Just starting our paperwork, need some clarification.

[kazandbergen]

So a little bit of background: I am a US citizen, my husband is Canadian. We've been dating since 2009 and got married May of last year here in the states. Due to some financial issues, we've had to put our application on hold until things in that department cleared up.

So far, I've got all of my things in order and ready to go. I had my medical on the 8th and got my tracking number. Unfortunately, I've read two different things on CIC.

First question: Do I mail my application to him so we can mail in our stuff all together, or does he send in his stuff to sponsor me first, then I send my stuff in? I was under the impression first that we send it all in together but I read somewhere else that he applies as my sponsor then I send my materials in.

Second: I may have to move at the end of June. How would I go about changing my address in their system?

Third: My husband made a mention of coming up and living with him on an extended vistor's pass. This is very tempting since right now I'm in a rut and I honestly miss him more than anything in the world. Should I wait and wait for PR status?

If anyone has any additional advice to offer, please don't be shy. All the forms seem so overwhelming and make my head hurt.

 

[muffy1]

First, you will send the whole package (all paperwork together) as one package to Mississauga. Secondly, if you are applying outland (and I only speak from my own experiences), as a US Citizen you could go to the border (if you're driving in) and bring your paperwork with you (even if it's not completed yet) and apply at the border for a visitor's record. Since US Citizens are visa-exempt, there is no visa for us; rather a visitor's record. They will typically issue a 6-month VR for you. This way, you can "stay" with Hubby throughout the process. To make a long story short, typically you will exceed that 6 month mark. I know I did. So, what I did in that instance is drive down to the border on one of my trips back into the US and ask for an extension. The second one and all the others following were issued for a year. I was able to travel back and forth as I wished, never had any problems and was able to stay with hubby for majority of this process.

If you have any other questions, feel free to message me as I'm a US Citizen and my hubby is Canadian. Some things have changed since we applied (back in Sept 2011) such as the validation aspect of the forms, but I will help out as much as I can.

All the best to you guys

 

[Korma]

It's very overwhelming indeed, but there are plenty of great people here who are happy to help.

First question: Do I mail my application to him so we can mail in our stuff all together, or does he send in his stuff to sponsor me first, then I send my stuff in? I was under the impression first that we send it all in together but I read somewhere else that he applies as my sponsor then I send my materials in.

You mail your application to him and he sends everything to Mississauga. Once he has been approved as a sponsor, Mississauga forward your part of the application (or maybe both? I'm unsure, but it doesn't matter) to your Visa Office.

Second: I may have to move at the end of June. How would I go about changing my address in their system?

Once your application's been received you can send a CSE (case specific enquiry) to the Visa Office processing your application and ask them to update your mailing address. It normally takes a few days to be reflected on ecas.

Third: My husband made a mention of coming up and living with him on an extended vistor's pass. This is very tempting since right now I'm in a rut and I honestly miss him more than anything in the world. Should I wait and wait for PR status?

You're more than welcome to do this. Obviously you'll be unable to work, so be sure that he can financially support both of you while you wait.

A standard visitor's visa for you would be 6 months. I'm not sure how fast US applications are being processed but you might be lucky enough to not need it extended (I was literally about to extend my visitor's visa when a decision was made of my application meaning I didn't have to!). You can extend your visitor's visa online relatively easily, but it costs $75.

Good luck with the application .

 

[Canuck20]

So a little bit of background: I am a US citizen, my husband is Canadian. We've been dating since 2009 and got married May of last year here in the states. Due to some financial issues, we've had to put our application on hold until things in that department cleared up.

So far, I've got all of my things in order and ready to go. I had my medical on the 8th and got my tracking number. Unfortunately, I've read two different things on CIC.

First question: Do I mail my application to him so we can mail in our stuff all together, or does he send in his stuff to sponsor me first, then I send my stuff in? I was under the impression first that we send it all in together but I read somewhere else that he applies as my sponsor then I send my materials in.

Second: I may have to move at the end of June. How would I go about changing my address in their system?

