Please help! Visitor status expiring soon, prepping for PR application

[poeticaesthetic]

One more thing: Does it matter if he worked the six months prior to his coming to Canada (he did not)? Not sure if that matters or not, but if it will make them suspect him of anything, he could possibly put down that he was a casual DJ and Visual Artist (he was...wasn't making much money at it but it counts as an activity). Currently it specifies him as Unemployed and his last job ending in July 2012. Not sure which one would look better on an application (again, wouldn't want them to suspect him of trying to make money DJing, etc. in Canada).

If anyone could weigh in on these last few things that would be great, as we're planning to have it sent off in a couple days. Thanks again so much for your help!

 

[amikety]

American applications all got Ottawa (Case Processing Pilot - Ottawa, CCP-Ottawa, CPP-O). Yes, the American visa office is in Canada. Don't ask why.

Having a job is better than no job. If he's unemployed, the IO will be more likely to suspect he will try to find work in Canada. However, this doesn't matter for the PR application. It would only matter at port of entry. As long as you and your family are showing support, it should be fine.

 

[poeticaesthetic]

American applications all got Ottawa (Case Processing Pilot - Ottawa, CCP-Ottawa, CPP-O). Yes, the American visa office is in Canada. Don't ask why.

Having a job is better than no job. If he's unemployed, the IO will be more likely to suspect he will try to find work in Canada. However, this doesn't matter for the PR application. It would only matter at port of entry. As long as you and your family are showing support, it should be fine.

Thanks! I am so tempted to ask why on Ottawa If all American applications for PR go to Ottawa, then why are there Canada visa offices in the U.S. listed for spousal sponsorship on CIC's website? What purpose do they serve?

I'm a little confused about what he should put down for the job thing. He's currently unemployed; that's his current activity on the form and has been for almost a year. If that looks bad to them somehow, the only other thing he could put down is self-employed. But canuck_in_uk suggested he not put down 'self-employed' anywhere on the application...meaning past experience as well? I'm worried it would look suspicious as his most recent previous job. I'm also worried 'unemployed for a year' doesn't look good. But maybe it looks better? And to be fair, it was only for 6 months before he came to Canada...and is going to get much longer. I mean they don't want him to work here while he's visiting...do many people in this situation (staying with their spouses in Canada) even have current jobs to list here, short of perhaps those owning their own businesses back home or telecommuting? Kind of confused on this. Also, between his parents and mine, he has letters of support and bank documents showing his available funds to be over $200,000. The letters his mom sent specified a smaller amount ($10,000) but the document my parents sent (just a letter from the bank, no promissory note) states the total amount in their account(s), and says this amount is available for any family members who may need it. I would hope this would be sufficient for them not to suspect him of illegal work activity, regardless of what he puts down for the job thing. But if anyone has anything to add, I would welcome it!

 

[amikety]

What did he put down on his taxes? Self-employed, employed, or unemployed? (He obvious can't put employed on the application now because he doesn't have paystubs to prove he's employed.)

Trust me, my husband doesn't make a ton and CIC considers his support sufficient for me. You don't need a ton. The fact he has a bank account and support to fall back on is great.

My personal theory is Canada is admitting who really won the War of 1812..... Just kidding

 

[poeticaesthetic]

What did he put down on his taxes? Self-employed, employed, or unemployed? (He obvious can't put employed on the application now because he doesn't have paystubs to prove he's employed.)

Trust me, my husband doesn't make a ton and CIC considers his support sufficient for me. You don't need a ton. The fact he has a bank account and support to fall back on is great.

My personal theory is Canada is admitting who really won the War of 1812..... Just kidding

Crap. He didn't file taxes for 2012 (he was with me at the time, and forgot to do it, and is also apparently...bad at filing his taxes? Sigh.) Though he only worked his job in 2012 for May/June, and prior to that he was unemployed since late 2008. Do you think any of this will cause problems?

 

[amikety]

Crap. He didn't file taxes for 2012 (he was with me at the time, and forgot to do it, and is also apparently...bad at filing his taxes? Sigh.) Though he only worked his job in 2012 for May/June, and prior to that he was unemployed since late 2008. Do you think any of this will cause problems?

CIC may have a concern about how he plans to support himself in the future. If he was a student, then it's not a big deal. If he's independantly wealthy, he might want to show some proof of that along with a letter. No matter what the case, he might want to prepare a short letter that explains why he's been unemployed and what his plans are to support himself once he becomes a PR of Canada.

 

[poeticaesthetic]

Hm...so do they cross-reference job history with tax returns? Honestly I have no idea when the last time he filed taxes was, as I was not with him prior to last August, and I doubt if he'll remember. He'd probably have to call the IRS. I really hope it doesn't come to that.

