US/Canada - Medical Exam and Criminal Check - please help!

[Thaliada]

Good morning everyone. I’ve been reading this forum for a while now, but a few of my questions are still not answered. Also, the whole change in regulations that happened lately (closing the Buffalo office, changing the medical forms etc.) confuse me even further.

So, here is my story. I’ll try to get right to the point. I am a Canadian citizen. My American boyfriend came to Toronto on January 7th, 2013. On February 20th we got married – so now he’s my husband. He has his visa for 6 months, so I want to apply to sponsor him. I read all the forms, I already started completing them.

2 major questions – the medical exam and the criminal record check. How, where and when can we do them? Also how much it costs?

1. Medical exam. I already know about the qualified doctors in Toronto. However, can he do it in here? If yes, how much it costs? What is the waiting time? Is there any doctor that is better than the rest? What do we have to bring with us? Any forms? Photos? Etc.

2. Criminal check – same thing. Can he get the fingerprints done in Toronto? Where do we go and how much it costs? What do we bring with us? What happens next? Send them to FBI in the States? Can I send the application without the criminal check (since I read it takes a long time to get them back?) and then send the results after?

So right now, I am trying to gather all the information I can about the process and the application. We are planning to do the outland application even if he will stay here as much as they permit. We are also thinking of extending his visa. However, he still has all his family back in the States and he wants to visit them.

I’ll be waiting for someone to reply. Thank you so much for your time.

Thaliada.

 

[Hnhkrk]

He can get both the criminal check and medical done in Toronto.

To get the criminal check done he must go to a police office and have his finger prints taken, then he must fill our the right forums and send them off to the states to be analyzed by the FBI. Here is what the CIC says about the Police Clearance. I believe that the fee is $18USD. You should bring multiple finger print cards with you to make sure he gets prints that are eligible. I sent in four and my results came back promptly. Police stations in Canada aren't going to have the right finger print cards available so I suggest that you print them out on normal paper through the FBI website.

To get his medical done all you have to do is call the office of your choice and schedule an appointment. The price of the medical varies from office to office, and sometimes they don't include the x-ray so always double check to make sure. I believe I paid about $250 for my medical here in Montreal and everything was included. Here is what the CIC says about the Medical.

I'm in the same situation that you want to put your husband in, and it's been tough. So just be sure he understands how hard the wait can be when you don't have much to occupy yourself with. I've been in Canada on a visitor's visa since July (I extended my visa in December), and not working or going to school has drove me insane. However, I would rather be here with my husband than not. I miss my family though, and cannot wait to go visit them once I have COPR. You will more than likely have to extend his visa if you want him to legally stay with you longer than 6 months. But remember, a visa extension doesn't give him a right to re-entry so if he lives Canada he risks not being able to enter again.

And just as he needs to be prepared for boredom, you need to be prepared to carry the financial burden that comes with having someone else live with you. If he has money saved up that's GREAT, but most people don't and a lot of the times the sponsor will get very tired of supporting their significant other.

 

[Thaliada]

Thank you so much for your answer.

A few other questions.

Criminal Record Check - Is this the form you were talking about? w w w.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/background-checks/standard-fingerprint-form-fd-258 If I get 5 of those forms printed and go to a police department and ask for fingerprints, is that enough? How do I send the fingerprints then? Regular mail? Priority? Does it matter?

Medical Exam - Medical Examination Instructions
Instructions on how to take the medical examination will normally be sent to you after you submit your application to the visa office.

What does that mean? I send the application first and then send the medical? Don't I have to send the application WITH the medical results AND the Criminal Check?

Also... Do I have to bring any forms or photos to the medical examination?

Isn't that the point of outland application? If I am approved as a sponsor and the application is being processed, isn't he allowed to come and go between Canada and US?

Thank you so much once again.

Thaliada

 

[Sweden]

Medicals: for some type of immigration, the medicals can only be done after the office requests it. For spousal, you have to do it up-front. So bring pictures, (ask the doctor how many you need when you book the appointment), and that's it. Make sure that you ask for the "outland" medicals. the doctor will give you a form to include in your application as a proof that you have done it.
Outland application : yes, your husband is allowed to come and go. But entry to Canada is never guaranteed (unless you are a PR or a citizen) to anybody with a tourist visa. To be clear: there are few chances he will be denied re-entry at the border, but if he shows up with a full truck, and says that he is coming to live in Canada, then he will be refused most likely. If he is traveling light, and saying that he is coming to "visit" his wife (even for 6 months, it's still called visit), then he should be fine.
He can come and go even during the first phase of the application. He should carry a proof that he has applied for PR (fee receipt, or first stage approval) and if he has, proofs of ties to the US as well. in general, it goes well for US citizen, but it's never a guarantee.
Good luck,
Sweden

 

[Hnhkrk]

Thank you so much for your answer.

A few other questions.

Criminal Record Check - Is this the form you were talking about? w w w.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/background-checks/standard-fingerprint-form-fd-258 If I get 5 of those forms printed and go to a police department and ask for fingerprints, is that enough? How do I send the fingerprints then? Regular mail? Priority? Does it matter?

The forum you sent me is the finger print card, and yes I think that 5 of them will be enough. But you also have to fill out and submit a Questionnaire which you can find here

Medical Exam - Medical Examination Instructions
Instructions on how to take the medical examination will normally be sent to you after you submit your application to the visa office.

What does that mean? I send the application first and then send the medical? Don't I have to send the application WITH the medical results AND the Criminal Check?

Also... Do I have to bring any forms or photos to the medical examination?

