Visitor visa, if sponsorship application already filed

[3rdin2horserace]

Hello All,

I am a Canadian citizen living and working in Canada; I am 27 and I am a mechanical engineer. My wife, 24, is from Pakistan; we're just in the final stages of preparing the application package for spousal sponsorship. The processing time at the CHC in Islamabad currently stands at 26 months; among the longest anywhere in the world, and I reckon for good reason.

My question is, once we file, would she be able to apply for a visit visa after that to come to Canada for 6 months or so? If she were to declare to the immigration official that she has an outland spousal application in process, and that she has a return ticket for back home, and also that she would be required to be present for an interview in her home country at the local visa office anyways. Does anybody know if she stands a reasonable chance of obtaining a visit visa?

She is a doctor, and between her schedule and my working hours, plus factoring in the huge time difference, we barely get any time together even over the phone. We just want to be together and start a family. But, that 26 month timeline scares the beejezus out of me, quite frankly.

Any feedback, advice or info anyine can kindly offer would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you and best of luck to everyone here.

 

[boshetunmai]

It's definitely worth applying for a visitor visa. Even if someone has intent to become a permanent resident in the future, they can still apply for a temporary visa as long as they are able to prove that the visit will be temporary. This means showing strong ties to the home country such as a job, property ownership, etc. in the application for a visitor visa.

Good luck!

 

[belee1985]

There are a few people on this forum who got their tourist visa application rejected given that they couldn't possibly prove that they intended to return to their home country, since they made a formal request to become a permanent resident. It is considered double-intent and that's allowed. It is EITHER you file for permanent residence, OR you file for a tourist visa. However, if you apply for a tourist visa you have to prove to the immigration official that you will return to your home country, which is hard to do when the person is married to a Canadian citizen and that that citizen lives in Canada. The person would have strong ties to Canada (married...) so it is sufficient proof that the person might not go back home, hence reject the application. I suggest you file for permanent residence and you go visit her abroad, given that she might not be able to get a tourist visa. Besides, if she applies for a tourist visa and gets rejected, she would actually have to modify her permanent residence file and tell officials that she was already refused a Canadian visa. That question is asked in the sponsorship application and you are required to advise the consulate of any changes. Otherwise, it is considered lying on an immigration application and this could lead to trouble further down the road ! I hope this helps!

PS: When I say "you" I mean "you" in general.

 

[3rdin2horserace]

Thanks for the replies.

I guess my follow up question is, once you submit your sponsor application, are we allowed to submit further proof of relationship later on. The pictures we intend to submit upfront are akin to an exchange of vows ceremony at the church, and a casual reception dinner thereafter.

I am going that would suffice.

 

[belee1985]

Yeah that's fine. Along with all the evidence you have such as congratulation cards from friends and relatives, receipts for the rings, etc... Anything you have will be fine. If they need more evidence, you'll know.
We had a very small ceremony with just one friend and went to the restaurant with only one friend. We plan on doing a big formal thing someday in the future, when all our families are together. The application still got approved. We had lots of evidence, pictures together and so on, just not much about the actual ceremony. In the sponsorship questionnaire we explained why we didn't have a real formal reception. So when people say that it's a red flag when you don't have lots of wedding pictures, it's untrue. It all depends on your file and the other type of evidence you submit. Letters, receipts, living together, both names on bank accounts, name change, etc...Each case is different I would say so I wouldn't worry to much about only sending the pictures you mentioned and the other types of evidence