CIC may have a concern about how he plans to support himself in the future. If he was a student, then it's not a big deal. If he's independantly wealthy, he might want to show some proof of that along with a letter. No matter what the case, he might want to prepare a short letter that explains why he's been unemployed and what his plans are to support himself once he becomes a PR of Canada.

Yikes. The truth is he's bipolar, and had a difficult period of years where he was going through depression and substance abuse. He's over the substance abuse now; he's now 25. I was hoping none of that would have to come into play with the PR application (or any application for that matter). His employment history for the application for the past 10 years spanned 7 positions. His last job was at a place he'd worked years previously, but was short this time because he moved to a different state for several months (where he was DJing/selling art, though not lucratively, as I said) before coming here. He's just a highly creative person and has had a hard time finding work he found fulfilling, which is why he wants to work on making more money from his art in the future and hopefully find some sort of work where he's making a positive impact on the world (I've had a similar problem myself, though my experience looks better and less spotty, and I'm planning on finding work soon). I'm not sure what he can say regarding all that in a letter.

 

[amikety]

I suggested tax returns because that would back up his claim. CIC won't be interested in his tax returns.

I think he should write a letter about his plans for Canada. If he's interested in studying after his PR, he could show contact with universities or colleges (emails, reservations to attend an open house, etc). He can also discuss his previous job experience and what types of jobs he would like to work in Canada. I wouldn't go too deeply into the personal details of his past. Along with the statements you and your families have given, you have a strong application as far as financial support goes.

 

[poeticaesthetic]

I suggested tax returns because that would back up his claim. CIC won't be interested in his tax returns.

I think he should write a letter about his plans for Canada. If he's interested in studying after his PR, he could show contact with universities or colleges (emails, reservations to attend an open house, etc). He can also discuss his previous job experience and what types of jobs he would like to work in Canada. I wouldn't go too deeply into the personal details of his past. Along with the statements you and your families have given, you have a strong application as far as financial support goes.

Thank you for that. I was starting to get pretty worried about it. He is interested in studying after his PR, though so far he's had no contact with universities. He's also thought about apprenticing; he's interested in a few different things but nothing for certain yet. He does have some job experience that relates to what he's interested in...he's worked at a flower farm and a vitamin company, and is interested in things like botany, herbalism, organic gardening.

I figured it would be best not to go into detail about his past; he's never been hospitalized for mental illness or anything like that though. Would it be best to mention his struggle with depression/anxiety briefly to account for the gap in his work history, or just not say anything at all? He also travelled a fair amount during that time to different states, living in places for a few months here and there, trying to find a niche for himself as an artist/musician/anything of interest. Obviously none of those places worked out long-term, though I'm wondering if he could mention his travels and tie that into his interests/pursuit for employment to account for the gap (unless, again, it would make them suspicious of him working illegally...sigh). He was planning on including some details about work history/plans as well as finances and plans/time needed to apply for PR in the same letter, if that's alright. He should probably ask for at least 14 months if the PR goes to Ottawa (I have no idea when that police certificate will be back. I only know that they charged my credit card, but it's been well over a month since we sent it). Is it true that he doesn't have to complete the medical exam before applying? I had thought he did, but now I'm reading otherwise.

 

[amikety]

Ottawa is generally an "up front" medical, meaning you send in the medical with the application. You can wait - but it will slow down the process by 2-3 months. There's also a chance if the VO takes more than 12 months to process your application, he will have to re-do the medical. They do expires after 12 months, although the VO does have the option to extend it if the COPR is ready within 15 months. For most Americans, doing an upfront medical is the better choice.

Some VOs that take much longer (Islamabad, Nairobi), you wait to do the medical until they request it. (They both take over 2 years - year, NOT cool.)

If he was traveling, I would just say that. "Traveling." It explains what he was doing just fine. If he wants, he can tell them he was checking out the local art scenes, but traveling is fine too. If he requires an interview (rare for Americans), then he might have to explain a little better.

14 months is a fair time to ask for. That's what I did.

 

[poeticaesthetic]

Ottawa is generally an "up front" medical, meaning you send in the medical with the application. You can wait - but it will slow down the process by 2-3 months. There's also a chance if the VO takes more than 12 months to process your application, he will have to re-do the medical. They do expires after 12 months, although the VO does have the option to extend it if the COPR is ready within 15 months. For most Americans, doing an upfront medical is the better choice.

Some VOs that take much longer (Islamabad, Nairobi), you wait to do the medical until they request it. (They both take over 2 years - year, NOT cool.)

If he was traveling, I would just say that. "Traveling." It explains what he was doing just fine. If he wants, he can tell them he was checking out the local art scenes, but traveling is fine too. If he requires an interview (rare for Americans), then he might have to explain a little better.

14 months is a fair time to ask for. That's what I did.

Thanks so much for your quick/frequent replies! You've been a great help. I guess we'll try to do the medical exam up front then, and hope they process quickly enough? That would be pretty unfair if he had to pay twice.