Some people wait for their medical exam to be requested before taking it, but it delays the application process. You can take the exam and send it in with your application if you want to avoid the delay. That is what I did. And yes, they will want picture(s). This is something else that varies depending on the doctor's office. They may take the pictures themselves, or they make not. They made only need one, or they may only need 3.

Isn't that the point of outland application? If I am approved as a sponsor and the application is being processed, isn't he allowed to come and go between Canada and US?

Your husband will be allowed to come and go freely without putting his application at risk, but each time he comes back into Canada he will have to show that he intends to leave again. If he is staying in Canada 6+ months at a time, that's kind of hard to do. It really depends on the officer you get at the border and how they're feeling that day.

 

[Thaliada]

Thank you!

I understand. The thing is that we didn't start the application yet because we depend on the marriage certificate. Since the wedding was on February 20th, we need to wait 10 weeks for them to issue the marriage certificate. Without it, I cannot submit the application.

Now another question, and with this I think I should get everything clarified. 10 weeks until we get the marriage certificate - so May 1st, 2013. When should he do the medical exam and when should we go do the fingerprints? Also, can I send the application without the criminal check? and send that later? Or everything has to be together?

The reason for these questions is that I am hoping at least to get approved as a sponsor until he has first visitor visa expires on July 7th. Do you think that is feasible?

Thank you so much.

Thaliada.

 

[Thaliada]

Yes, of course I will complete the questionnaire as well. I was just referring to when I go to the Toronto Police station to take the finger prints. Do I need to bring the questionnaire then?

Waiting on the timeline now, if anyone knows.

Thank you!

Thaliada.

 

[Hnhkrk]

The first thing I would do if I were you is take a deep breathe. The people on this forum are very helpful and although you're just starting, I can assure you everything will be OK.

Even if you don't have the marriage certificate you could start filling out the forums and getting everything organized. It took my husband and I a total of 2 days to get everything done, and we were working on it all day long. If you start now you will be much more relaxed with the process and won't feel as pressured as I did to have everything submitted on time.

You can take your medical exam at any time, but I suggest taking it the last week of April or the first week of May considering you plan on getting your marriage cert. Mary 1st. I would call around and check prices now and schedule a visit as soon as you can.

I guess you could send in your application without the FBI request, but I don't think you should. Many people have their application returned if they're not completed. It only takes about a month for a sponsor to get approved, so If you apply for the FBI request on Monday, I don't think there will be a problem. I got my FBI request back in a months time. You can put an Immigration deadline on your FBI request and they might speed it up for you.

Edit: No, you don't need the questionnaire with you when you go to the Police Department.

 

[Sweden]

Start with the FBI request now - because that can take a while to get back. On the website it says 16 weeks I think, but I think most people reported that it takes about 6 weeks. So you can order it now. Then it will come back before the wedding certificate, or at the same time.
Leave the medicals for the "last minute" as they expire after a year, so you want to do them as close as possible to the sending date.

You can prepare the rest of the application - it takes a while to gather the proofs, fill out the forms, get letters from family and friends, and organise the application, so when you get the FBI check and the marriage certificate, you can send everything beginning of May.

Current stage 1 approval is 21 days, so if you send it beginning of May, there is a good chance that stage 1 will be done by July. Note that it's not a requirement to have stage 1 approved to extend the visa - you can just prove that you have applied by sending a copy of the receipt.

Also - if you request an extension but then your husband lives Canada, it "resets" the clock and the extension is cancelled (in most case), so he can ask for another 6 months... in clear: if your husband is going to visit his family end of June before his visa expires, there is no point of applying for an extension beginning of june (30 days in advance), as it will be cancelled if he lives the country anyway.

Sweden

 

[Hnhkrk]

Leave the medicals for the "last minute" as they expire after a year, so you want to do them as close as possible to the sending date.

They do expire in a year but if they expire while your application is in process the CIC will extend that deadline to make sure you can land before then.

 

[Thaliada]

Great great information!! Thank you both so very much. Everything is much clearer now, and I know the steps we have to take.

We will do the fingerprints as soon as possible, send them, and write my address as the place where they should return them, right? Also, regular mail, priority? Does it matter?

Until May 1st until we get the marriage certificate and the criminal record check back, I will start the application. We have tons of pictures and emails and Skype conversations together. I kept all the receipts and the airline tickets and stuff. Is there a limit on how much I can send? Of course I won't send all of it but just curious on the limit.

I might have some other questions while completing the application, but until then, I want to thank you again and wish you best of luck too!

Thaliada

 

[Sweden]

There is no limit, but focus on quality rather than quantity!! you will see on this forum people that have sent 1000 of pages of chat etc - in your case, US/Can couple, married, living together, you have to show how the relationship developed, and how you are a couple, but no need to cover every single day! if you have red flags (big age difference, previous sponsorship, complicated situation etc) it's best to address them in the application to show that you are aware, and how they are not a problem for your couple. If you have a straightforward case, stick to the guideline, and you'll be good!
Sweden

 

[Hnhkrk]

Yes, use your address as the place to return them. It doesn't really matter what way you choose to send it, as long as it gets there!

There is no limit on what to send, but I think that less is more. The bulk of my husband and I's proof was our skype conversations, but I only picked a bit from each year as I doubt that an officer was going to want to read through our dialogue. Aside from that I added 20 pictures, a few emails, 5 wedding cards, 3 letters and 3 boarding passes. I didn't have any proof of our joint bank account, or lease agreement, or anything like that and my application went through fine.

 

[Thaliada]

That's great! I shall start working on this as soon as possible. Hopefully, everything will go perfectly smooth

Thank you again and have a wonderful day!

Thaliada.

 

[Thaliada]

And yes Sweden, I agree. Honesty is the best path