Visiting canada and married

[azndude]

Oh finally someone replies to my post I was like what the heck? It is very common in my country for arranged marriage, and like I said.. I saw her photo and I liked what I see SO I didn't object to it, and it's a mutual willingness. Also, in my question, I stated that I want to visit and get married so that we can stay together there... I am sorry what you have been through, but I am just trying to find a way to form a family without breaking any laws knowing that me and her are in different countries.

Anyway, so I can visit and keep renewing my tourist visa until I get my PR? As you know, it's arranged marriage, we don't have many pasts/background together, do they interview like what US is doing? I heard if PR is denied, I cannot appeal cause it's filed in Canada? Let me know your thoughts.

 

[Leon]

Inland vs. outland sponsorship you mean?

If you manage to get a visitor visa to go to Canada, you would have the option of applying inland. You would do the sponsorship application, PR application, application to extend visit status and application for open work permit but write on it that you wish to get a work permit at first stage approval so they don't think you are asking for it right away. You would send this all to Vegreville.

If all goes well, you would have your first stage approval and open work permit in 5-6 months as well as be eligible for health care and you would get your PR in 1-2 years. It's not advisable to travel while you are processing inland because inland is based on you being in Canada and if you can't get back, your application would be cancelled.

If your application goes badly, say they just want an interview, they will forward your file to your local CIC office to do the interview without giving you the first stage approval and work permit. Usually, if they ask for interview, it's because they don't believe the relationship is real. Since the local CIC offices may be busy, getting this interview can take a year or 2 or even 3. In the meantime, you would be stuck in Canada without a work permit. If you were denied in the end, you can't appeal but you could leave and apply again outland.

If you apply outland, there is no open work permit. You would send the application to Mississauga and they take about 7 weeks to approve your wife as a sponsor and then send the file to your homeland. It does not matter if you are in Canada or somewhere else while this application is being processed. If you are in Canada with your wife, the only downside is if they require an interview, you would have to go back to your home country for it. If they refuse you, you can appeal, takes about a year. Processing time for the visa office in your homeland can be seen here: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/international/05-fc-spouses.asp and that is not including the 7 weeks in the beginning to approve your wife as a sponsor.

It is important when applying for sponsorship to prove your relationship. I am not sure how arranged marriages work in that regard since they don't exist in my culture but are you getting to know each other through talking on the phone or writing letters or emails? If so, keep all your records, letters, emails, phonebills, computer chat logs, everything and send it to immigration as the proof of your relationship. You should also include your wedding photos.

 

[pen80]

Are you a muslim? If so then i will understand. I have a friend that is a muslim and she said that it is legal to marry your cousin.I was shocked at first when she told me that, but she later explained things to me and she told me that it was ok for them to do so because of their religion.

 

[MARLENA]

Halifax I don't know why you are so offended by Rorita's response unless you are in the same situation like azundude. He should make the effort first to talk to her and to be introduced before asking THE QUESTION ABOUT PR.

 

[Leon]

Are you a muslim? If so then i will understand. I have a friend that is a muslim and she said that it is legal to marry your cousin.I was shocked at first when she told me that, but she later explained things to me and she told me that it was ok for them to do so because of their religion.

It is legal in Canada to marry your cousin as well as in many states in the US and many countries in Europe. It's just not customary because normally you grow up with your cousins and don't view them in a romantic light. However, as he said before, she is not his cousin, he calls her mother aunt but she is not actually his aunt but a more distant relative.

 

[azndude]

Leon, thank you this is such a great information.

I am currently in the USA working on my work visa. If my fiance flies to my state from Canada and we're get married:

1. Can she stay with me in the USA while my PR application is in the process? I forgot to mention she is just an PR holder, not a Canadian citizen yet.
2. Say we file the PR application outland (USA), and I am still in the USA working, you said that I have to go back to my home country to conduct the interview? or this can be done in the United States at a local canadian offices? Will the process time be still according to that Canadian office in the US then for the approval, etc..?
3. So you said 7 months for the approval her as a sponsor, how long would it take for the PR process outland compared to the inland?

Thanks, Leon.

Inland vs. outland sponsorship you mean?

If you manage to get a visitor visa to go to Canada, you would have the option of applying inland. You would do the sponsorship application, PR application, application to extend visit status and application for open work permit but write on it that you wish to get a work permit at first stage approval so they don't think you are asking for it right away. You would send this all to Vegreville.

If all goes well, you would have your first stage approval and open work permit in 5-6 months as well as be eligible for health care and you would get your PR in 1-2 years. It's not advisable to travel while you are processing inland because inland is based on you being in Canada and if you can't get back, your application would be cancelled.

If your application goes badly, say they just want an interview, they will forward your file to your local CIC office to do the interview without giving you the first stage approval and work permit. Usually, if they ask for interview, it's because they don't believe the relationship is real. Since the local CIC offices may be busy, getting this interview can take a year or 2 or even 3. In the meantime, you would be stuck in Canada without a work permit. If you were denied in the end, you can't appeal but you could leave and apply again outland.

If you apply outland, there is no open work permit. You would send the application to Mississauga and they take about 7 weeks to approve your wife as a sponsor and then send the file to your homeland. It does not matter if you are in Canada or somewhere else while this application is being processed. If you are in Canada with your wife, the only downside is if they require an interview, you would have to go back to your home country for it. If they refuse you, you can appeal, takes about a year. Processing time for the visa office in your homeland can be seen here: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/international/05-fc-spouses.asp and that is not including the 7 weeks in the beginning to approve your wife as a sponsor.

It is important when applying for sponsorship to prove your relationship. I am not sure how arranged marriages work in that regard since they don't exist in my culture but are you getting to know each other through talking on the phone or writing letters or emails? If so, keep all your records, letters, emails, phonebills, computer chat logs, everything and send it to immigration as the proof of your relationship. You should also include your wedding photos.

