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Were engaged!! Now what...?

ALLY06

Star Member
Oct 8, 2010
88
0
Vancouver, BC
Category........
Visa Office......
Ottawa
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
28-01-2013
AOR Received.
30-01-2013
File Transfer...
02-21-2013
Med's Done....
08-01-2013
Passport Req..
24-07-2013
VISA ISSUED...
03-09-2013
LANDED..........
04-09-2013
Sunshine87 said:
Definitely get the medical done in Vancouver if you can. Not only did my husband have to drive +2 hours to the only DMP in the state, but he had to fork out $500 :eek:
Awesome! Thanks for the advice. I have heard to do the medical last - did you find this to be true? ANY advice or suggestions you have are always welcome as I am TOTALLY new to this whole thing :)

Thanks again!
 

Sunshine87

Hero Member
Apr 13, 2011
316
6
124
Calgary
Category........
Visa Office......
LA
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
April 3, 2012
AOR Received.
July 5, 2012
File Transfer...
July 6, 2012
Med's Done....
Dec 10, 2011
Interview........
waived
Passport Req..
Oct 25, 2012
VISA ISSUED...
Nov 30, 2012
LANDED..........
Dec 30, 2012
I would definitely wait until the last minute to do your medicals. A lot of people get them done a few weeks before sending the application, because it will expire after a year. So if it's been a full 12 months before the applicant is approved for PR, the medical will have to be redone. My husband will most likely have to redo his because we weren't aware of the 1 year expiry/oblivious to how long the application process takes/taking too long to complete the application.

It seems to be a delicate balance with the medical and the background check, because it will expire 3 months after being issued, and needs to arrive at CIC before that 3 months is up. We also weren't aware of that, and I'm worried those will have to be redone also.

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, people! :D
 

ALLY06

Star Member
Oct 8, 2010
88
0
Vancouver, BC
Category........
Visa Office......
Ottawa
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
28-01-2013
AOR Received.
30-01-2013
File Transfer...
02-21-2013
Med's Done....
08-01-2013
Passport Req..
24-07-2013
VISA ISSUED...
03-09-2013
LANDED..........
04-09-2013
We are married!! Now what...?

We are married! We had a ceremony in the states (I am US citizen) and are now ready to file the application for sponsorship of Spouse - and I am back for more questions :)

I am planning on applying OUTLAND - where do I send the application to Buffalo or Mississauga? (I am temporarily in Canada now) I am a bit confused on where to send it, as I want to be able to move freely in and out of the country. Where can I find this mailing address?

As for medical check - I have to send this in WITH the application, correct? I have my FBI done already and the 3 months mark is coming up (in literally days - we have been away on honeymoon and just realized it is expiring soon!). To save getting another one done, can we send it in ON/a day prior to the expiration date? Or should I just suck it up and get another one done...

Lastly, do people typically fill in the forms in black ink? Or type? and paperclip them together? And should I add photos/emails to the application as well? Sorry to ask such silly questions but I want to make sure I have everything 100% correct!

Thank you for your help!
 

MissDominica

Champion Member
May 21, 2012
1,190
25
Category........
Visa Office......
POS
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
(13-08-2012) 21-08-2014
Doc's Request.
...
AOR Received.
(28-11-2012)
File Transfer...
(22-10-2012) 10-10-2014
Med's Request
...
Med's Done....
(30-05-2012)
Interview........
(24-10-2013)
Passport Req..
04-11-2014
VISA ISSUED...
24-11-2014
LANDED..........
05-12-2014
Re: We are married!! Now what...?

ALLY06 said:
We are married! We had a ceremony in the states (I am US citizen) and are now ready to file the application for sponsorship of Spouse - and I am back for more questions :)

I am planning on applying OUTLAND - where do I send the application to Buffalo or Mississauga? (I am temporarily in Canada now) I am a bit confused on where to send it, as I want to be able to move freely in and out of the country. Where can I find this mailing address?

As for medical check - I have to send this in WITH the application, correct? I have my FBI done already and the 3 months mark is coming up (in literally days - we have been away on honeymoon and just realized it is expiring soon!). To save getting another one done, can we send it in ON/a day prior to the expiration date? Or should I just suck it up and get another one done...

