Sponsoring my Korean wife for permanent residency

[Rob_TO]

On form IMM0008 #11 it asks about 'Date and place of last entry to Canada' but the box is greyed out and can't be typed in because current country of residence is Korea. Did anyone write this is by hand if your wife/husband visited Canada at all?

That part only needs to be filled in if the current address is in Canada. So just leave it greyed out.

If currently not in Canada but has been to Canada before, I think there's another section that asks about travel history or details of visiting sponsor.

Did anyone include forms that didn't apply to them in the final package? There are some forms such as Use of a representative and Additional Dependants that aren't applicable to us. Should we still be sending them but with NA written on them?

Some forms you don't need to include at all, like use of representative and stat declaration of common-law. You can just put "N/A" on the checklist.

 

[bartjones]

Anyone can give an idea on when my wife and I can expect DM and COPR in the mail? we went to in progress 'as of January 7th'

Don't know when you'll go DM, but once you do, the COPR will arrive by DHL. It took about two and a half weeks to arrive for my wife, but that was probably because the geniuses at CIC sent it to the wrong address.

 

[CanNZ]

Do you remember how long it was between your wife's "in progress" to DM?

 

[bartjones]

Do you remember how long it was between your wife's "in progress" to DM?

My wife's file went to "In Progress" in August 2013. DM was in Septmeber 2014. I suspect yours is a little different. Since they've told you she's been approved pending review of the medical yours is likely to change much faster.

 

[Van Rooster]

Thanks for the replies.

On a side note, anyone who is starting this process or will be...
My wife has been doing similar research using a forum like this but on Naver Cafe where people are posting questions, processing times etc. that might be useful for the Korean partner

 

[bartjones]

Thanks for the replies.

On a side note, anyone who is starting this process or will be...
My wife has been doing similar research using a forum like this but on Naver Cafe where people are posting questions, processing times etc. that might be useful for the Korean partner

Do you have a link?

 

[Van Rooster]

Do you have a link?

Ya, sorry I was going to get one but got busy and forgot. I'll get it once it's daylight in Seoul and the wife is up.

 

[Van Rooster]

Here it is... apparently its a forum for international couples and somewhere in there is an immigration section. Those fluent in Korean should be able to figure it out.
http://cafe.naver.com/internationalove great name :

 

[bartjones]

Thanks

 

[NRSY]

Thanks for that link Van Rooster.

I have a couple more questions... My boyfriend and I (he is Korean we have been dating a few years) are planning to go to the embassy to sign marriage papers in the next few months but we dont plan on having an actual wedding ceremony or anything for another year or a year and a half. We really want to get a head start on the paper work to get PR before having a wedding so then we can hopefully get to Canada sooner. He is also planning to come to Canada for a working holiday towards the end of this year.

Would our application for PR be affected by not actually having a wedding ceremony and just signing marriage papers? We have plenty of other things for proof of our relationship. But just wondering if it looks sketchy by just signing papers.

Also, Would he still be able to come to Canada on a working holiday visa (having already sent in an application for PR)? I think Van Rooster asked a similar question and someone said it would be fine.

Is it better for him to stay in Korea throughout the process or does that matter?

 

[Van Rooster]

Would our application for PR be affected by not actually having a wedding ceremony and just signing marriage papers? We have plenty of other things for proof of our relationship. But just wondering if it looks sketchy by just signing papers.

You'll have to provide an explanation on the application as to why there was no ceremony (finances etc..). Not having a ceremony will probably cause more scrutiny from the VO so you'll want to have some diverse supporting proof of the relationship. Pictures of a ceremony with family and friends goes a long way but I don't think they'd reject you if you provide a good reason and good supporting docs.
The more experienced members will have better insight.

Also, Would he still be able to come to Canada on a working holiday visa (having already sent in an application for PR)? I think Van Rooster asked a similar question and someone said it would be fine.

Is it better for him to stay in Korea throughout the process or does that matter?

As Rob_TO and bartjones said to me the WHV and PR are two separate things. I gather it's the same situation as applying outland and the applicant coming to Canada on a visitors visa while awaiting PR which several people have done.
We should be sending our app off in the next 2 weeks and my wife will be coming in late April so the PR app should have 2-3 month head start on her 12-month WHV.

 

[Van Rooster]

NRSY, I called the CIC helpline just to double check and hear it from the feds directly and they said the same as the knowledgeable Rob_TO/bartjones.

