sponsoring wife from afghanistan

[jaweda]

Hey iam new to this forum but I have been reading alot of peoples stories and how helpful it is, so thats why i want to ask some experts in this forum who have similar experiences that iam going through.

Basically iam a canadian citizen for the last 22 years. My background is afghani and i recently sponsored my wife from afghanistan. i want a few things cleared so that i can just relax and be patient. I had no idea that this whole visa process could be so difficult. I heard from alot of you in this forum they had to wait for years. I respect your will to be patient for that long but then again if you love someone it shouldnt really matter. I also talked with my MP in vaughan and she told me that right now we are in the 1st phase of the process and to call back in october which is 3 months from now thats doesn't make sense. She said we still have either the backgoournd checks, interview or add documents they might ask for. From what i read background checks take so long and why if your not a criminal why should it take so long. Me and my wife have no criminal record thank god but i heard that for background checks are done quicker for women than men is this always the case. And just to let you know my file is in the visa office in islamabad and i did chech the cic website for the timeline which says 9 months. I also heard that canadian afghans who sponsored their spouse from afghanistan recently got approved within 6 months so i dont know maybe things are different now. Anyway i will provide the timeline after but right now i want to know a couple of things.

1) Is it good that iam a canadian citizen for so long and that i have no criminal record will this help with my wife's visa getting approved?
2) What determines if someone gets called for an interview or not. What is the best way possible to avoid being interviewed specially if its your wife your sponsoring and not your husband and does it matter based on gender?
3) I have submitted everything on the checklist and my wife filled out her application that was sent from the visa office and there doesnt seem to be anything we could of left out. its was straight forward and what would be the reason if they asked for more documents if everything was sent to them?
4) What does it mean when you get a immigration b file number emailed to you from the visa office does this mean that we are almost done or still have along way to go and what is the timeline after this is issued ?
5)And last thing what should i be looking for in the future so that i can prepare myself for that day and give me some advice please?

heres is my timelne

Sent app to chc-m 10-10-2009
approved 10-31-2009
appl received 11-10-2009
chc-isl started processing 11-18-2009
received email with b file number 05-28-2010
did not ask for additional documents or information said its in processing right now.
And now still waiting 2months later no news or re-med request because my wifes got expired on apr-2010 I was advised to wait until they request a new one. Thats all so please anybody reading this please help me to understand and i cant wait anymore longer to be without my wife its too painful. Thanks alot

 

[iarblue]

Islamabad is 14 months for 80% of the cases,So if it is still in that timeframe is is unlikely your MP will find out anything in 3 months so.You say that they started your ap in the visa office Nov 18th 2009,so it could be as much as Jan 2011.But if you read that people are getting approved in 6 months?
And you not having a record only helps you to sponsor after that you really have nothing to do with her getting her visa,it is her background,her medical,her police checks,that they look at,the only thing you help with is the proof your in a true relationship.
And nobody really knows how to get around an interview,if they have any feeling at all that the want to clear up,thne they will ask you for an interview(well your wife).So if you left anything for them to question then they likely will.
They may want more documents if anything is not legiable,missed signature,or expired,they will let you know if they want anything.
B file numbers are sent to the applicant as soon as the visa office recieves your file,it doesnt mean your any closer,it is just a number for reference,if they asked you for more documents,when you send them to the visa office you use the B number so they know who you are.Or if you send emails fax,etc. they know who its coming from.
Nobody knows whats in your future bud,only you.If her app is approved they will request her PP and put the visa in it she then has to land before that visa expires.
You said her medical expired.Well just wait for them they will send you forms to go get it redone.
Be patient its a long road.

 

[jaweda]

Hey iarblue thanks alot i really appreciate you taking the time to respond back. Now i have a good idea of what to expect. If what you say is true does the 14 months include everything from police checks, to background check and medical and all or that comes after 14months please can you just clarify this and if you dont mind can i please send you updates as to whats going on and maybe you can help me out later on if i need to ask you something. Thanks and greatly appreciate it. And one more thing i need to ask can you share your timeline please it would be great to have a reference to if not thats cool i understand no problem. Thanks again

jawed

 

[canadianwoman]

I also talked with my MP in vaughan and she told me that right now we are in the 1st phase of the process and to call back in october which is 3 months from now thats doesn't make sense. She said we still have either the backgoournd checks, interview or add documents they might ask for. From what i read background checks take so long and why if your not a criminal why should it take so long.

Some countries are a security concern - for example, Afghanistan. On average, the background check for women is probably shorter than for men, simply because women are less likely to have done anything wrong, statistically.

... my file is in the visa office in islamabad and i did chech the cic website for the timeline which says 9 months. I also heard that canadian afghans who sponsored their spouse from afghanistan recently got approved within 6 months so i dont know maybe things are different now.

Some people get their visas quicker than the average in the timeline. Sometimes this is because a very slow office with a 'bad' timeline will get a lot of complaints, so the gov't sends more visa officers. This seems to have been the case with the embassy in Ghana, for example.

1) Is it good that iam a canadian citizen for so long and that i have no criminal record will this help with my wife's visa getting approved?

Yes, it helps. Citizens have more options than PRs as to where they can stay while the application is being processed, and someone with a criminal record may not be approved as a sponsor (it depends on the charge.)