Lastly, do people typically fill in the forms in black ink? Or type? and paperclip them together? And should I add photos/emails to the application as well? Sorry to ask such silly questions but I want to make sure I have everything 100% correct!

Thank you for your help!
Congrats on your marriage! You will send the application to Mississauga for stage 1 processing. If your husband is approved for this, your application will be forwarded to your USA office automatically. I do not have the address with me at the moment, but if I remember correctly, you go onto the CIC website and click on the Visa/Immigration link and you will see all the different types of Visas listed. Click on your type (PR) and there should be a link about sending the applications by courier and or mail - you will see the addresses listed there.

As for medical, once your exam is completed, the doctor will give you a form proving that you have done your exam. You will attach THIS to your application and mail it with your application. The FBI check must be less than 3 months old at the time they receive it. If you can get it to Mississauga before/on the day of expiry - do it! Send it next day fedex or something if you have to. Even if you can get it to them on the DAY it expires and you could include a letter attached to it stating "I am aware that this certificate is about to expire. As a precaution, I have ordered another FBI check and will send it immediately upon receiving Stage 1 approval and UCI (like a file tracking number) so that you might attach it to my file." That way you would be double safe. However, if you cannot get the application there by at least the DAY of expiry, you may want to wait (they could send back your application and cause even more time delay than waiting for a new FBI check would cause).

Definitely type your forms. You will notice when you click on the forms, there is a validate button at the top of certain forms. This generates a barcode that makes it easy for the visa officer to scan in your application. if you did this by hand, you would not have this bar code and your application will probably be returned. DO ALL FORMS on the computer and fill in everyting - if it does not apply, say "NA" or something similar. Read the instruction guide while filling out your forms as it tells you exactly how to proceed (it can be found with the electronic forms) on the CIC website. You may paper clip your forms together with any proofs it asks - refer to and INCLUDE the checklist with your application. They prefer if you do not staple things.

Yes, you should include photos, letters, joint bills, anything that proves the genuity and length of your relationship (marriage certificate, wedding photos, photos over time showing how your appearances have changed, flight tickets to visit each other, letters from friends stating they know you to be a real couple - all of these are helpful but not all are necessary - whatever you have helps, send that).

Good luck!
 

ALLY06

Star Member
Oct 8, 2010
88
0
Vancouver, BC
Category........
Visa Office......
Ottawa
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
28-01-2013
AOR Received.
30-01-2013
File Transfer...
02-21-2013
Med's Done....
08-01-2013
Passport Req..
24-07-2013
VISA ISSUED...
03-09-2013
LANDED..........
04-09-2013
Hello!

I am now waiting for FBI background check to return, in the meantime we (my sponsor and I) have been filling in both of our forms so they will be ready to send. I am also waiting to do my medical exam until the FBI is back as well.

As for my sponsors forms - does he have to send all four of his sponsorship forms BEFORE I send mine in? So, in other words do we have to wait until he is approved for sponsorship before I send my application in? OR can we send all of the forms, letters, photos, in TOGETHER in one big package?

Thanks for the advice!
 

truesmile

Champion Member
Jun 7, 2012
2,622
94
Category........
Visa Office......
MNL
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
25-05-2012
AOR Received.
18-07-2012
File Transfer...
24-07-2012
Med's Done....
18-05-2012
Interview........
WAIVED
Passport Req..
05-12-2012
VISA ISSUED...
08-01-2013
LANDED..........
02-02-2013
The latter is correct. You send in ALL the forms altogether in ONE package and as "outland", to Mississauga.
 

ALLY06

Star Member
Oct 8, 2010
88
0
Vancouver, BC
Category........
Visa Office......
Ottawa
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
28-01-2013
AOR Received.
30-01-2013
File Transfer...
02-21-2013
Med's Done....
08-01-2013
Passport Req..
24-07-2013
VISA ISSUED...
03-09-2013
LANDED..........
04-09-2013
Hello again everyone,

Update on my application...I recieved my FBI check back, and my medical exam is scheduled in a few days (I am in Vancouver currently and getting my medical done here - lots of $$$ to get it done in the US!)

