Multiple Questions on Possible Complications

[Creampop]

I think now that I've got the police record sorted out it's now onto my medical form and immigration photos.How long does that whole process take for you to receive the needed Copy 2 to send off with your application? Is it okay to see a certified Canadian doctor or do I have to see a US one?

It took me 10 weeks to get my FBI clearence, but I think it was delayed abit due to Christmas time mail.
You can have the pictures done @ wal-mart, just take the page with you that gives the measurements etc... they will be very accommodating.
You can see any DMP as long as they are listed on the CIC website... Link below will help you find one in your area.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/dmp-md/medical.aspx/

"Permanent resident visas cannot be extended once issued. If applicants do not use the visas within their validity period, they must re-apply for immigration to Canada.Their sponsor will have to submit a new sponsorship application and pay new processing fees." I'm sure going to use the visa, and a US passport is valid for 10 years. I'm assuming I'll be eligible to be an actual citizen before 10 years is up. So no worries there?

Once you are approved for the visa you have a time limit to land, it is either the expiration of your passport or the expiration of you medical exam whichever comes first...

 

[Ryissa]

Once you are approved for the visa you have a time limit to land, it is either the expiration of your passport or the expiration of you medical exam whichever comes first...

If I landed before approved say while visiting, I assume I'd be okay in that instance?

One other thing I wanted to be clear on - photocopies of documents (birth certificates, marriage certificates) are okay to send in? I ask because I'm simultaneously applying to change my name on my US SSI card so I can change it everywhere else and those guys want my real documents and the like to be mailed in if I choose to mail them in (I think not - gonna do that in-person).

 

[Creampop]

Yes photo copies are fine for all that stuff (I sent in nothing original)... once you receive the visa you can land whenever you want as long as it is before the expiration date of your medical or passport ie... your medical was done May 5th 2012 n your passport expires Dec 16th 2020 you would have to land before May 5th 2013 proving you get your visa issued before then, if they make you redo the medical it would be a year from that medicals date... or they could give you another year extension on the current one under certain circumstances they will (like if everything else with your app is good but the medical is just expired) so it would then be extended to May 5th 2014.

 

[Ryissa]

That all sounds good, thanks. I'm wondering now if I should get a "real" passport? All I've ever had is an Enhanced Driver's License and that's really all I needed to travel, but would there be a need immigration-wise to get one? My EDL expires in 2016 so I know that won't expire before the medical report does.

 

[scylla]

And I had one more question about this: "Permanent resident visas cannot be extended once issued. If applicants do not use the visas within their validity period, they must re-apply for immigration to Canada.Their sponsor will have to submit a new sponsorship application and pay new processing fees." I'm sure going to use the visa, and a US passport is valid for 10 years. I'm assuming I'll be eligible to be an actual citizen before 10 years is up. So no worries there?

You've misunderstood what this means. This refers to the PR visa only. The PR visa is what allows you to enter Canada and become a PR for the first time. When your PR visa is approved, you will be given a fixed amount of time during which you must "land" in Canada and officially become a PR. If you do not use the visa during this time, you will have to start the application process again from scratch.

 

[Leon]

And once you land, you will get a PR card, kind of like the green card in the US. This card will be valid for 5 years but you can renew it as often as you want provided you have always stayed in Canada at least 730 days every 5 year period. However, if you are going to be living in Canada, you could most likely have citizenship before your first PR card expires. In order to apply, you would have to live in Canada for 1095 days (3 years) and the application process takes 12-18 months.

 

[Ryissa]

Thank for the info (x2!). Does anyone know about the Passport vs EDL? Is there a point where the Passport will be required or will the EDL work for everything else?

 

[SenoritaBella]

A copy of the passport is required for those from visa-exempt countries when they issue the permanent resident visa.

Thank for the info (x2!). Does anyone know about the Passport vs EDL? Is there a point where the Passport will be required or will the EDL work for everything else?