the reasons you stated. Travelling isn't impossible on an inland application, but is a bit of a risk.

2. Is there any difference between getting married in Japan versus Canada as far as PR applications go?

No. It's preferable if both your families can be there, but not a necessity. An exception can be if the visa officer judges that not having the families there is "culturally inappropriate" in your two countries, but they usually only say this when they're already looking for reasons to refuse someone. If the two of you strike a Canadian observer as educated and "Westernized" - sorry, but in some people's mentalities the two go hand in hand - this probably won't be a problem.

3. Is it better to wait and get married later so we can accumulate more “evidence” or is it better to get the process underway sooner?

You probably already have enough evidence. By the time you apply you'll have known each other for almost a year. You're from a developed country, which is a huge advantage.

Unless there are special circumstances not apparent in what you've written and that might make a visa officer suspicious, I don't think the likelihood of a refusal is significant enough that you should change your plans just because of the immigration process.

4. Has anyone made an outland application and then entered under the visa waiver program? If so, has anyone been denied entry or had problems such as being given a shorter term for their visit? What is the best thing to say when entering Canada? Should I mention the pending application? Should I have a return ticket dated six months or is that seen as presumptuous?

"Visa Waiver Program" refers to U.S. laws, but I understand what you mean.
I would say that you're visiting your husband/boyfriend (depending on time). If you're entering to marry, say you're getting married.

In all likelihood, you won't be questioned beyond that. My wife entered Canada twice in similar circumstances to yours, and was never questioned. "Visiting my husband" satisfied them. (Although we got married outside Canada, so she didn't have to talk about that.) If you are asked specifically about it however, be honest about what plans you have for sponsorship. Unlike the U.S., it's perfectly acceptable for a visitor to have plans to apply for PR, so long as they don't intend to work or study, and intend to leave whenever their time runs out.

Have proof of your boyfriend's income available in case you're asked for it, so they'll know you have sufficient funds for your stay as a "visitor."

You should probably accept the six months they give you when you enter, and apply for an extension if and when it becomes necessary. If you can get an open return initially dated for within the six months, that would be best.

 

[MrSki]

Thanks for all the info, it helps to hear from people who've gone through it!

Just to clarify, is there anyone out there who has had trouble at the border trying to enter under the visa waiver program? Do they get suspicious if you say you have a Canadian fiancé/spouse? Do you say that you have a PR application pending? Would I have to show them ties to my home country, such as a permanent job, or is a return ticket sufficient?

Thanks again for the help, and if anyone else has any suggestions or would like to share their experience, we would be very very grateful!

My wife is Japanese, we finished the passport request stage in July and are waiting as usual for the net step (its very lengthy).

We travelled together back and forth to and from Japan while we were engaged. We didn't have any trouble. The Canadian Customs officers are understanding of these situations, it happens more than you think. My wife always told them the truth, PR is in process. She even extended her visitor visa to a year without any trouble.

As for the Inland vs. Outland

Inland takes longer, but you can apply for a work permit once you sent in your PR application. You can leave the Canada, but there is a very good chance they will not let you back in. The CIC will note your file as abandoned.

Outland is more difficult because the spouse cannot work in Canada. However, this is the route to go if you want to be sure of any family emergencies. We chose Outland for this reason alone. The Outland is supposed to be faster aswell. But with the strike going on, you never know.

I hope this helps!

 

[Kayaker]

Thank you everyone for the helpful tips and info! The whole procedure seemed immensely long and discouraging to us at first but I think we now have a better sense of what and when we have to do things.

I was also wondering; would I be eligible to get public healthcare only after getting PR? (We will be living in Ontario, if that matters.) What have other people done in the meanwhile? Just travel insurance for emergencies?

 

[Rob_TO]

I was also wondering; would I be eligible to get public healthcare only after getting PR? (We will be living in Ontario, if that matters.) What have other people done in the meanwhile? Just travel insurance for emergencies?

Basically in Ontario you will be eligible for healthcare 3 months after you officially "land" as a PR. In other provinces (like Alberta) they give away healthcare much more freely and often just being a spouse of a citizen is good enough. Ontario is one of the worst/most difficult.

In the meantime it's best to buy private travel emergency medical insurance.

 

[frege]

Basically in Ontario you will be eligible for healthcare 3 months after you officially "land" as a PR.

Three months after you land on an outland application, or three months after "approval in principle" (first-stage approval) on an inland application.

 

[canadianwoman]

The longer the relationship is before applying for PR, the better. BUT: having a long relationship, then getting married, then applying for PR quickly is best. Getting married, waiting a while, then applying for PR will raise suspicions (if you are waiting while apart; if you are living together this is fine). If you get married, then don't apply for PR as soon as you can, the visa officer will want to know why. If he or she suspects you are waiting to make your PR application look better, that is bad news.

The applicant is from Japan, not a hotbed of marriage fraud. You probably have enough evidence now.