Third: My husband made a mention of coming up and living with him on an extended vistor's pass. This is very tempting since right now I'm in a rut and I honestly miss him more than anything in the world. Should I wait and wait for PR status?

If anyone has any additional advice to offer, please don't be shy. All the forms seem so overwhelming and make my head hurt.

Check this thread in the forum - " How I organized our application and a summary of all helpful tips I have learned" it is excellent and answers lots of questions.

My spouse is a US citizen also. We started the application process in April 2012. We applied Outland as recommended to speed up the process. It took us until August 2012 to gather all the necessary documentation and submit our entire application all together. The entire package went to Mississauga and from there to CPP - Ottawa. My spouse lived here in Canada the entire time on a visitor visa. We did make numerous trips back to the States and fortunately were never denied entry. COPR arrived in May 2013 and landing also took place that month.
I would certainly recommend going to live with your spouse if you are able. This process is very trying on relationships and marriages and being apart is one of the most difficult parts. Be together if you can so you can support each other.

 

[kazandbergen]

First, you will send the whole package (all paperwork together) as one package to Mississauga. Secondly, if you are applying outland (and I only speak from my own experiences), as a US Citizen you could go to the border (if you're driving in) and bring your paperwork with you (even if it's not completed yet) and apply at the border for a visitor's record. Since US Citizens are visa-exempt, there is no visa for us; rather a visitor's record. They will typically issue a 6-month VR for you. This way, you can "stay" with Hubby throughout the process. To make a long story short, typically you will exceed that 6 month mark. I know I did. So, what I did in that instance is drive down to the border on one of my trips back into the US and ask for an extension. The second one and all the others following were issued for a year. I was able to travel back and forth as I wished, never had any problems and was able to stay with hubby for majority of this process.

If you have any other questions, feel free to message me as I'm a US Citizen and my hubby is Canadian. Some things have changed since we applied (back in Sept 2011) such as the validation aspect of the forms, but I will help out as much as I can.

All the best to you guys

The only bad thing about that is back in 2009, I went up to live with him for a few months during the summer. The border refused me since I didn't have proof that I would be returning back to the states (IE bills, rent, etc) and I had too many of my personal belongings. I had everything on the paper but they needed proof. I was enrolled in college, so I just went to the local library, printed off my school schedule, and they accepted that. They gave me a visitors pass from May 15th to August 31st. Since then, my trips across the border have been hit or miss: one time they waved me through, no issues. The last time I visited in 2010, the border official told me I HAD to have a utility bill or proof I would be returning, and said he only approved me because I was on a Greyhound bus and I had already paid for a return ticket.

Does that change since we are legally married now? If I move up, I'll be taking all my things with me as well as my two dogs and my cat.

Thanks everyone so far for your helpful comments!

 

[Canuck20]

The only bad thing about that is back in 2009, I went up to live with him for a few months during the summer. The border refused me since I didn't have proof that I would be returning back to the states (IE bills, rent, etc) and I had too many of my personal belongings. I had everything on the paper but they needed proof. I was enrolled in college, so I just went to the local library, printed off my school schedule, and they accepted that. They gave me a visitors pass from May 15th to August 31st. Since then, my trips across the border have been hit or miss: one time they waved me through, no issues. The last time I visited in 2010, the border official told me I HAD to have a utility bill or proof I would be returning, and said he only approved me because I was on a Greyhound bus and I had already paid for a return ticket.

Does that change since we are legally married now? If I move up, I'll be taking all my things with me as well as my two dogs and my cat.

Thanks everyone so far for your helpful comments!

I think a lot depends on which border crossing point that you are using. We crossed numerous times at the Sarnia/Port Huron bridge and only ever encountered one difficult time but at the time our application was in process, sponsorship approval had been granted and we had to show our marriage certificate and state that yes my spouse was planning on moving to Canada. The officer then put a visitor record in my spouses passport and stamped it good for a year.
They really do not like it when you have all your personal belongings with you before you have been approved. They really frown on that. We did travel with our 2 dogs on every trip. Be sure to have all of their vaccination certificates up to date. We have been asked for those.

Hope all goes well