Mexican in Costa Rica "Help"

[Diamondude357]

I got married in Costa Rica to my new wife April 28, 2012. She is Mexican but lives in Costa Rica with her son. I'm a Canadian by birth. We will be applying for her and her son to move with me to Canada. Proof of relationship will not be an issue. I spend 8 months per year "vacationing" with her(more than 5 years with 10's of 1000's of pic's)
My question is: should she apply from Costa Rica(Guatemala) or Mexico for the fastest and/or least amount of problems?

Any comments/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Tim

 

[canadiangirl78]

Definitely Mexico.

 

[OhCanadiana]

I got married in Costa Rica to my new wife April 28, 2012. She is Mexican but lives in Costa Rica with her son. I'm a Canadian by birth. We will be applying for her and her son to move with me to Canada. Proof of relationship will not be an issue. I spend 8 months per year "vacationing" with her(more than 5 years with 10's of 1000's of pic's)
My question is: should she apply from Costa Rica(Guatemala) or Mexico for the fastest and/or least amount of problems?

Any comments/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Tim

You don't mention how long she's lived in Costa Rica, but given that Mexico City completes processing of 80% of the cases faster than Guatemala (13 months for Mexico City vs 18 months for Guatemala) and that you'll have to travel either way should an interview be needed, I'd probably go with Mexico City. You'll save yourself questions on her Costa Rican status, etc.

ETA: You may want to peek in to http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/mexico-t35385.2775.html where there's several folks going through - or familiar with - getting visas through the Mexico City office so you'll also have a cool support group

 

[canadiangirl78]

Very cool!

 

[Diamondude357]

OH Canadiana:
She's been in Costa Rica for 13 years and has PR but not citizenship. She has a son(born in Mexico with Mexican passport) that is 12yo. Her ex is in Panama and remarried. We are applying for her son too and the father is signing consent for him to go to Canada after 1 year in Panama.
Anything else that might be relevant? Tim

 

[Diamondude357]

Another 2 questions:
1. Do the medical appointments need to be done in Mexico if we apply through Mexico?
2. Do interviews take place in Guatemala or in country of residence if we go through Guatemala?

 

[OhCanadiana]

OH Canadiana:
She's been in Costa Rica for 13 years and has PR but not citizenship. She has a son(born in Mexico with Mexican passport) that is 12yo. Her ex is in Panama and remarried. We are applying for her son too and the father is signing consent for him to go to Canada after 1 year in Panama.
Anything else that might be relevant? Tim

As a PR she would be eligible to apply from Costa Rica (via Guatemala) also. However, since her son's birth certificates and her own are from Mexico and Mexico is faster it would seem that Mexico will be most familiar with the documents (only thing not is your marriage certificate). Since they're faster, I'd go with Mexico (unless she prefers to fly to Guatemala should an interview be required).

Since she has a dependent, he'll need to go through medical exams, etc now. I am a firm believer of sticking to the KISS principle - keeping it simple for the other end to understand can make it much easier. It's unclear when her son's going to Panama - but FWIW, a few thoughts:
- If you can afford to have her son land with her, I would have him land with her in Canada once their visas are approved. That way he is already a PR and you don't need to apply to sponsor him in the future. He can then fly (back) to Panama. In order to maintain his PR status he needs to be in Canada 2 out of 5 years so even if he's out for one year, he can still take a year worth of vacation in the next 4 outside of Canada without losing his PR status)
- If he's heading to Panama soon, make sure you have arrangements made for him to undergo the medical exam (it's easier if he and his mom do it with the same Panel Physician (formerly known as DMP) that they don't need to look for two records later). If he doesn't get the medical exams you will forgo the ability to EVER sponsor him - a sad situation you see pop up periodically with folks in a divorce-situation.

 

[OhCanadiana]

Another 2 questions:
1. Do the medical appointments need to be done in Mexico if we apply through Mexico?
2. Do interviews take place in Guatemala or in country of residence if we go through Guatemala?

1. No - they can be done anywhere with a Panel Physician (list at http://www.cic.gc.ca/dmp-md/medical.aspx, formerly called DMPs so if you do any search on the forum that's a better terminology)
2. I'm not 100% sure about Costa Rica/Guatemala but I'd guess Guatemala. However, if you send sufficient evidence of your relationship with her and her son (and of your intent to move back to Canada, if applicable) it's highly unlikely that you'd get interviewed.

 

[Diamondude357]

Going to wife's hometown in 10 days. If we apply through Mexico should we do the medical appointments for both of them and do the security paperwork while we're there or does it make a difference?

 

[OhCanadiana]

Going to wife's hometown in 10 days. If we apply through Mexico should we do the medical appointments for both of them and do the security paperwork while we're there or does it make a difference?

Compare prices - they vary significantly and figure out how long it's going to take you to get everything ready (since medical expires in a year you want to do it as close to submission as possible...if it expires they can ask you to redo it)

 

[Diamondude357]

Hope to submit within 1 week after returning to Costa Rica from Mexico. Thanks a ton.

 

[OhCanadiana]

Hope to submit within 1 week after returning to Costa Rica from Mexico. Thanks a ton.

Then there's no reason not to do the medical exams while you are visiting Mexico. Good luck!

My pleasure

 

[Diamondude357]

Just got sponsorship approval today and paperwork is being forwarded to Mexico!!!

 

[OhCanadiana]

Just got sponsorship approval today and paperwork is being forwarded to Mexico!!!

Congratulations!!!

 

[canadiangirl78]

Just got sponsorship approval today and paperwork is being forwarded to Mexico!!!

Awesome!!