Sponsoring my Korean wife for permanent residency

[shward6]

Hi Everyone! I'm new to the board and hoping that someone can shed some light on how best for me to proceed with my spousal sponsorship. I am a Canadian citizen and my boyfriend is South Korean. We've been together for just over four years. (I'm 29 y/o and he is 32 y/o) I was living in Seoul when we met and moved back to Toronto about a year and a half ago to get myself re-established (work-wise), save money and find a place to live before he moves here to join me. I have a steady job right now so we're planning on him coming to Canada this summer. At that time, we'll get married and apply for the spousal visa. Currently, South Koreans can stay in Canada for up to 6 months without a visitor's visa but I've been told that my boyfriend could have difficulty getting through customs if he specifies his intention to marry while in Canada BUT if he doesn't specify his intention to marry then this could come to be viewed as a potential red flag if it is discovered in the application process. It appears that the processing times in Manilla (outland) are shorter than processing times here. (inland) Does it make sense for my boyfriend to come here, get married and then apply outland? Or should we apply inland? Any advice would be most appreciated!

 

[Marticus]

Hi Everyone! I'm new to the board and hoping that someone can shed some light on how best for me to proceed with my spousal sponsorship. I am a Canadian citizen and my boyfriend is South Korean. We've been together for just over four years. (I'm 29 y/o and he is 32 y/o) I was living in Seoul when we met and moved back to Toronto about a year and a half ago to get myself re-established (work-wise), save money and find a place to live before he moves here to join me. I have a steady job right now so we're planning on him coming to Canada this summer. At that time, we'll get married and apply for the spousal visa. Currently, South Koreans can stay in Canada for up to 6 months without a visitor's visa but I've been told that my boyfriend could have difficulty getting through customs if he specifies his intention to marry while in Canada BUT if he doesn't specify his intention to marry then this could come to be viewed as a potential red flag if it is discovered in the application process. It appears that the processing times in Manila (outland) are shorter than processing times here. (inland) Does it make sense for my boyfriend to come here, get married and then apply outland? Or should we apply inland? Any advice would be most appreciated!

Hello! welcome and congrats!

I'm not a pro here, but I'm already along in the process and have been actively following all the more experienced folks on here, so maybe I can help shed SOME light on your situation!

1.) My advice would be to apply 'outland' It doesn't really matter where you physically live, and it seems getting a temporary worker's permit (whic you were able to apply for along with an 'inland' application - for your future husband - has now been changed) So, apply outland, simply because the processing times, on average, are quicker. You and your boyfriend can live / be visiting in Canada, the whole time, doesn't matter. The only thing that could potentially cause a wrinkle in the outland application is if an interview is requested (seems they happen infrequently, though). If an interview was requested, in your outland application, it would have to physically happen at the Canadian Embassy, in Seoul.

2.) South Korean citizens are allowed to visit Canada, on a tourist visa up to 6 months, you are correct. You and your husband are totally entitled to get married in Canada, even if he isn't a citizen. I did the same thing, except in reverse here in South Korea (on an E2 visa) The only red flags it would raise, I think, is if your husband overstayed his visa. So in that case, make sure to tell your visa officer, succinctly, that your husband will indeed be returning to Korean before the expiration of his tourist visa. Having a return ticket is a good thing for proof, and they cost about 300,000 won more than a one-way. Anyways, I'm sure the more experienced guys and gals have a better answer, but hopefully I set a few worries aside for you.

Marticus

 

[bartjones]

Currently, South Koreans can stay in Canada for up to 6 months without a visitor's visa but I've been told that my boyfriend could have difficulty getting through customs if he specifies his intention to marry while in Canada BUT if he doesn't specify his intention to marry then this could come to be viewed as a potential red flag if it is discovered in the application process.

Someone can correct me if I'm missing something, but I'm not sure he really has to tell them he is coming to Canada to get married. Why can't he just say that he is coming to visit his girlfriend for a few months? Once you're married, he can file his PR application and apply to extend his visitor's visa. With a Canadian wife who is employed and has a place for him to stay that extension should be easily granted.

Agree with Marticus, make sure he has a return ticket.

Not sure about the inland/outland thing. Others here with more expertise might be able to help.

