What to do...Family sponsorship or work visa?

[utahem]

Hello,

I am a Canadian citizen and my husband is not. We live in the US. We are interested in moving to Canada for an extended period of time--probably for several years--although we may decide to stay in Canada permanently.

Here is my question: which is the best way for us to move? We would like to obtain permanent residency for my husband.

1. Should we apply for permanent residency from here, through the family program, since I am a Canadian citizen? I would have to "sponsor" him, I guess, even though I do not live in Canada.

2. Should we apply for permanent residency from here, through the skilled worker program? My husband is an experienced software developer. (Note: I believe he may not qualify because I saw a list of desired services and there were no computer professions listed. But I also saw another place where there was an IT worker program, which he would qualify for.)

3. Should we get some kind of a working visa for my husband, move to Canada, and then begin the process of applying for permanent residency from within Canada?

My husband does not already have a job lined up in Vancouver (where we plan to go), although he does plan to find a job before we move. We are good, law-abiding people who work hard, and we have no criminal backgrounds or medical conditions that would create any problems with applications.

Our preference is that we would move in a couple months or so; I think it takes about a year to process permanent residency. If we do have to wait until later in the year because of paperwork, our move is not "urgent" at all and we can be patient.

How shall we proceed? What would be the simplest, or the most correct process for our circumstances?

Thank you.

 

[scylla]

1. This is probably your best option. You can sponsor your husband from the US (as long as you can prove you're planning to reestablish yourself in Canada). It could take as little as 3 1/2 to 4 months for the application to be approved. Your husband can come to Canada as a visitor while the application is being processed.

2. Not recommended. First of all, software developers are not on the list of accepted occupations at this time. This means your husband would need a job offer to apply. Even if he had a job offer, the processing times for this application will likely be significantly longer than the spousal.

3. Unless he qualifies under NAFTA, he will have to find an employer who is willing to hire him first. That employer will then have to apply for a labour market opinion. If the labour market opinion is approved, your husband will be able to apply for a closed work permit (i.e. a work permit tied to that specific employer).

 

[utahem]

Perfect. ;D

That's just the information I was looking for. I think we'll do that.

Thanks.