Work in Canada as we apply for sponsorship internally

[misterz100]

I'm a Canadian citizen, lived here all my life.
My husband is American, were planning for him to come up at the end of August permanently and start his sponsorship internally. I would be fantastic if he can work instead of sitting at home while we wait for his sponsorship application to process. Doing searches, it seems vague and most results I get are PR card holders trying to get their spouse work as the apply for a PR card.

PS: Also he will bring everything he needs in his car, will the car be an issue while he waits for his PR card?

 

[Ponga]

Unfortunately, he will not be able to work for at least 9-12 months AFTER you have submitted an Inland spousal sponsorship application. You are better off submitting an Outland application. Even though he will be `visiting' you in Canada, it is substantially faster for an American, as opposed to the Inland processing times. It wouldn't necessarily allow him to work any sooner than had he submitted an OWP (Open Work Permit) with an Inland application, because for an Outland application, the applicant must wait until they have officially landed and have their CoPR document to work. But again, he can possibly complete the entire process Outland, in about the same time just to reach stage 1 approval, Inland.

Most American applications are processed entirely in Canada and are completed ~ 12 months for both stages. Only the applicants that have potential `red flags', such as criminal or medical inadmissibility issues, or questions regarding the relationship with their sponsor, are processed at the NY or LA visa office. Many people don't realize that a person can remain in Canada while their Outland application is being processed, so long as they maintain their visitor status throughout, which seems relatively easy for an American.

Having him arrive at the border, with a car load of his personal belongings is probably NOT a good idea. He is only allowed to visit you, until he has been approved for PR.

 

[misterz100]

How is outland faster when the processing times are over 30 months and inland is 19 months?

 

[little_apple]

How is outland faster when the processing times are over 30 months and inland is 19 months?

Outland apps go through Ottawa (15 months). Most of the applicants are done within 6-10 months. Apps are only transferred to LA or NY when the officer thinks the relationship is not genuine

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/cppottawa-t118769.5355.html

 

[misterz100]

So get him to come visit and do the application Outland through Ottawa?
This shit is so confusing and complicated, it's depressing, it's been like 8 months we have waited for his background check, trying twice in total, they told him 3 weeks ago that they mailed it and still he doesn't have it. His medical was done in November, thinking it would take the longest apparently its only valid for 12 months so that's closing in now. uuhhh

 

[misterz100]

Can he go through Ottawa if he stays in the US?

 

[Zarilenth]

Can he go through Ottawa if he stays in the US?

Yes. All Americans go through Ottawa. My husband was approved in under 5 months.

 

[misterz100]

Yes. All Americans go through Ottawa. My husband was approved in under 5 months.

Any pointers? I assume you did this all yourselves. I know I need to fill out all the forms to the letter but for things like proof of relationship what did you use?

 

[Zarilenth]

Any pointers? I assume you did this all yourselves. I know I need to fill out all the forms to the letter but for things like proof of relationship what did you use?

Yep, we filled it all out ourselves. As for proof of relationship to begin with we sent a couple screenshots of our google message chats (hangouts) and emails from 2010 to the present (we primarily use email to talk so we had over 5k, but we only sent about 15 pages), I sent copies of all our flights back and forth from 2009 to present, pictures of all our trips plus our wedding (maybe about 15 pictures, printed on plain paper from Microsoft word with labels and who was in the picture + dates). We ensured that we put pictures of our trip together to the Dominican. We lived together in Buffalo for 9 months so we put pictures of that, some proof that we both lived there, proof we got a cat together (lol), and that was it.

After sponsorship approval I was actually pretty worried I didn't include enough, so I sent in 30 pages of phone logs, 30 more pages of chat logs, a few more photos (color printed on photo paper this time), proof we have joint medical insurance and he's my beneficiary, and some receipts of gifts given to each other, facebook message history and facebook wall photos showing friends/family commenting on our relationship progression (engagement, wedding, etc).

I think that was it!

