New York to Canada: 30 months?

[Beehivefive]

I just checked the CIC website, which lists the wait time for a spousal PR as 30 months through the New York office (where I live). I am a Canadian married to an American. We have a daughter and would like to bring our family to Canada. Any advice? And is that 30-month wait actually true? I'm taken aback by that wait time and simply want to know the best and quickest way to bring my family to Canada. We're a simple spousal case for PR.

Thanks!

 

[Zarilenth]

I just checked the CIC website, which lists the wait time for a spousal PR as 30 months through the New York office (where I live). I am a Canadian married to an American. We have a daughter and would like to bring our family to Canada. Any advice? And is that 30-month wait actually true? I'm taken aback by that wait time and simply want to know the best and quickest way to bring my family to Canada. We're a simple spousal case for PR.

Thanks!

American PR applications get processed through Ottawa, not New York or LA. Wait time says 15 months but we're currently sitting at 6-8 months.

 

[aminata2010]

I believe the normal office for Americans is ottawa..your file will only go to NY if they doubt your relationship for further investigation.

 

[Beehivefive]

American PR applications get processed through Ottawa, not New York or LA. Wait time says 15 months but we're currently sitting at 6-8 months.

Thanks for your reply. Do you mean that the actual wait time for a U.S. spousal is about 6 to 8 months?

 

[Zarilenth]

Thanks for your reply. Do you mean that the actual wait time for a U.S. spousal is about 6 to 8 months?

Check out the link to the spreadsheet for Ottawa in my signature. People who sent their applications to Mississauga in December are already getting Decision Made (the last step) from the Ottawa office. So yeah, much faster than 15 months! That's not everyone, but lots of going through quickly.

 

[keesio]

Yep, Ottawa is for standard applications for Americans. IF they have big issues with your application, they will forward it to NY or LA. That is why the times for NY and LA are so long... they are all the "problem" applications forwarded from Ottawa.

Ottawa says 15 months but if you have a solid application (strong evidence and no red flags), 10 months or less is the norm (my wife got it in 7).

 

[Marlee]

If you are a Canadian citizen, your husband is eligible for an open work permit. You don't have to wait until he gets his PR, it merely takes 3 weeks to receive the work permit from CIC and you are good to go.

 

[Zarilenth]

If you are a Canadian citizen, your husband is eligible for an open work permit. You don't have to wait until he gets his PR, it merely takes 3 weeks to receive the work permit from CIC and you are good to go.

Could you tell me where you got this info? I thought as an American citizen, they could not get open work permits.

 

[Alurra71]

If you are a Canadian citizen, your husband is eligible for an open work permit. You don't have to wait until he gets his PR, it merely takes 3 weeks to receive the work permit from CIC and you are good to go.

This is not a true statement. Spouses of citizens are ONLY eligible for a work permit either by submitting an INLAND spousal sponsorship application along with an OWP application and waiting for first stage approval OR they can get an LMO job which is not an open work permit. The ONLY time a spouse can enter the country and just obtain an OWP is the spouse of a foreign worker already in Canada. I should also note there are a couple of programs that a spouse may or may not qualify for that would give them working experience in Canada as well, however being the spouse of a Canadian gives you absolutely NOTHING.

 

[Marlee]

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?q=679&t=17

If the PR application has already been submitted from inside Canada and the eligibility for PR has been confirmed, it is indeed possible. Correct me if I understood something wrong here.

 

[Zarilenth]

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?q=679&t=17

If the PR application has already been submitted from inside Canada and the eligibility for PR has been confirmed, it is indeed possible. Correct me if I understood something wrong here.

Ah, that's only for inland applications, and the first stage to assess PR eligibility is currently sitting at 10 months.

 

[Marlee]

As an American citizen he might benefit from the NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement). Maybe that works out for him. You should check out the link I posted below.

http://www.borderconnections.com/nafta-visa.html

 

[Amalthea]

If you are a Canadian citizen, your husband is eligible for an open work permit. You don't have to wait until he gets his PR, it merely takes 3 weeks to receive the work permit from CIC and you are good to go.

No, that is only for Inland applications. Outland applicants aren't eligible for an Open Work Visa. Also, the wait times for Inland are significantly longer - 10 months for Sponsorship approval, which means an OWP would take at least 10 months, not 3 weeks.

It is usually much better for US Applicants to apply Outland. Wait times are currently 6-8 months, vs 18 for Inland

 

[Alurra71]

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?q=679&t=17

If the PR application has already been submitted from inside Canada and the eligibility for PR has been confirmed, it is indeed possible. Correct me if I understood something wrong here.

You are correct, in that it must be an INLAND application with an OWP either submitted with the application or applied for after first stage, however, first stage takes roughly ~10 months so your original statement of just come to canada and you can have an OWP in 3 weeks because you married a Canadian was terribly misleading.

 

[scylla]

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?q=679&t=17

If the PR application has already been submitted from inside Canada and the eligibility for PR has been confirmed, it is indeed possible. Correct me if I understood something wrong here.

That's only for inland applications. It doesn't apply to this situation since the OP will be applying outland.