Will living in another country for most of my life affect my application?

[theJuls]

Hello everyone!

I am a dual citizen (American and Brazilian) who has unfortunately lived in Brazil for most of my life and currently do not have a permanent address in the US, only in Brazil. I do however have close family members still living in the US.

I will be getting married to my fiance (who is Canadian) this October and we will initiate the sponsorship application immediately. Originally, we thought we would go with the inland application, but after posting a thread here, I am really starting to think the outland application is waaaaaay better. The issue is, my fiance is worried about it not going very smoothly because I've lived in Brazil for most of my life, and because of this, it may take longer or cause some issues.

I can imagine I have to state my permanent address for the outland application, which can screw things up if I am applying as an american but my address is in Brazil. Alternatively I can also imagine that they may think putting a relatives american address may be fraud.
Is there anyone that had a similar situation or know of one? Can this cause negative issues on my outland application?

Thank you very much!

 

[keesio]

The only effect I see is that CIC will see you have stronger ties to Brasil than USA so they will transfer your application to Sao Paulo. The timelines for Sao Paulo are pretty good so I don't think it is that big a deal.

 

[theJuls]

But this would happen even if I apply with my American passport? From my understanding, São Paulo would only take care of Brazilians, no?

 

[keesio]

Since you need to declare all citizenships and permanent residency statuses you have, they will know you are a dual citizen and can decide to process you as Brazilian since your ties to Brazil are much stronger. The decision is up to CIC.

 

[theJuls]

Since you need to declare all citizenships and permanent residency statuses you have, they will know you are a dual citizen and can decide to process you as Brazilian since your ties to Brazil are much stronger. The decision is up to CIC.

I really hope not...
I plan to leave Brazil regardless and stay either in the US or in Canada during the process. Do you know by any chance how I can contact cic for this question?

 

[rhcohen2014]

I really hope not...
I plan to leave Brazil regardless and stay either in the US or in Canada during the process. Do you know by any chance how I can contact cic for this question?

you won't be able to contact CIC to talk to them about which visa office they send it to, they will pick the one they see fit. If you don't plan to be in brasil during the processing, then perhaps there's a way you can note this in your application. Also, when they ask for your mailing address, if you have a us or canadian address, then it's ok to use either one of those. Keep in mind, they may ask you to provide significant proof of your intentions to return to canada once pr is approved. This seems to be a common request among out of canada sponsors.

IF you really want to contact CIC, then the only option is the call center. More likely than not, they won't be able to help you for your specific case if you just sent your application and it is still waiting to be processed. They will be able to give you a general answer, which as history has shown, may not be entirely correct. The forum provides better information than the call center does about 99% of the time.

 

[Ponga]

you won't be able to contact CIC to talk to them about which visa office they send it to, they will pick the one they see fit. If you don't plan to be in brasil during the processing, then perhaps there's a way you can note this in your application. Also, when they ask for your mailing address, it is ok to provide an address outside of canada for the sponsor. Keep in mind, they may ask you to provide significant proof of your intentions to return to canada once pr is approved. This seems to be a common request among out of canada sponsors.

Sounds like the OP will be the sponsored person, so intent to return shouldn't be an issue.

 

[rhcohen2014]

Sounds like the OP will be the sponsored person, so intent to return shouldn't be an issue.

oh oops! my bad!

 

[theJuls]

you won't be able to contact CIC to talk to them about which visa office they send it to, they will pick the one they see fit. If you don't plan to be in brasil during the processing, then perhaps there's a way you can note this in your application. Also, when they ask for your mailing address, it is ok to provide an address outside of canada for the sponsor. Keep in mind, they may ask you to provide significant proof of your intentions to return to canada once pr is approved. This seems to be a common request among out of canada sponsors.

The thing is, I thought it varied depending on the person's citizenship, and not where the ties of the person are. In my case, I have ties both in Brazil and the US, it just so happens that I grew up and went to school in Brazil because that is where my parents live.
I wonder if it would be ok to provide my family member's address, since that is where I would be whenever I am out of Canada during the application. Ideally, I would like to stay in Canada and try to renew my visitor's visa whenever it is about to expire, that is, assuming I do it outland.

Edit: just for clarification, yes, I am the one who is sponsored. Ideally I would like to stay here in Canada with my fiance (who will by then by my husband) during the process, and I am worried about having issues because of my Brazilian citizenship and ties.

