US citizen moving to Quebec needs guidance

[weilkevin]

Hello All!

I'm new to the forums and would love some guidance. I'm looking for information regarding the Quebec paperwork, visiting during the application process, work permits, and crossing the border.

My girlfriend, currently living in Montreal, and I are planning on getting married in the next few months and applying for the spousal sponsorship program. Here is how I understand the process....

• We get married.
• I "visit" Montreal
• We file the Quebec specific application.
• Once that arrives, we file the inland spousal sponsorship and work permit applications.
• 3-4 months later, the work permit arrives and I can now work.
• Wait an additional year+.
• Permanent residency.

One thing to note...Once the work permit comes through, we're planning on moving to Ontario. I'm not planning on working in Quebec.

My questions are.....

• When visiting, how can we ensure I can visit during the entire inland application process? Filing for visit extensions?
• Do I need to prove that I've been living in Canada during the entire inland application process?
• Can the Quebec specific paperwork be filed from outside of Canada while I'm still living and working in the US?
• Is the work permit province specific or Canada wide?
• When will I need to figure out all of my government documents(License, bank accounts, car insurance, etc)
• Any advice for crossing the border for my "visit"?

I'm sure I have a ton more questions but this is a good start. I really appreciate any help you all can give. The process seems overwhelming and getting some things clarified will really go a long way.

Thanks!
Kevin

P.S. I apologize if these questions were asked before but looking through the forums I couldn't find specifics. Feel free to link me to these other posts if applicable and recent.

 

[Nickk2017]

hi
Check your eligibility to move to Canada. Before you go forward with your plans to move to Canada, you should check your eligibility. You may not be allowed to immigrate for one of many reasons. These reasons include:
human or international rights violations
criminal record
health
financial reasons
misrepresentation
non-compliance with IRPA (Immigration Refugee Protection Act)
having an inadmissible family member



Thanks

 

[weilkevin]

hi
Check your eligibility to move to Canada. Before you go forward with your plans to move to Canada, you should check your eligibility. You may not be allowed to immigrate for one of many reasons. These reasons include:
human or international rights violations
criminal record
health
financial reasons
misrepresentation
non-compliance with IRPA (Immigration Refugee Protection Act)
having an inadmissible family member



Thanks

Thanks so much for your reply! As far as I can tell using the resources available online and lawyer consultation, I'm eligible!

 

[Rob_TO]

• We file the Quebec specific application.
• Once that arrives, we file the inland spousal sponsorship and work permit applications.
• 3-4 months later, the work permit arrives and I can now work.

I'm pretty sure you submit the complete INLAND app + OWP app first, and do the Quebec portion (CSQ) afterwards.

One thing to note...Once the work permit comes through, we're planning on moving to Ontario. I'm not planning on working in Quebec.

As long as you reside in Quebec during the application, I think you still need to go through CSQ process. Though not entirely sure on this.
As long as you have CSQ by final approval, at that point it doesn't matter what province you land in. There would only be an issue if you got PR in another province and tried landing in Quebec with no CSQ.

• When visiting, how can we ensure I can visit during the entire inland application process? Filing for visit extensions?

Filing the OWP with the inland app, gives you IMPLIED STATUS in Canada for entire duration of PR processing. So no need for any additional extension requests.

• Do I need to prove that I've been living in Canada during the entire inland application process?

Requirement of inland app is sponsor and applicant are living together inside Canada, for entire application process. At any time IRCC may ask to see continued proof of your cohabitation in Canada.

• Can the Quebec specific paperwork be filed from outside of Canada while I'm still living and working in the US?

Yes, but now you're talking about an OUTLAND app that does not have an OWP associated with it. Completely different from INLAND process.

• Is the work permit province specific or Canada wide?

Canada wide.

• When will I need to figure out all of my government documents(License, bank accounts, car insurance, etc)

Some you can get while here as a visitor/worker (like a drivers license or bank account), others you'll need to wait until you become a PR (like getting your US car imported, registered and insured in Canada)

• Any advice for crossing the border for my "visit"?

For most US citizens it should be a rubber stamp 6 months visitor status. Always good to be able to show ties back to US though if asked. And act like a visitor, so don't bring a u-haul truck full of your stuff.

All this being said, in majority of cases it's better for US applicants to submit their apps using OUTLAND process and stay in CAnada as a visitor and submitting requests for visitor extensions if needed. There is no OWP here, but often the entire outland process is completely done in around the same time it would take to get just the OWP for inland. If you got married in the US, you could submit the outland application in US before you even came to Canada as a visitor.

 

[weilkevin]

I'm pretty sure you submit the complete INLAND app + OWP app first, and do the Quebec portion (CSQ) afterwards.

As long as you reside in Quebec during the application, I think you still need to go through CSQ process. Though not entirely sure on this.
As long as you have CSQ by final approval, at that point it doesn't matter what province you land in. There would only be an issue if you got PR in another province and tried landing in Quebec with no CSQ.

Filing the OWP with the inland app, gives you IMPLIED STATUS in Canada for entire duration of PR processing. So no need for any additional extension requests.

Requirement of inland app is sponsor and applicant are living together inside Canada, for entire application process. At any time IRCC may ask to see continued proof of your cohabitation in Canada.

Yes, but now you're talking about an OUTLAND app that does not have an OWP associated with it. Completely different from INLAND process.

Canada wide.

Some you can get while here as a visitor/worker (like a drivers license or bank account), others you'll need to wait until you become a PR (like getting your US car imported, registered and insured in Canada)


For most US citizens it should be a rubber stamp 6 months visitor status. Always good to be able to show ties back to US though if asked. And act like a visitor, so don't bring a u-haul truck full of your stuff.

All this being said, in majority of cases it's better for US applicants to submit their apps using OUTLAND process and stay in CAnada as a visitor and submitting requests for visitor extensions if needed. There is no OWP here, but often the entire outland process is completely done in around the same time it would take to get just the OWP for inland. If you got married in the US, you could submit the outland application in US before you even came to Canada as a visitor.

Excellent response! Thank you very much. I have lots to think about before moving forward. I was unaware of the turnaround time of the outland application process. This may change this for us.

Thanks again!
Kevin

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Excellent response! Thank you very much. I have lots to think about before moving forward. I was unaware of the turnaround time of the outland application process. This may change this for us.

Thanks again!
Kevin

Outland is pretty much always the better choice for an American.

I suggest you move over to the Family Class section of the forum.