 

[Rob_TO]

Someone can correct me if I'm missing something, but I'm not sure he really has to tell them he is coming to Canada to get married. Why can't he just say that he is coming to visit his girlfriend for a few months? Once you're married, he can file his PR application and apply to extend his visitor's visa. With a Canadian wife who is employed and has a place for him to stay that extension should be easily granted.

You don't need to volunteer information. If you don't mention you're getting married, and they don't ask, then it won't matter. When the VO is reviewing your PR app, they don't check with the border officer that let you in to analyze what you said.

While you don't need to volunteer the info, if they ask you more specifically what your intentions are with your partner, or ask straight up if you intend to get married, then you should be honest and answer "yes". It's not illegal for a visitor to get married in Canada, so there should be no problems with this.

 

[Marticus]

Hi everyone,

Hope you are doing well,

I have a couple questions in terms of 'changing my address.'

1.) We'll be moving (well, my wife will be 'visiting') in September, until we have to land her at the nearest US border, once she receives her PR.
First question is: HOW should I change my address? I see it looks like you can do it online on ECAS? is that full-proof? or should I be hunting down contact details for Manila Visa office / Canada immigration?

2.) If I know my Canadian mailing address now, should I do it right away? Or should I wait closer to our moving date (September 16th we are leaving from Gimhae)? [in hopes that we might have it sorted in a 9 month window, which seems super dicey at this point]

*note* currently, my address is set to our current Korean address, but I'm looking to swap it to my Canadian address.

Thanks!

 

[bartjones]

This is the email I got from CIC last spring when I moved back and asked them how to update my address.

How to submit a Change of Address/Email Address Request

In order to change your residential/mailing address and/or email address, you may send your request by email to address-change@cic.gc.ca. You must include the following information:

Surname - Exactly as it appears on the passport or identity document;
Given name(s) - Exactly as it appears on the passport or identity document;
Complete address (including the postal code). If the residential address is different from the mailing address, please provide both addresses;
Email address;
Telephone number;
Date of birth; and
Client ID Number.

The change will be done within 5 business days.

Remember to take the spaces out of the email address.

If I were you I would send the email a few weeks before you leave just to make sure any mail from them goes to where you are headed and not to where you no longer are.

 

[CanNZ]

Can't you just change your address online? I just go to their website and do it there.

 

[bartjones]

Can't you just change your address online? I just go to their website and do it there.

You mean ECAS?

 

[CanNZ]

You mean ECAS?

Yeah, that's the one, I think.

 

[bartjones]

Have you tried it? It says there that you can only do it through ECAS if your application is being processed in Canada, but maybe that's not correct.

 

[CanNZ]

Worked everytime for me. But I will email manila just in case.

 

[bartjones]

Worked everytime for me. But I will email manila just in case.

Did it change both you and your wife's addresses?

 

[Marticus]

GoT (see what I did there?) another question for everyone here?

Interviews. They seem to be uncommon, and I do realize that no matter where in the world I am at the time of a request, if it were to happen, we would have to return to Seoul for it to happen.

So, my question for this is (actually, it's 3 sub-questions pertaining to "interviews")

1.) When "usually" does it happen? like how far along the process? early? middle? near the end? completely random?
2.) Would BOTH of us have to be there for the interview? just my sponsored spouse? just me?
3.) What happens during the interview? Is it just a sit-down and chat to make sure everything is legit? does it involve skill-testing questions? perhaps a game of Twister with your VO?

All joking aside, hoping some folks would shed a little light on this part of the process, if indeed it comes to it!

THanks!

 

[Red Tape Sucks]

GoT (see what I did there?) another question for everyone here?

Interviews. They seem to be uncommon, and I do realize that no matter where in the world I am at the time of a request, if it were to happen, we would have to return to Seoul for it to happen.

My understanding is that you have to go to Manilla for the interview and that Seoul has nothing to do with the PR application now. I could be wrong, but that is my understanding.

 

[Red Tape Sucks]

Quick question for you all....

Once your wife receives her notification that she has been accepted for the PR Card, does that start any kind of clock for when she must enter the country?

So, if she received the notification in November, would we be ok waiting until February/March to move?

Thanks again for all the help you guys provide! This site definitely makes this process a lot easier to understand!