rockgurl1965 said:
I have a quick question. I am US citizen married to a Canadian woman, we live in California. She is moving back to Canada August 2014. I am retiring in the spring of 2016, When should I start the process of immigration paper work So I can move to Canada when I retire in 2016.
Thank you,
Craig
Hi Craig,
Since the processing times are constantly changing, I can't give you an exact `window', but I would shoot for early-mid 2015.
Most American applications are processed in Canada (Ottawa), so the long processing times shown on the CIC website for the LA and Buffalo visa offices, are for American applicants that have some sort of issue (such as inadmissibility concerns) or if there is a question regarding the validity of your relationship with your sponsor. The vast majority of Americans are being approved in less than 12 months.
Or...perhaps a better plan is to start the process NOW.
You don't have to move to Canada when you receive your PR, but you
will need to come to Canada to `Land'. Once you do, you're free to return to California until you are ready to move. However, you MUST spend at least 730 days out of the first 5 years (and each subsequent 5 year period) LIVING IN Canada.
This would only work if your spouse is a Canadian citizen. If she is only a PR of Canada, you cannot submit the application until she has returned to Canada...where she would need to remain until your PR has been processed.
Good luck!