Processing times change the game

[michelsavage]

I am a Canadian living in Thailand with my Thai wife. I want to go home with my wife. Processing times for Spouse Sponsorship is 39 days for sponsor eligibility, and 29 months for the application. Two questions: 1. If I am deemed eligible as a sponsor, does that mean that my wife's application will be automatically accepted? and 2. If the answer to 1. is "yes", would it be wise to move to Canada, my wife on a tourist visa, while waiting for the 29 months? During that time, I read it's possible for her to ask for a work permit after 16 months... Thanks for any advice on this.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

No, if you are approved, it does not mean that she will be approved. It just means that you are an eligible sponsor (not bankrupt, not on welfare etc.).

The long processing time of Singapore is due to those who get stuck in the interview queue. If you submit a very strong app and avoid the interview, the app should be done in a year or less.

If your wife already has a TRV, she can come with you to Canada as a visitor while the app processes. However, she will not be able to apply for a work permit based on the outland app; that is only for those who apply inland.

If she doesn't have a TRV, her chances of getting one, especially after applying for PR, are very low.

 

[ImABule]

No, if you are approved, it does not mean that she will be approved. It just means that you are an eligible sponsor (not bankrupt, not on welfare etc.).

The long processing time of Singapore is due to those who get stuck in the interview queue. If you submit a very strong app and avoid the interview, the app should be done in a year or less.

If your wife already has a TRV, she can come with you to Canada as a visitor while the app processes. However, she will not be able to apply for a work permit based on the outland app; that is only for those who apply inland.

If she doesn't have a TRV, her chances of getting one, especially after applying for PR, are very low.

Hi canuck_in_uk,

When the processing times were determined by visa office I was under the impression that Singapore process times were so long due to the interview queue. However, with their new way of displaying the processing times by country, what could possibly explain why Thailand (29 months), Vietnam (24 months), Bangladesh (26 months) have extensively longer processing times than the rest of the countries through Singapore visa office? My wife's country (Indonesia) as well as Malaysia, Brunei, Laos, and Timor Leste all remained unchanged the 17 month time frame that was posted when they took away the visa office specific timelines and Singapore went down to 13 months. If they are all in same VO and have the same interview queue what could explain the drastically differing timelines? The only thing I can think of is level of marriage fraud maybe?

 

[zumbagirl]

I am a Canadian living in Thailand with my Thai wife. I want to go home with my wife. Processing times for Spouse Sponsorship is 39 days for sponsor eligibility, and 29 months for the application. Two questions: 1. If I am deemed eligible as a sponsor, does that mean that my wife's application will be automatically accepted? and 2. If the answer to 1. is "yes", would it be wise to move to Canada, my wife on a tourist visa, while waiting for the 29 months? During that time, I read it's possible for her to ask for a work permit after 16 months... Thanks for any advice on this.

My guess would that it is highly unlikely that your wife would receive a tourist visa to Canada during the processing of the spousal sponsorship. You can try anyway. good luck navigating the immigration system!

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Hi canuck_in_uk,

When the processing times were determined by visa office I was under the impression that Singapore process times were so long due to the interview queue. However, with their new way of displaying the processing times by country, what could possibly explain why Thailand (29 months), Vietnam (24 months), Bangladesh (26 months) have extensively longer processing times than the rest of the countries through Singapore visa office? My wife's country (Indonesia) as well as Malaysia, Brunei, Laos, and Timor Leste all remained unchanged the 17 month time frame that was posted when they took away the visa office specific timelines and Singapore went down to 13 months. If they are all in same VO and have the same interview queue what could explain the drastically differing timelines? The only thing I can think of is level of marriage fraud maybe?

Yes, previous levels of fraud usually always play a part in processing. I believe that there are many more applicants from the first group than there are from the second group, which would also affect the times. Another factor is how well the individual country communicates with CIC when they do their checks.

 

[ImABule]

Yes, previous levels of fraud usually always play a part in processing. I believe that there are many more applicants from the first group than there are from the second group, which would also affect the times. Another factor is how well the individual country communicates with CIC when they do their checks.

I see, so there would be a certain number of officers assigned to each countries applicants? And so when there is more people applying from Thailand than Indonesia, Indonesian applications would have less processing time although it's in the same office?

Yes, the communication between CIC and the countries was something I knew could affect times, I didn't think the impact would be too great though.