All of my paperwork is filled out and I have the documents ready to go, and I plan on sending my envelope to him when I return to the US. My husband is getting his together as well. Just a couple questions as we wrap everything up:

For my application - in which order should I attach my supporting documents, such as travel itineraries/emails, as well as FBI check, medical, and marriage license? I was planning on submitting the forms first, then a separate "folder" with my important documents, and then supporting documents. Does this really matter in processing, or do they just care that it is all there? I am not sure I can fit it all into one envelope! I have a lot of stuff :)

In my sponsored spouse/partner questionnaire form, would it be appropriate to mark we are in a conjugal partner relationship? Or would I mark "No" because we are married? Sorry if that seems like a silly question.

Can my husband leave the country while our application is being processed, or does that not matter? He has to go away on business a few times into the states so I want ot make sure he gets through ok (we had a heck of a time going into the US over Christmas to visit my family) As for me, I am allowed to visit him in Canada?

Thanks for your help as always!!
 

Sweden

VIP Member
Mar 31, 2012
4,186
179
Category........
Visa Office......
London
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
12/04/2012
File Transfer...
13/07/2012
Med's Done....
02/02/2012
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
Exempt
VISA ISSUED...
05/11/12, received in Canada 19/11/12
LANDED..........
24/11/12, PR card received 30/01/12
ALLY06 said:
Hello again everyone,

Update on my application...I recieved my FBI check back, and my medical exam is scheduled in a few days (I am in Vancouver currently and getting my medical done here - lots of $$$ to get it done in the US!)

All of my paperwork is filled out and I have the documents ready to go, and I plan on sending my envelope to him when I return to the US. My husband is getting his together as well. Just a couple questions as we wrap everything up:

For my application - in which order should I attach my supporting documents, such as travel itineraries/emails, as well as FBI check, medical, and marriage license? I was planning on submitting the forms first, then a separate "folder" with my important documents, and then supporting documents. Does this really matter in processing, or do they just care that it is all there? I am not sure I can fit it all into one envelope! I have a lot of stuff :)

In my sponsored spouse/partner questionnaire form, would it be appropriate to mark we are in a conjugal partner relationship? Or would I mark "No" because we are married? Sorry if that seems like a silly question.

Can my husband leave the country while our application is being processed, or does that not matter? He has to go away on business a few times into the states so I want ot make sure he gets through ok (we had a heck of a time going into the US over Christmas to visit my family) As for me, I am allowed to visit him in Canada?

Thanks for your help as always!!
Hey!

Organise the documents in the same order as the checklists, it will make it easier ( also - I don't know when you started filling out the forms but some have an updated version, so you might want to make sure that you have the updated forms. Most of the time they look the same, but just in case...). In general the easiest is to have all sponsor forms + documents pertaining to sponsorship part, then all forms + documents concerning the applicants, and then third, all relationship proofs. Putting the check list every time makes it easier.

For your question - which number is it ? if it's number 20 and 21, it doesn't concern you because you're married. It says at the end of the "married" section - go to question 24, so ignore the ones before. If that's not the one you're referring to, then let me knwo which form and which question and I'll look it up.

If your husband is Canadian, he can leave the country, no problem. if he is a PR, he has to be present in Canada for the time of the sponsorship, however small business trips (2 weeks, max 3) are allowed, so he should be fine. Not sure why he was given a hard time when you went over for Christmas, because it should be pretty normal for a US/Can couple...
For you - yes, you can visit him in Canada, you can also stay in Canada during the process, but you need to "prepare" a bit for what you will say at the border.

If you're going for a short visit, make sure that you have a return ticket to show. If you're going for a long visit, make sure that you don't say that you're moving to Canada, or "staying in Canada", but rather you are visiting your husband. Tell immigration at the border that you have applied for PR and have the proofs with you ( copy of the receipt for the fees, copy of tracking number to Mississauga etc. ), and be up-front. Ask for a visitor record at the border, so you can document how long you have been in the country etc. If you are in Canada and your VR is about to expire, BEFORE the expiry date, extend it (online for example, 30 days before), it should cover the time in Canada.

You can always be refused entry into Canada, it's always up to the border officer. But carrying proofs of ties to the US ( if you have any) could be a good idea. Normally border officers are pretty lenient for US/Can couples as it's very common, so it's rare when people are refused... if you have never been flagged, or warmed at the border before, it is less likely to happen.

Good luck for your application,
Sweden