Here's the letter I helped him draft up to go with the extension of status application. Does it look alright?


To whom it may concern,

I am requesting an extension of visitor status as I am currently in the process of applying for permanent residency. I am staying in Vancouver, B.C. with my wife, who is a Canadian citizen and is sponsoring me.

Enclosed are documents showing funds available for my extended stay from both my mother (who has sent me funds regularly via Western Union) and my wife’s parents, who are also supporting us financially at the moment. I am currently unemployed; once I receive permanent resident status I hope to study and work in the field(s) of botany/herbalism (I have worked with plants in the past) and/or music production (one of my hobbies; I recently spent 3 years traveling in the U.S. to immerse myself in various local music/art scenes, hence the gap in my work history).

I am awaiting my police certificate in the mail from the FBI and am about to schedule a medical exam. We plan to apply outland, and expect the processing of the application to take a total of 14 months: 1 month for receipt of the police certificate, to schedule and complete the medical exam, and to compile the application; 1 month for sponsor approval; and 12 months to process the application at the visa office in Ottawa, ON. Please consider granting me this length of stay for preparation and processing of my application.


Also not sure if he should be saying "once/when I receive permanent residency" or "if." Seems like when you apply for an extension of visitor status it's implied you'll be leaving when it's over...but is it okay to sound a little more presumptuous with PR? I mean, they already know you're applying...

 

[amikety]

The only thing I could suggest to make it stronger would be to include proof you've started the PR process. Maybe schedule your medical and write in the letter "The medical is scheduled on XX date 2013 and we can send a copy of the medical receipts as proof we intent to file for PR."

Or pay the fees upfront (you can pay ahead) and send in a copy of the receipt for that too.

Neither is necessary, but it would help strengthen the application so CIC knows you're serious about filing and aren't just going to sit around as a visitor forever Of course, they might get around to processing your VR after your PR application is in anyway. (That's what happened with mine - I got my extension after AOR.)

My husband has a friend in herbalism in Vancouver. If you run into a place called "mica herbs" or some spelling of meca, meka, mika, etc and /or a woman named Anna...

 

[poeticaesthetic]

The only thing I could suggest to make it stronger would be to include proof you've started the PR process. Maybe schedule your medical and write in the letter "The medical is scheduled on XX date 2013 and we can send a copy of the medical receipts as proof we intent to file for PR."

Or pay the fees upfront (you can pay ahead) and send in a copy of the receipt for that too.

Neither is necessary, but it would help strengthen the application so CIC knows you're serious about filing and aren't just going to sit around as a visitor forever Of course, they might get around to processing your VR after your PR application is in anyway. (That's what happened with mine - I got my extension after AOR.)

My husband has a friend in herbalism in Vancouver. If you run into a place called "mica herbs" or some spelling of meca, meka, mika, etc and /or a woman named Anna...

Thanks again. I wish we could afford to pay ahead of time but I don't think we can just yet. I'll have to ask his mom before scheduling the medical exam because she's paying for it (also kind of hectic right now because he's in the middle of dental visits until the end of the month). I have a list of practitioners but we still have to call. Do they normally have a lot of availability, or does it take a while to get in for this kind of thing? Maybe I could send a copy of what we sent to the FBI for his police certificate, as proof we've got the ball rolling?

After a bit of Googling I think I found this Anna person Thanks! My search also led to some interesting herbal shops and schools in the area which I'm sure my husband will enjoy

 

[amikety]

I think it depends on your area. Mine was a 3 day wait, which was fairly quick I think. Others have reported shorter and longer wait times. The copy of the FBI clearance would work. You can also just offer (which is what I did). I did mine online though so I couldn't attach anything extra. When you mail, you can add pictures of LOLcats if you want... (probably not the best idea).

Well, you found my husband's ex-girlfriend and good friend! He wants to head out that way to see her sometime in the future.

 

[poeticaesthetic]

I think it depends on your area. Mine was a 3 day wait, which was fairly quick I think. Others have reported shorter and longer wait times. The copy of the FBI clearance would work. You can also just offer (which is what I did). I did mine online though so I couldn't attach anything extra. When you mail, you can add pictures of LOLcats if you want... (probably not the best idea).

Well, you found my husband's ex-girlfriend and good friend! He wants to head out that way to see her sometime in the future.

Awesome! Yes I found her website, she seems very interesting

I suppose we could just offer proof. I'll see; I just hope the FBI application is enough if we can't schedule the medical exam in time; I want to send this off as soon as possible! Starting to get paranoid (again): when calculating a 6-month stay, do you have to count exactly 180 days from the date of entry into Canada? Or just 6 months? He entered the country on November 30, 2012, so I'm not sure which day his visitor status technically expires. Until a few minutes ago I kind of assumed May 30 (or would it be May 31? or sooner than that?).