 

[Shineon39]

Hi canuck_in_uk,

When the processing times were determined by visa office I was under the impression that Singapore process times were so long due to the interview queue. However, with their new way of displaying the processing times by country, what could possibly explain why Thailand (29 months), Vietnam (24 months), Bangladesh (26 months) have extensively longer processing times than the rest of the countries through Singapore visa office? My wife's country (Indonesia) as well as Malaysia, Brunei, Laos, and Timor Leste all remained unchanged the 17 month time frame that was posted when they took away the visa office specific timelines and Singapore went down to 13 months. If they are all in same VO and have the same interview queue what could explain the drastically differing timelines? The only thing I can think of is level of marriage fraud maybe?

I think that you're not far from the truth about the interview queue. But I think that we cannot rely on processing time. I just looked for USA and it's 15 month, 6 month would be more realistic. I looked for some african countries with bad reputation on mariage fraud and the processing time was between 13-17 month. For Thailand I know 4 other guys, outside this forum, who have Thai wife and they all got decision made between 8 and 12 month, no interview. So I crossed my finger and hope that my wife will get her visa soon as possible and wish everybody the same

 

[ImABule]

I think that you're not far from the truth about the interview queue. But I think that we cannot rely on processing time. I just looked for USA and it's 15 month, 6 month would be more realistic. I looked for some african countries with bad reputation on mariage fraud and the processing time was between 13-17 month. For Thailand I know 4 other guys, outside this forum, who have Thai wife and they all got decision made between 8 and 12 month, no interview. So I crossed my finger and hope that my wife will get her visa soon as possible and wish everybody the same

And as I recall, your notes looked favourable towards there not being an interview. I'm currently waiting for second set of notes and hope to recieve good news as well.

 

[Shineon39]

And as I recall, your notes looked favourable towards there not being an interview. I'm currently waiting for second set of notes and hope to recieve good news as well.

Wish you good news, when do you expect your second gcms set?

 

[ImABule]

Wish you good news, when do you expect your second gcms set?

We just ordered it yesterday. Last time it only took 12 days though. So could be two weeks could be a month. The good news is I've seen that Singapore has been sending interview letters within a month or two recently and we haven't gotten one yet

 

[Shineon39]

The good news is I've seen that Singapore has been sending interview letters within a month or two recently and we haven't gotten one yet

Nice would be a relief to confirm that your wife is not on the interview queue Next step to worrie would be how long background check will take?? I believe that even CIC don't have controlon this one if i'm right??

 

[ImABule]

Nice would be a relief to confirm that your wife is not on the interview queue Next step to worrie would be how long background check will take?? I believe that even CIC don't have controlon this one if i'm right??

Once eligibility is passed and I know their won't be an interview all my worrying will stop lol. Although CIC doesn't control how long security check will take I'm confident it won't take long as my wife is young and has never had any gov/military position and never left Indonesia. Just knowing she will be approved regardless of the length of time needed for the checks is more than comforting. Her medical already shows as passed.

 

[buonqua]

If you apply for tourist visa they want you to convince them that your wife will leave Canada before her visa expires. They need evidence such as strong ties to her home country. Strong ties can be spouse and kids. But since you the husband is a Canadian citizen it makes the visa harder to attain though not impossible.

I'm in the same situation as you my spouse is from Vietnam, my daughter has Canadian citizenship by birth. I want us to unite as a family while we wait out this process. I've already quit my job haven't worked last 2 years. I'll apply for the tourist visa. She has no strong ties to her home country though. Worst they reject it and I'm out 100 or so dollars.

My only convincing argument will be that I don't want to jeopardize the sponsorship application by not having her leave before visa expires.

24 and 29 months is way too long. Yes our application might be strong but it all comes down to the person going over it and contingency plans have to be made if it does indeed take that long.

 

[phamhainguyen68]

We just ordered it yesterday. Last time it only took 12 days though. So could be two weeks could be a month. The good news is I've seen that Singapore has been sending interview letters within a month or two recently and we haven't gotten one yet

I ordered my second notes on April 27. Will let you guys know when I receipt it. Still arguing with my wife who gonna pay the 5$ fee

 

[ImABule]

I ordered my second notes on April 27. Will let you guys know when I receipt it. Still arguing with my wife who gonna pay the 5$ fee

If my file arrived at SVO in November I'd be on my 4th or 5th notes by now. LOL.