Having a working holiday visa and applying for PR have no influence on one another. If you have been granted a visa (visitor, worker, WHV...) you have been given permission to come to Canada and this has no relation to a PR application and vice versa.

 

[jalee5225]

Just doing the paperwork at this stage, but I've got a few questions that I can't seem to get a handle on.

1. In the immigration form IM0008ENU_2D,once all the information for the applicant has been filled out, the last few pages refer to dependents (not that I really consider her parents and siblings her dependents). I am going to be sponsoring just my wife, as she is the only one moving to Canada. I'm not entirely certain her parents or siblings ever will, does this mean I leave this blank? The reason I ask is because the guide frames this section in this way:

"You must list all family members in your application for permanent residence, whether they are accompanying you to Canada or not. You must also provide details on family members whose location is unknown (including those missing or presumed dead). If you don’t, you will not be able to sponsor family members at a later date if they are not listed on your application."

Does this mean then, if there is the slighest of slightest chances in the future of them moving to Canada, I need to list them?

3. On the same document, there is a section that refers to National Identity Document. Does the citizen identity card suffice for this?

4. I know further along the road I need to get her criminal background check done. I know we can get this online and print it ourselves from the police website (after a mess of security installations on the PC) but will this be acceptable? Or do I absolutely need to get it direct from a Korean police station?

Sorry if this isn't the appropriate space for asking these questions...

 

[lengjai]

Thanks for that link Van Rooster.

I have a couple more questions... My boyfriend and I (he is Korean we have been dating a few years) are planning to go to the embassy to sign marriage papers in the next few months but we dont plan on having an actual wedding ceremony or anything for another year or a year and a half. We really want to get a head start on the paper work to get PR before having a wedding so then we can hopefully get to Canada sooner. He is also planning to come to Canada for a working holiday towards the end of this year.

Would our application for PR be affected by not actually having a wedding ceremony and just signing marriage papers? We have plenty of other things for proof of our relationship. But just wondering if it looks sketchy by just signing papers.

Also, Would he still be able to come to Canada on a working holiday visa (having already sent in an application for PR)? I think Van Rooster asked a similar question and someone said it would be fine.

Is it better for him to stay in Korea throughout the process or does that matter?

I was in the same situation as you however my now wife had already used her working visa when she first came to Canada. We had no option but to register our marriage first then have an official wedding this or next year. We talked a lot on skype and I actually went through the whole skype history and highlighted the calls which took me hours do to and also provided a history of our relationship on microsoft office with A LOT of pictures detailing the time date and location of each picture. I agree it may be difficult without a ceremony or wedding pictures but as long as you tell the truth and it is real love, it should be approved.

On a Side note my wife got her CoPR last week and now we are looking for flight deals for April. I am worried about her getting a decent job in Toronto but hopefully everything will work out

 

[Van Rooster]

Just doing the paperwork at this stage, but I've got a few questions that I can't seem to get a handle on.

1. In the immigration form IM0008ENU_2D,once all the information for the applicant has been filled out, the last few pages refer to dependents (not that I really consider her parents and siblings her dependents). I am going to be sponsoring just my wife, as she is the only one moving to Canada. I'm not entirely certain her parents or siblings ever will, does this mean I leave this blank? The reason I ask is because the guide frames this section in this way:

"You must list all family members in your application for permanent residence, whether they are accompanying you to Canada or not. You must also provide details on family members whose location is unknown (including those missing or presumed dead). If you don't, you will not be able to sponsor family members at a later date if they are not listed on your application."

Does this mean then, if there is the slighest of slightest chances in the future of them moving to Canada, I need to list them?

3. On the same document, there is a section that refers to National Identity Document. Does the citizen identity card suffice for this?

4. I know further along the road I need to get her criminal background check done. I know we can get this online and print it ourselves from the police website (after a mess of security installations on the PC) but will this be acceptable? Or do I absolutely need to get it direct from a Korean police station?

Sorry if this isn't the appropriate space for asking these questions...

1. As far as I know dependants refers specifically to children you both may have. But I was never 100% sure based on their confusing language, hopefully someone else can confirm. We actually removed the dependant section on the PDF as we have no kids but I'm wondering if we should add it back in and put 'N/A' or 'None' in the name field.

3. Yes, the Korean national ID card is what people have used I believe. I think some have included a non-translated photocopy and had no problem.

4. I wouldn't bother with the computer way and installing all the Korean activeX bloatware. Just pop into a police station and get it printed out, it's pretty fast (and has English). Make sure it includes a 'Lapsed records' search.