newb questions, inland spousal application

[uccemebug]

Hi everyone! I'm Michael, I've just returned from Japan with my wife who is a Japanese national. We have a son.

After six calls today I got through to an agent and asked my initial questions. It's been explained to me that we'd best do an inland application because we don't have the resources to fly to Tokyo at arbitrary notice for our interview(s). So bring on the delays! I'm thankful to everyone here who's posted of their experiences and the tips they've shared. This is invaluable, as it gives hope at least (which CIC fails to do, I have to say).

My questions are these.

1. On form 1344A, page 2 section C it lists a spot for dependent children. I am not sponsoring my son, he's a Canadian by birth. Must I list him? If I must, should I indicate that he is a Canadian citizen on the form (I'll be including the required passport and citizen card scans, naturally).

2. If I printed some of the material from my son's website @ kenny.emuu.net or my own journal @ emuu.net/journal.php, would CIC accept such materials as proof that our wedding is legitimate?

3. Similarly, has anyone had luck getting attestations from friends and bosses as to the legitimacy of a marriage?

Thanks for any hints. m(-_-)m

 

[scylla]

I'm sure you're going to hear this from others. You should really do outland. Tokyo has some of the fastest processing times for outland and you could be done in three months (vs. a possible 18+ months inland).

Keep in mind that many people do not have to attend interviews.

Also, given your decision is somewhat monetary, you can also look at it this way. If you go outland, there's a good chance there will be no interview and you will be done very quickly. If your wife has to attend an interview, then yes - that flight will cost a bit. If you go the inland route, you will have to pay for medical coverage for your wife for at least 9/10 months and she also won't be able to work for this period of time. So in the end, both routes have costs associated with them.

Finally, if you go inland, it's strongly recommended that your wife not leave Canada until the entire process is complete. Is she OK with remaining in Canada for a possible 18+ months straight?

Ok - I've said enough. ;D Obviously your call. But reconsider outland.

 

[rjessome]

I'm with scylla on this. The reason interviews are required is if there are doubts about the genuiness of your marriage or if the visa officer believes it was entered into for the purposes of gaining immigration status to Canada. Focus your time and effort on putting together a strong and convincing application. If it's done well, an interview should not be a worry for you.

 

[Baloo]

Inland outland stuff ...

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/spousal-sponsorship-t46995.0.html;msg344291#msg344291

Worth reading.

 

[uccemebug]

Wow, thanks for that, everyone. Your help is very much appreciated. Three months!!

I've been inclined to wing it with the outland application despite the risk of an interview. Returning to Tokyo would indeed be the lesser burdon to bear. The thing I'm worried about is getting barred entry for some reason upon return. It may sound like a trivial concern to most on this board, but it actually happened to me in Japan due to a screw up by my then employer regarding my Japanese visa. I spent two months apart from her, my job, etc in a series of b&b's on my own dime while I did all of the legwork to patch up my employer's mess.

I'll discuss it with my wife again tonight.

 

[uccemebug]

Really do appreciate the advice. We'll have no problem assuring anyone of our genuiness, especially since I served as the volunteer warden for the consular service division at the embassy in Tokyo and someone there wrote me a letter to that effect last month as part of our application.

To push my luck with your willingness to help just a bit, I'd like to re-ask about #2 and #3 above?

Thanks again!!

 

[CharlieD10]

2) Nothing says you can't print the information from the website. I included information from the wedding website we designed for our wedding during planning. Be selective though, no need to print all 30 pages of your discussions on the size of the guestlist. Kidding, but you get the idea.

3) Attestations from friends and family are definitely a good idea. As you lived abroad in a foreign country, if you can get one from your landlord if you had one, that would be great too. While there is no requirement to prove cohabitation for married couples, it's additional evidence that you were living as man and wife, and known as such in the community.

And definitely do consider seriously the outland vs inland debate.

 

[uccemebug]

Is she OK with remaining in Canada for a possible 18+ months straight?

Uh, no. She's from a very close family. The more light that gets shed on the alternative, the more that seems like a non-starter.

As you lived abroad in a foreign country, if you can get one from your landlord if you had one, that would be great too.

That is an excellent idea. We had a very good relationship with our landlord. I can get that translated easily .. outstanding suggestion.

The level of advice I'm getting here is superb. This whole process looks like it needs a re-write .. at first blush it has a vibe like they're trying to copy the US approach even though the situation's not the same.

I'm personally interested in the idea of doing the outland application. Always been one to roll the dice a bit when the gains are so much greater than the potential loss. Course, I won't put that in.... ;^P

I will, however, likely have questions about the outland forms!

Thanks again, everyone.

 

[uccemebug]

Hi, everyone. I'm sure I'll wear out my welcome with this shortly, but I've decided on some questions that I can't answer myself. I'm now looking at the "outland" application....

1. The "Designated Medical Practioner" list all seems to be for doctors located outside Canada. Since my wife's here with me in Toronto, can she simply take the appropriate form to my family doctor in Canada for a health exam?

2. For the "Details of family members" section of IMM0008, the instructions seem to indicate that we don't have to list myself or our son because we're already Canadian citizens. Do I understand this correctly? The in-form instructions are baffling but the guide seems more clear -- and yet I don't want to exlude information that should be in there!

Thanks,

 

[suenim]

Hi, everyone. I'm sure I'll wear out my welcome with this shortly, but I've decided on some questions that I can't answer myself. I'm now looking at the "outland" application....

1. The "Designated Medical Practioner" list all seems to be for doctors located outside Canada. Since my wife's here with me in Toronto, can she simply take the appropriate form to my family doctor in Canada for a health exam?

2. For the "Details of family members" section of IMM0008, the instructions seem to indicate that we don't have to list myself or our son because we're already Canadian citizens. Do I understand this correctly? The in-form instructions are baffling but the guide seems more clear -- and yet I don't want to exlude information that should be in there!

Thanks,

Not sure what province you're in but from here you can find DMPs in Canada: http://www.cic.gc.ca/dmp-md/medical.aspx. No you can't use your own family doctor... unless of course he/she is a DMP. No you do not need to list yourself and your sons since you're already citizens.

 

[quakingaspen]

I received my medical for immigration here in Canada while applying outland. The cost was about $300, which seems average. Some here have had it for more, some for less. Good luck!

 

[uccemebug]

Man, you guys are good at providing swift and helpful answers. So glad I found this forum.

 

[scylla]

I received my medical for immigration here in Canada while applying outland. The cost was about $300, which seems average. Some here have had it for more, some for less. Good luck!

Yes - the costs vary, but it tends to be cheaper in Canada.

If you're in a large city (like Toronto) you can find DMPs who charge around $175.

 

[uccemebug]

It looks like we'll use the outland application system. I'm amazed when I read things like some of the application processing times I'm seeing posted on this forum. Waiting for two years seems like it would be damaging to our family.

Thank you, everyone, once again. Just to confirm one item:

Is it best to pay these amounts together at the outset of the application and submit the receipt for that amount along with the application:
$ 75 for the sponsor
$ 475 for a principal applicant (outrageous!)
$ 490 for "right of permanent residence" (ditto)
$ 150 for work permit
-----
$1190

 

[Baloo]

Yes - the costs vary, but it tends to be cheaper in Canada.

If you're in a large city (like Toronto) you can find DMPs who charge around $175.

FYI - The lowest price that I found in Ottawa was $170.