 

[rhcohen2014]

yes, if you intend to be at an address during the processing and want to receive communication there, then put that address. you will not be charged with misrepresentation for asking to receive mail at a family member's house where you intend to stay. It is not illegal to have mail sent to someone else's address.

as for which visa office your file goes to, i don't think you are going to be able to know until CIC tells you where it was transferred. you can do all you can to ask for them to send it to the one you want in your application. The bottom line is, it's CIC's choice and they have the right to send it wherever THEY see fit.

 

[theJuls]

yes, if you intend to be at an address during the processing and want to receive communication there, then put that address. you will not be charged with misrepresentation for asking to receive mail at a family member's house where you intend to stay. It is not illegal to have mail sent to someone else's address.

as for which visa office your file goes to, i don't think you are going to be able to know until CIC tells you where it was transferred. you can do all you can to ask for them to send it to the one you want in your application. The bottom line is, it's CIC's choice and they have the right to send it wherever THEY see fit.

That's good to know. I've heard that I may have to prove that that address must be my permanent address, and if it's not, they may consider it fraud.

As for my application, as long as the time doesn't change much and that I don't have to be in Brazil, I suppose it doesn't make much of a difference. I just thought it was decided based on the person's citizenship.

 

[rhcohen2014]

That's good to know. I've heard that I may have to prove that that address must be my permanent address, and if it's not, they may consider it fraud.

Whoever is telling you this is either not telling the truth, or you are both talking about completely different things here. and misunderstanding eachother. It is not going to be considered fraud for putting a mailing address other than your permanent address on your application for communication purposes. Applicants do this all the time if they intend to stay with their spouse during the processing of the applicaiton. A person is from one country, and chooses to have their mail sent to where they are currently visiting. If you are staying there before you send in your application, then it belongs in your personal history. If you stay there AFTER you sign the forms and send it in, i dont think it needs to be included in personal history, unless you want to tell them.

If a student was living at school, yet maintained a permanent address at their parent's house, is it fraud for them to receive important mail at school? NO! If a person was traveling, and needed to receive important communication, is it illegal for them to receive mail at a hotel or residence that is not theirs? NO!

 

[theJuls]

Whoever is telling you this is either not telling the truth, or you are both talking about completely different things here. and misunderstanding eachother. It is not going to be considered fraud for putting a mailing address other than your permanent address on your application for communication purposes. Applicants do this all the time if they intend to stay with their spouse during the processing of the applicaiton. A person is from one country, and chooses to have their mail sent to where they are currently visiting.

If a student was living at school, yet maintained a permanent address at their parent's house, is it fraud for them to receive mail at school so they can get it to them quicker? NO!

In regards to just the mail, I do agree with you, it does make perfect sense.

But I thought that on top of the mailing address, you needed to also fill out another permanent address, which I wouldn't really have since I am leaving home right before starting the application. I currently live with my parents to finish school, but once that is over, I am either going to stay in Canada during the process to be with my spouse or going to live with relatives in the US. That is where I think it may get tricky.

 

[rhcohen2014]

In regards to just the mail, I do agree with you, it does make perfect sense.

But I thought that on top of the mailing address, you needed to also fill out another permanent address, which I wouldn't really have since I am leaving home right after starting the application. I currently live with my parents to finish school, but once that is over, I am either going to stay in Canada during the process to be with my spouse or going to live with relatives in the US. That is where I think it may get tricky.

Your permanent address and your mailing address DO NOT have to be the same! Where do you intend to live? On the street? If you don't have a "permanent address" then use the address you plan to stay as your permanent address OR you can continue to use your parent's address as your PERMANENT address. CIC certainly isn't going to send officers to each address to see if you are truly living there. If your parent's address is what you use as a permanent address, use that, then supply a 2nd address for mailing purposes since you don't plan to be there during processing. You are really overthinking this and making it WAY more complicated than it needs to be.

 

[theJuls]

Your permanent address and your mailing address DO NOT have to be the same! Where do you intend to live? On the street? If you don't have a "permanent address" then use the address you plan to stay as your permanent address OR you can continue to use your parent's address as your PERMANENT address. CIC certainly isn't going to send officers to each address to see if you are truly living there. If your parent's address is what you use as a permanent address, use that, then supply a 2nd address for mailing purposes since you don't plan to be there during processing. You are really overthinking this and making it WAY more complicated than you need to be.

You're right! I'm sorry about that

It's just that I find this process so nerve wrecking specially because of my sortav unique situation with being a dual citizen and not wanting to deal with the Brazilian side of it.