Starting Visa app

[Silver_Spirit]

I'm about to start a visa application for Alberta, Canada under the (sponsorship?) of my husband who is a canadian citizen. We are both currently living in the UK and have been for almost 2 years, we have photos to prove the relationship for all of its 5 years. where do i start and what will i need?

Im also going to need to ship over household items and our 4 cats, what are good companies for this?

 

[Swede]

I'm about to start a visa application for Alberta, Canada under the (sponsorship?) of my husband who is a canadian citizen. We are both currently living in the UK and have been for almost 2 years, we have photos to prove the relationship for all of its 5 years. where do i start and what will i need?

Im also going to need to ship over household items and our 4 cats, what are good companies for this?

First of all you need to decide whether you want your application to be processed in Canada our outside Canada. Processing it in Canada takes 12-18 months but you'll get a work permit after first stage approval which takes about 6 months. The time it takes to process outside Canada depends on where you send your application, but if you've lived legally for more than one year in the UK you can have your application processed in London, which takes 2-8 months (way closer to 2 months if your application is in order).

Second of all you need proof that your relationship is true and lasting, but if you can provide evidence that you've had a relationship for more than 5 years you would have no problem with that. Note that all papers need to be in English and/or French. Your husband would also need to provide some proof that he intends to move back to Canada

 

[Silver_Spirit]

What would be classed as proof of his intentions of him moving back? i'd have plane tickets booked but obviously when we don't know how long it will take we dont want to risk anything..

 

[Swede]

What would be classed as proof of his intentions of him moving back? i'd have plane tickets booked but obviously when we don't know how long it will take we dont want to risk anything..

The following quote is taken from the sponsor's guide (IMM 3900E, page 8):

Canadian citizens not residing in Canada may sponsor their spouse, common-law partner,
conjugal partner and/or dependent children who have no dependent children of their own.

Canadians travelling abroad as tourists are not considered to be residing outside Canada.
Sponsors not residing in Canada must provide evidence that they reside exclusively
outside Canada on the date of giving the undertaking and will reside in Canada at the time
their sponsored spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner and/or children become
permanent residents of Canada. Evidence that they will reside in Canada may include one
or more of the following:

• letter from an employer
• letter of acceptance to a Canadian educational institution
• proof of having rented/bought a dwelling in Canada
• reasonable plans for re-establishing in Canada or severing ties to the other country

 

[Silver_Spirit]

Hmm this seems like a silly thing to ask, but where the heck do i actually apply? lol

 

[AllisonVSC]

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/sponsor/spouse.asp

 

[Silver_Spirit]

Ahh thanks now just shipping and pets to sort out...

 

[Silver_Spirit]

So is it actually my partner applying to sponsor me? as opposed to me applying to live/work in canada with my husband?

Im confused >-<

 

[Swede]

So is it actually my partner applying to sponsor me? as opposed to me applying to live/work in canada with my husband?

Im confused >-<

You will apply for residency with your partner as your sponsor. If you apply outside Canada you will fill in all forms, provide the evidence needed and send the application to Mississauga, where the sponsorship application will be evaluated. When it has been approved the application will be forwarded to the appropriate office.

You will no doubt have many questions, but we have all been there, so just ask away...

 

[Karlshammar]

Yeah, basically it is a two-part application, one for your spouse to sponsor you and one for your application for PR. In case of spousal sponsorships the two applications are sent in together.

The sponsorship part of the application will be processed first, then once (if) approved, it will forward your application to the appropriate visa office which will process the PR application part.

 

[Silver_Spirit]

Ahh okay, jeeze my husbands ancestry visa was so much simpler! And quicker by the sound of it, though im sure far less people want to leave canada for england XDD

 

[nyssa]

Hahaha funny you should mention that silver_spirit, my husband and I said England would be our next bet JUST INCASE Canada wouldn't let us be together, lol, since his grandparents were born there ;-)

 

[Silver_Spirit]

Well then! I take it back

 

[AllisonVSC]

You can ship your belongings to arrive when you land (you accept your PR status) or declare them as goods to follow. Check the following for more. Click the "Learn more about" link to find info on bringing your cats.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/newcomers/before-goods.asp