Questions about Spousal Sponsorship***

[MandLynn]

My husband is a Canadian citizen, and lives/works in Ontario, Canada. We have been together 10 yrs, married 3 yrs, and have two daughters together (ages 5 & 3). Our daughters & myself live in NY, United States. They were born in the states, but since he is Canadian we are going to be applying for their certificate's of citizenship soon.

We are ready to start the application process for him to sponsor myself to become a PR of Canada, have been researching for a while and just have a few questions that I am unsure of....

1) We have printed out the applications now and are going to be working on those, so I should get my medical exam done soon and not wait, correct?

2) We are hoping to enroll our daughter in Kindergarten there for Fall 2015, but I'm not sure my application will be approved by then due to wait times, so does anyone know if it's possible for me to get a Temporary Visitors Pass so I can stay there with her starting in the summer so she can begin Kindergarten, just until my PR is all set? (I'm applying from the U.S. outland and saw that processing times are about 6-8 months which is great, but still won't be done by the time she is set to start Kindergarten in Ontario...)

Thanks in advance! I had more questions but can't remember right now...

 

[MandLynn]

We are still confused about the whole process as it's very overwhelming and the most important thing we've done and don't want to screw it up---so ANY advice/tips would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

 

[MilesAway]

Apply for your FBI check now, because it's currently taking a long time. The medicals should be the last thing you do, because they're good for 12 months.

Read the forms, and read them again. Fill them out, put them aside, and then go back and check them again.

As a US/CAN couple, married with 2 kids, the level of scrutiny on your application will be fairly low. But still, you need to include proof of relationship, such as pictures.

As an American, you can visit Canada for 6 months. Be sure to tell the people at the border you are visiting. You can apply to extend your stay if your application is not done by then. Note that you cannot work or study while you are here as a visitor.

 

[MandLynn]

Okay great. Haven't looked into the FBI check yet, but will do so and figure that out so it's done asap.

And as for staying in Canada up to 6 months---that's without a temporary visa or anything, I don't have to apply for anything? I was hoping that if I explain the situation and they see that my PR application is in and she'll be starting school in Ontario, that it would be fine---so good to know!

 

[MilesAway]

Americans cannot apply for a visitor visa, so you get 6 months when you cross the border. Note that it's always up to the border guard as to how long you get. If you get 2 months, you just need to apply to extend your stay before your 2 months are up.

Edit: People recommend bringing a copy of your payment receipt and/or application, showing that you have applied for PR and are following the rules.

 

[MandLynn]

Where can I find to do the FBI check (I'm in U.S.)---I can't seem to find out where & how to do it??

 

[Ponga]

Where can I find to do the FBI check (I'm in U.S.)---I can't seem to find out where & how to do it??

Start here:
http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/identity-history-summary-checks/submitting-an-identity-history-summary-request-to-the-fbi

Then, simply find some place local to you that can take your fingerprints.

Send the fingerprint card and the application for the report to the FBI (along with the $18 fee) and wait for your letter to arrive. The current processing time (per the FBI website) is ~ 14-16 weeks.

 

[MandLynn]

Ouch, didn't realize it took so long. Thank you, will be doing that right away!

 

[MandLynn]

Just to make sure I do this right since it already takes so long---called our local police dept. and they said that the person requesting the fingerprints gives you the fingerprint card--so do I just print out the card shown on the FBI website onto card stock paper myself, is that what we're supposed to do??

 

[jamsham12]

Just to make sure I do this right since it already takes so long---called our local police dept. and they said that the person requesting the fingerprints gives you the fingerprint card--so do I just print out the card shown on the FBI website onto card stock paper myself, is that what we're supposed to do??

The place i went to, which i happened to google charged me $1.00 for a FBI fingerprint card, i rather spend the $1 then print the actual card. They did all the prints for $25.00. That was in Virginia though.

 

[blueangel371115]

When I went to the Sheriff's office where I live they used their own paper even though I brought my own fingerprint card. They took my fingerprints with black ink, did a digital scan and printed them onto their own paper and I had no issues. Mine also cost $25.