Requirements for Moving To Canada After Approval

[Cheeseburger]

My question is in regards to after the process is complete. I am an American living in the states, and my wife is Canadian living in Canada. Once (god willing) our application for spousal sponsorship is approved, must I move to Canada immediately? Or Can I move there for example 6 months after approval.

Why on earth would we want to stay apart longer than we have to? Well we don't really want to but that time could potentially be needed to find me employment in Canada. In addition I am currently employed in the states and an extra 6 months of savings will help towards a down payment on a home. I certainly won't be complaining if I have to move there immediately. But looking at our finances, we will probably be a bit short on a down payment and will probably have to rent. But another half year of us both saving could be enough to push us over the edge. Where as if I move there immediately and we are paying rent while I look for work, it could push home buying back maybe 2 years.

So my question is what are the requirements once approved? Must I pack my bags and head to Canada the day after. Or if we decided to save up another 6 months before the move, would that be okay? What are the rules regarding this?

Thanks for any help you can give

 

[Cheeseburger]

Haha, ya I have been using cheeseburger for years on so many accounts, the problem is I get hungry whenever I see my own account name!

I am a little unclear. On my visa validity? Do you mean like my visa will be valid a set time and I have to go before it expires? If so how long until it typically expires? Does that vary? We just submitted our documents and am very much still learning as I go about the process.

 

[drewday]

Haha, ya I have been using cheeseburger for years on so many accounts, the problem is I get hungry whenever I see my own account name!

I am a little unclear. On my visa validity? Do you mean like my visa will be valid a set time and I have to go before it expires? If so how long until it typically expires? Does that vary? We just submitted our documents and am very much still learning as I go about the process.

yeah according to your visa validity yummy cheeseburger , my first post got deleted it accidentaly grrr sorry but yes there is visa validity , before it expires you have to leave and land , they will send Corp( certificate of permanent residency )

yes even me learn lot on waiting processing time and here too lot here

 

[Cheeseburger]

Do you have any inclination of how long that validity typically is? Are we talking 15 days, 6 months, a year? Or is it all over the place on a case by case basis?

Thanks again for the help

 

[drewday]

actually not all are the same , some have 2 months some are 3 , some here I read they only have like weeks , so depend on officer , some say it depend on medical validity

 

[drewday]

am Cheeseburger I have to walk for now and look for Cheeseburger your name makes me hungry ,, hope that I helped you but don't worry , your visa office works fast , soon youll get your visa in hand , so keep praying and smile ,,

I have to have Cheeseburger right now see ya bless day to you

 

[Cheeseburger]

Haha thanks for the help. Sorry I made you hungry!

 

[commonlawsponsor]

Correct me if I am wrong. But don't you just have to land before the visa expires and then you can return to the States in this case.

So if it expires on June 30th, you can go for a short visit on June 15th "land" and do the paperwork and then return to the States and then come back to Canada at a later date. As long as you leave yourself enough time to fulfill your residency days in Canada for PR.

 

[zardoz]

Correct me if I am wrong. But don't you just have to land before the visa expires and then you can return to the States in this case.

So if it expires on June 30th, you can go for a short visit on June 15th "land" and do the paperwork and then return to the States and then come back to Canada at a later date. As long as you leave yourself enough time to fulfill your residency days in Canada for PR.

Spot on.. Absolutely correct.

The OP should however ensure that they have an address in Canada to which the PR card can be sent.
Ideally, someone there will sent it on via post or courier.

 

[Avadava]

The validity of the visa depends on the validity of the medical exam (which is valid for one year) or the one of your passport, whichever is shorter. For example, if your medical expires in May 2015 and your passport in January 2015, then the visa will be valid only till January, and vice versa.

About the medical exam, this can be extended by the request of the visa officer if and only if the medical exam's expiration date is what keeps the VO from issuing your COPR (Confirmation of Permanent Residence). But in some cases, when the med exam expires, they will send you a request to do a new one, which will be valid for another year.

Like others have mentioned, if you want to stay in the States 6 more months, you can take a short trip to Canada before the expiry date on the COPR, do the landing process (providing a Canadian mailing address for your PR card to be sent to) and go back to the States. For returning, you have two options. Being a visa exempt national you can just return with only using your passport, like any other US citizen. Or you can ask your wife to mail the PR card to you in the States.