 

[misterz100]

heh Well all we have is Skype logs, to avoid phone costs we used Skype for everything and we have a join bank account, as gamers we mostly voice talked on Teamspeak and Steam dose not keep it's chat logs so i can't send that hehe
He has only one plane ticket, he drove here every visit, and they never stamped his passport except for the plane ride.
I feel like this might cause issues, also the Skype chat can get very NSFW will that be an issue?
I have a recording of our wedding and posted it privately on youtube can I send them a link on paper?

 

[scylla]

I have a recording of our wedding and posted it privately on youtube can I send them a link on paper?

No - this won't be accepted as evidence. Only evidence printed on paper is considered. So no links, no web sites, no CDs, etc.

 

[Zarilenth]

heh Well all we have is Skype logs, to avoid phone costs we used Skype for everything and we have a join bank account, as gamers we mostly voice talked on Teamspeak and Steam dose not keep it's chat logs so i can't send that hehe
He has only one plane ticket, he drove here every visit, and they never stamped his passport except for the plane ride.
I feel like this might cause issues, also the Skype chat can get very NSFW will that be an issue?
I have a recording of our wedding and posted it privately on youtube can I send them a link on paper?

Show the Skype logs but edit out the NSFW stuff. They probably won't read it all anyway if you add a fair bit. I usually put 1 page for every 2 months to show continuing interaction. Do you have lots of photos together, or on trips together? Show the one plane ticket, and then write a letter detailing all the other times you've visited each other, what you did, where you two stayed, etc. Do you have facebook? You could show your chat history/your wall with his info/your info, etc.

Do you have pictures of the wedding? I wonder, if the quality is good enough, you could take screenshots of the youtube video and attach those as 'pictures'. If you had wedding invites, a guest book, cards, etc, you can include those as well. I threw in some 'congrats' cards from friends and family because we had a small wedding with just my family.

 

[misterz100]

OK this is what I got so far:
Outland application is the best way to go.

He cannot come and get a work permit to go looking for jobs as he waits for his application.

Send everything I can possibly think of about our relationship.

He should not attempt to move here until he gets his PR card because he needs to bring his car.

He has not received his FBI background check yet, they told him it was processed 3 weeks ago and charged him the amount on May 21st 2014, I see here that most say about 7 weeks total from the time they charge him right?

We got his medical back in mid November 2013, thinking it wouldn't take 8 months to get the FBI *censored word* rolling (lack of diligence on my husbands part "lets wait and see a bit longer" ) hopefully it will still be valid for when we submit the application. (12 months till it expires)

Also as for the NSFW stuff in the Skype logs well it would be near impossible to edit it all out.

 

[Zarilenth]

OK this is what I got so far:
Outland application is the best way to go.

He cannot come and get a work permit to go looking for jobs as he waits for his application.

Send everything I can possibly think of about our relationship.

He should not attempt to move here until he gets his PR card because he needs to bring his car.

He has not received his FBI background check yet, they told him it was processed 3 weeks ago and charged him the amount on May 21st 2014, I see here that most say about 7 weeks total from the time they charge him right?

We got his medical back in mid November 2013, thinking it wouldn't take 8 months to get the FBI *censored word* rolling (lack of diligence on my husbands part "lets wait and see a bit longer" ) hopefully it will still be valid for when we submit the application. (12 months till it expires)

Also as for the NSFW stuff in the Skype logs well it would be near impossible to edit it all out.

I'm not sure about the FBI check, it took my husband a while to get his and we just sent it along to Ottawa after we got sponsorship approval (we sent in the application without it).

Someone sent in their medical that they did 4 years ago. If it is expired they'll just ask you to do a re-med later.

You don't have any Skype chats that are SFW? You don't have to include the entire Skype log. Just portions of a couple days a month for each month or two you used Skype. It does not have to be extensive. I mean I'm sure you could include the NSFW stuff but.. I don't think you want them reading that and I don't think they want to read that either!

 

[scylla]

He cannot come and get a work permit to go looking for jobs as he waits for his application.

He can certainly look for jobs and he can certainly obtain a work permit - but he'll have to do this separate from the spousal sponsorship application. If he can find an employer willing to give him a job offer and his job qualifies under NAFTA - then he can apply for a work permit just based on the job offer. If the job doesn't qualify under NAFTA, then then employer will need to obtain an approved LMIA in addition to the job offer.