2) What determines if someone gets called for an interview or not. What is the best way possible to avoid being interviewed specially if its your wife your sponsoring and not your husband and does it matter based on gender?

It is not based on gender. Basically, if you send a lot of proof that your relationship is genuine, you are less likely to be called for an interview. The most common reason to call someone for an interview is when the visa officer suspects the marriage is not genuine. If you have sent a lot of proof, you still might get an interview, especially in cases where there is something unusual about the relationship, or the visa officer is suspicious for some reason.

3) I have submitted everything on the checklist and my wife filled out her application that was sent from the visa office and there doesnt seem to be anything we could of left out. its was straight forward and what would be the reason if they asked for more documents if everything was sent to them?

They might want more proof that your relationship is genuine. Most people don't get asked for more documents, though.

4) What does it mean when you get a immigration b file number emailed to you from the visa office does this mean that we are almost done or still have along way to go and what is the timeline after this is issued ?

Every case gets a file number. This is given early in the process. You will need to quote this number when you contact the visa office or the CIC call center with questions about your case.

5)And last thing what should i be looking for in the future so that i can prepare myself for that day and give me some advice please?

Just in case your wife is called for an interview, keep all evidence of contact with her that you have - phone bills, cards, emails, letters, evidence of trips to see her, etc. She can take these with her to the interview. The visa officer will want to see evidence of contact from the time of the application to the time of the interview.

 

[jaweda]

hey canadian women thanks you have helped me answer alot of questions I really appreciate it. I can atleast relax alittle and not worry so much. I just would like to ask you if you dont mind. I use long distance calling cards because its expensive to call to afghanistan and sometimes i did call from my cellphone and i have the bill to prove it. Theres not alot of calls in there but it does show that i called afghanistan will this proof be sufficient for them and any idea how i can print off my text messages from my phone that i did with my wife because i texted her alot and maybe this would be another proof as well. i did try to send it to my email i got it but the words are altogether and doesnt look like text messages. And one more thing does it matter that my cellphone has changed since filing my application because the number iam using now is new and didnt have a cellphone for a while but i did request my bill for the last three months would this help at all even though its not showing from the date of appl processed. Also when i did have a cellphone back in november it was a demoline through work but i did make calls from that number and have the bill to prove that i got charged. Thats all for now. Please any help would be great i want to be fully ready for anything that they might need so thats why i have to ask. And please one more thing can you share your timeline and brielfy explain your situation so that i can reference it to mine incase i need it if its ok with you. And please if have any advice for me that would help with my case please let me know i would really appreciate it. Thanks

jawed

 

[canadianwoman]

You can print your text messages from your phone. On page three of this link they discuss how:
http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/supporting-documents-how-much-is-too-much-t12160.30.html

The visa officer prefers a real phone bill, not calling cards. So send all the bills you do have, with proof it is your number or that you were the one doing the calling if the bill is not in your name.
One forum member had her calling cards accepted as proof, so it is worth it to send them in. They may not accept them, but you can try. Just write a note explaining that you usually use calling cards because calling from your land line or cell phone is too expensive; you can include proof of the cost if you used your land line instead of calling cards.

Just try to get as much proof as possible that your marriage is genuine.
Good luck!

 

[iarblue]

And the 14 months include everything,it should not take 14 months thats just a base it could be much sooner,the only way it would go past or close to the 14 month period is if you or your wife have a criminal background,or your app was incomplete,the more they need to ask you for things the more it gets pushed closer to the 14 months or over.
If you follow the guide and make sure everything is signed and omplete then it should flow with no issues.

 

[jaweda]

Hey thanks i am relieved and relaxed now because if this is the case and me and my wife dont have any history hoping that all is well with our documents. thanks if anything comes up i will keep you updated if its cool i have to ask because i dont want ot be bothersome. Thanks again

 

[Wajea]

Family Case

Salam I am Afghan living in Canada .
The Following Procedures has been done with our Family Case ( in Islamabad ) , As Wife i Sponsored Husband & Three Children ( less than 22 age )

1 2008 Application Filled,
2 2009 DNA TEST Done,
3 2009-2012 Background Check ( Security Check ) Done,
4 2013 Medical Check Done,
5 2013 Interview Done,
6 Passport request for Visa Not yet Done,
7 Passport sent for Visa Not Yet Done,
8 Passport received not yet Done,

If your case is family case also then we can contact & exchange information Through Skype, Email or even Call.
Thanks

 

[Arozo1997]

Family Case

Salam I am Afghan living in Canada .
The Following Procedures has been done with our Family Case ( in Islamabad ) , As Wife i Sponsored Husband & Three Children ( less than 22 age )

1 2008 Application Filled,
2 2009 DNA TEST Done,
3 2009-2012 Background Check ( Security Check ) Done,
4 2013 Medical Check Done,
5 2013 Interview Done,
6 Passport request for Visa Not yet Done,
7 Passport sent for Visa Not Yet Done,
8 Passport received not yet Done,

If your case is family case also then we can contact & exchange information Through Skype, Email or even Call.
Thanks

Hello i am in the same situation as you however my husband did get his medical checkup done his Police clearance and were at the background checking stage i dont know how much more we have left to go and what will happen next