Some Questions about Sponsorship for Spouse in Pakistan

[ichunaw]

This is my first post on this website and I'll give a brief introduction of myself. I applied for permanent residency for Canada under the Skilled Worker class in November 2010. I have a few years of work experience and ample qualifications for this. I also got all my security clearances sent at the beginning of this month. I currently live in the US and am here on H-1B status. I'm a citizen of India.

After this I had a few questions and concerns about the application process and I'm hoping I can get some answers here.

1. What timeline are we looking at? How much longer will the application process take place? I need to know an estimated date when all this will be done because I have to start planning for the future. I'm for sure moving to Canada for sure as soon as this is processed and I need to set everything up before I move. If I knew an estimated date of how long it takes after this stage, it would really help me. Should I do my medical checkup right now and keep it ready for the application. Will there be an interview? When will I know if there will be an interview? I've heard that sometimes the interview is waived. This is why I'm asking this.

2. I'm currently engaged to a Pakistani national who lives in Karachi, Pakistan. Presently, I cannot travel to Pakistan to get married to her for various personal reasons. However, I plan to get married to her after I move to Canada as a permanent resident. Even then, I will not be able to travel to Pakistan for the Nikaah ceremony. On the CIC website, it is mentioned that a marriage performed over the phone is valid for immigration purposes. This is what I plan on doing once I move to Canada and then sponsor her as my spouse right away. My question is: In your personal experience, have you come across applications of sponsorship where the marriage occured over the phone? And are there any restrictions in such a sponsorship application?

I have multiple emails and phone bills to document my relationship with my fiance. There was an engagement ceremony in the US with members of both families present and I have pictures of this event. There was an engagement ceremony in Karachi where my parents were present along with my fiance and there are pictures of this event as well. I will have similar picture and video documentation of the entire Nikaah ceremony when it takes place over the phone/video conference. This Nikaah is legally recognized in Pakistan which is where I'm going to get my marriage certificate from. The website mentions that if it is legally recognized in the country it takes place, it is acceptable by Canadian immigration.

3. After the sponsorship application is submitted, what timeframe are we looking at for my spouse's final approval for permenant residency to arrive? How long will she have to wait before she can join my in Canada?

4. If the process in Question #3 takes a very long time, is it advisable for my spouse to apply for a Tourist visa to Canada now and have it in her possession? She has family and friends in Toronto right now that she can get letters of invitation from? I plan to travel to Pakistan in November of 2010 to visit and complete other formalities concerning the marriage. Will she be able to travel back with me on her tourist visa and live in Canada with me while her permenant residency application is being processed?

I apologize for such a long post. I've searched the forums before and there are bits and pieces of the answers that I'm looking for but not all in one place. I'm just hoping for someone knowledgeable to guide me in the right direction concerning this. Thank you for your time. Have a wonderful day everyone!

 

[mrshah30]

dear forum members,

I lived abroad Ireland on international student visa but by mistake i registered my self as married in the taxation office.

when CIC will do background check whether they will check it or not and in the application form what should i write married or single..that is really confusing me..a lot need your assisstance plsss..

thx..

 

[iarblue]

Well i assume your applying through Buffalo as your in the US?The process time for the workers permit is 8 months in 80% of the cases.You can do your medical now if you like and submitt the forms to the visa office.As for the interview nobody knows if they will ask for one or not.
And as for you and your fiance,marrying her by proxy is fine,it is recgonized by immigration.
Wether she gets a visitors visa is up to immigration,place your app with all the required documents,proof she has ties to go back home.If she gets approved then she can come,when she is here she just needs to keep the visa in status while your in process.But if an interview for her is required then she will need to go home to do the interview unless you plan to apply inland.
If it is outland her app could take about 9 months to approve,if its inland a little longer.
I hope this helps.

 

[canadianwoman]

1. What timeline are we looking at? How much longer will the application process take place?

You can look up the average time applications take on the CIC website:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/international/menu-perm.asp
Federal skilled worker applications through the Buffalo office take 6 to 8 months on average.

2. I'm currently engaged to a Pakistani national who lives in Karachi, Pakistan. ... My question is: In your personal experience, have you come across applications of sponsorship where the marriage occured over the phone? And are there any restrictions in such a sponsorship application?

I've heard of several such marriages. If it is a legal marriage in Pakistan, a marriage over the phone will be recognized in Canada.

I have multiple emails and phone bills to document my relationship with my fiance. There was an engagement ceremony in the US with members of both families present and I have pictures of this event. There was an engagement ceremony in Karachi where my parents were present along with my fiance and there are pictures of this event as well. I will have similar picture and video documentation of the entire Nikaah ceremony when it takes place over the phone/video conference.

The presence of your families is very important as far as being considered good evidence by CIC. You can't submit video or DVD recordings, though.

3. After the sponsorship application is submitted, what timeframe are we looking at for my spouse's final approval for permenant residency to arrive? How long will she have to wait before she can join my in Canada?

Spousal sponsorships take between 7 and 14 months in Islamabad on average.

4. If the process in Question #3 takes a very long time, is it advisable for my spouse to apply for a Tourist visa to Canada now and have it in her possession? She has family and friends in Toronto right now that she can get letters of invitation from? I plan to travel to Pakistan in November of 2010 to visit and complete other formalities concerning the marriage. Will she be able to travel back with me on her tourist visa and live in Canada with me while her permenant residency application is being processed?

She can, and would then just have to go back to Pakistan for the interview, supposing she can also get extensions. The difficulty will be in her getting the TRV in the first place. To get it, she must prove she will go back to Pakistan before it expires: a leave of absence from her job or school, money in the bank, home ownership, etc. If she has travelled a lot before, it is also easier to get.