 

[Leon]

1. No, a PR must be in Canada to sponsor.

2. If you have a work visa in the US and this work visa is at least a year long, you can apply through the US which means you'd have your interview in the US and processing time would follow the US guidelines.

3. I did not say 7 months to approve her as a sponsor, I said 7 weeks. Complete with processing in the US, maybe 5-10 months total to get PR. With inland (if everything goes well and you'd have to be staying in Canada for that), 5-6 months to get work permit and 1-2 years to get PR. Best case scenario with inland I had heard of was 5 months to get work permit and 10 months to get PR. Worst case, stuck in Canada 4.5 years with no work permit and no healthcare and no PR.

 

[azndude]

It does sound like the outland is faster, and plus I can work, but the downside is, she cannot join my life here in the USA.

I have 3 years of work permit in the USA. Now my question is, if we were to get married in USA, then she goes back and we start the PR process, what about our tax information, and other joint stuff? Like, we don't live together due to the immigration barrier, and I don't know how the tax filing in canada is for couples who don't live together, etc.

Does applying for PR outland must have an interview?

1. No, a PR must be in Canada to sponsor.

2. If you have a work visa in the US and this work visa is at least a year long, you can apply through the US which means you'd have your interview in the US and processing time would follow the US guidelines.

3. I did not say 7 months to approve her as a sponsor, I said 7 weeks. Complete with processing in the US, maybe 5-10 months total to get PR. With inland (if everything goes well and you'd have to be staying in Canada for that), 5-6 months to get work permit and 1-2 years to get PR. Best case scenario with inland I had heard of was 5 months to get work permit and 10 months to get PR. Worst case, stuck in Canada 4.5 years with no work permit and no healthcare and no PR.

 

[Leon]

You wouldn't have to file taxes in Canada until you move to Canada and start working. You could visit each other while you wait. Outland doesn't always have an interview.

 

[azndude]

You wouldn't have to file taxes in Canada until you move to Canada and start working. You could visit each other while you wait. Outland doesn't always have an interview.

1. She's working in Canada though, and I am working in the USA, don't we both have to file the joint tax stuff according to the law? Meaning, on tax form, she includes me, and I include her?

2. You said we both can visit each other while the PR is in the process? So if we got married in Canada, but later on I decide to come back to the US to work because that way I can work instead of waiting 5-6 months to get work permit in Canada, can we start the PR in USA and that's still considered outland even though the marriage took place in Canada? I need visiting visa to visit Canada, if the PR is filed, would visiting your wife in Canada can put the visa in denial?

Again, Leon. I appreciate all these info...

 

[Leon]

1. You may be right. I'm not a tax expert but Canada and the US have a tax treaty so if you file in both countries, you still shouldn't get double taxed.

2. If you get a visa to go to Canada, you can get married and stay with her for a while and still file an outland application. You can be in Canada and still file outland but you can not be outside Canada and file inland. Getting a visit visa to Canada when you have a wife there is always a bit tricky. They could refuse it because they believe you will overstay but if you have a job in the US and you have a PR application going in the US which you'd have to interview for if they'd ask you, they might not think you are a risk of overstaying. Does your wife need a visa to visit you in the US? Even if she is a sponsor, a short visit should be ok as long as she has somebody pick up her mail and keeps her cell phone close if immigration would try to contact her.

 

[azndude]

I don't have the PR application for United States, all I am on now is H1b/work visa. Or you meant the PR for Canada? I talked to her on the phone and asked her to come visit USA, she said that she cannot cause she is in PR status. I have no clue about canadian law regarding PR needs US visa to visit, is that true? because she is not Canadian citizen yet. Again, man, applying for US visa would be tricky too because she will be visiting me, and the US might think she's overstaying, ughhhhh

 

[Leon]

Yes, a PR in Canada doesn't mean anything for the US so she would still need a visa to visit you.

 

[Halifax-Maple]

Halifax I don't know why you are so offended by Rorita's response unless you are in the same situation like azundude. He should make the effort first to talk to her and to be introduced before asking THE QUESTION ABOUT PR.

I am not offended but tried to explain and straighten the facts. No I am not in the same boat nor do I live in the same culture, though I respect the multiculturalism of Canada. I am happily married and I live most of my time in his country. We may not even need the sponsorship because he can come and go with no issue. How does rorita_76 feel if someone comes here out of the blue to say that "her husband is only after the PR card and he is not genuine in his intention and that is why she is facing delay". She would feel the same as she made azndude felt.

 

[azndude]

It's just my opinion, since this post was created by me and lead to these kind of debate. Honestly, I don't care anymore what people here assume, jump to a conclusion, judge, etc. It's a virtual world, we cannot expect who is on the other end. We don't live with them or know them. Some just happen to be more aggressive then the others. When I went though my H1b visa, I had to be in the lottery competing with false/fake/shady you name it consultants that abuse the h1b visa system, yet, I don't see a post that starts with a "consultant" and jump right a way and says it is another case of shady consulting.

But Leon, I highly appreciate your knowledge and your responses; otherwise all I got from my question are questions back to me Cheers!

Halifax I don't know why you are so offended by Rorita's response unless you are in the same situation like azundude. He should make the effort first to talk to her and to be introduced before asking THE QUESTION ABOUT PR.

I am not offended but tried to explain and straighten the facts. No I am not in the same boat nor do I live in the same culture, though I respect the multiculturalism of Canada. I am happily married and I live most of my time in his country. We may not even need the sponsorship because he can come and go with no issue. How does rorita_76 feel if someone comes here out of the blue to say that "her husband is only after the PR card and he is not genuine in his intention and that is why she is facing delay". She would feel the same as she made azndude felt.