American marrying Canadian

[stonecloudjim]

I have met my fiance online in Fall 2012 and after many visits we are ready to take the plunge. She is a Canadian citizen (Saskatchewan) and I am an American citizen (North Dakota). She has just finished college and got a place to live which as far as we could tell was necessary to start the family sponsorship. Looking into it I am seeing very long wait times for approval. To ask two people in love to be apart for 2 years is pretty brutal. Will getting married in Canada on a visit help speed things up? When can we start the paperwork to get the ball rolling? Is there anyway to speed it up? Please, any advice is appreciated.

 

[Ponga]

I have met my fiance online in Fall 2012 and after many visits we are ready to take the plunge. She is a Canadian citizen (Saskatchewan) and I am an American citizen (North Dakota). She has just finished college and got a place to live which as far as we could tell was necessary to start the family sponsorship. Looking into it I am seeing very long wait times for approval. To ask two people in love to be apart for 2 years is pretty brutal. Will getting married in Canada on a visit help speed things up? When can we start the paperwork to get the ball rolling? Is there anyway to speed it up? Please, any advice is appreciated.

You can start the process as soon as you are married. It doesn't much matter where you are married (Canada or US).

There are two types of spousal sponsorship applications:

Inland- Takes (on average) twice as long as an Outland application.

Outland- Most American's have their application processed entirely in < 12 months. For a straightforward application, meaning no `red flags' or criminal inadmissibility issues, the entire process is handled in Canada (Mississauga for stage 1 and Ottawa for stage 2).

Check the very first thread in this forum to get an idea of how things work.

Good luck!

 

[stonecloudjim]

Thanks so much for responding! So even if she is living at home with her parents currently and just started a full time job we can apply as soon as we are married?

 

[Ponga]

Thanks so much for responding! So even if she is living at home with her parents currently and just started a full time job we can apply as soon as we are married?

Yes!

There are no income requirements for the sponsor, but she will need to tell CIC how she will be supporting you, since you can not legally work in Canada until you have your PR, or a work permit.

 

[stonecloudjim]

You said less than 12 months. On the CIC page It shows 30 months for NY and 26 months for LA. How would it only be 12 months and all be handled in Canada? I am confused.

 

[Zarilenth]

You said less than 12 months. On the CIC page It shows 30 months for NY and 26 months for LA. How would it only be 12 months and all be handled in Canada? I am confused.

American applications go through Ottawa. Ottawa is at 15 months on that website but most are processed in 9 months or less.

 

[Ponga]

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/offices/apply-where.asp

Scroll down to see that applications for PR (for Americans) are processed at CPC-O (Case Processing Centre- Ottawa)

If there is an issue with the application (if there are questions/doubts regarding the marriage, for example) THEN the file could be transferred to LA or Buffalo.

 

[stonecloudjim]

That's amazing news! This forum is fantastic. I love you people! And it doesn't matter if we get married there or here?

 

[Zarilenth]

That's amazing news! This forum is fantastic. I love you people! And it doesn't matter if we get married there or here?

Not at all Just make sure you get a marriage certificate afterwards to include in the application.

 

[stonecloudjim]

I have no criminal history or any health concerns so that part shouldn't be an issue.

 

[Ponga]

I have no criminal history or any health concerns so that part shouldn't be an issue.

The only real health concerns for a spouse, would be things like active tuberculosis, or anything that could be deemed a danger to the public.

FYI, the cost for everything is currently $1040 (not including your physical or the FBI PCC).

 

[stonecloudjim]

This $1040 is paid to the Canadian government when we send the paperwork in?

 

[Zarilenth]

This $1040 is paid to the Canadian government when we send the paperwork in?

Yes. You need to pay it and include the receipt with the application. It can be paid online here: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/fees/index.asp

 

[stonecloudjim]

Does the health and FBI PCC have to be done before sending in the initial paperwork?

 

[Zarilenth]

Does the health and FBI PCC have to be done before sending in the initial paperwork?

It is suggested that you do them before and send them in just to be careful and to avoid any delays. If you don't send them in, it may cause Mississauga to send back your application as incomplete. In my own experience, I did not do either, only included a note about each saying we'd do then when we got sponsorship approval. It didn't cause a delay for me, but I have heard of other applications getting sent back as incomplete.