American marrying Canadian

[stonecloudjim]

That's what I figured. I am trying to convince her to do a city hall wedding here in the USA and then have the big wedding in Canada when I get there. It's not ideal but it seems like the only way.

 

[Ponga]

That's what I figured. I am trying to convince her to do a city hall wedding here in the USA and then have the big wedding in Canada when I get there. It's not ideal but it seems like the only way.

Why?

Don't try to convince her to deprive herself of what will undoubtedly be one of the happiest days of your lives, just because you're eager to apply for PR.

 

[Zarilenth]

That's what I figured. I am trying to convince her to do a city hall wedding here in the USA and then have the big wedding in Canada when I get there. It's not ideal but it seems like the only way.

Why can't you just have the big wedding now and then apply? You can be in Canada the entire duration of the application if you're ok with taking some time off and not working, haha.

 

[stonecloudjim]

I'm okay with taking time off and not working but she isn't okay with that lol. As anyone we would need both of us working to pay the bills. We aren't in a spot to pay for all of that right now anyway. After all this time apart we just want to be together.

 

[Zarilenth]

I'm okay with taking time off and not working but she isn't okay with that lol. As anyone we would need both of us working to pay the bills. We aren't in a spot to pay for all of that right now anyway. After all this time apart we just want to be together.

Yeah, that's pretty much the situation my husband and I were in as well. I didn't want to do a city hall wedding now but I also wanted to get the PR application started as soon as possible. A good alternative (which is non-expensive too) are renting out small chapels. I rented out the Toronto Wedding Chapel (http://torontoweddingchapel.com/) for around 350 for an hour and had the ceremony with just my family. We then had a larger celebration at my parents house. So, it's a good in-between right now if you want to get married and apply but don't want to do the City Hall option.

I should say now that he is in the States working and I am in Canada working and we're getting by, but it's for sure hard to be apart. But it helps knowing that the next time he flies up here, it'll be to stay for good. We sent out app at the end of January and we're hoping for his PR in August.

 

[keesio]

That's what I figured. I am trying to convince her to do a city hall wedding here in the USA and then have the big wedding in Canada when I get there. It's not ideal but it seems like the only way.

My sister did that and that is a good alternative. She wasn't immigrating or anything, it was just a matter of wanting to be married to get my parents off her back but being too busy for a full wedding at the time. They did city hall and then several months later they had a big party. It worked out well. One quirk is that my sister and brother-in-law often forget their actual wedding date since they only remember the date of the party, which was more memorable.

 

[stonecloudjim]

I am seeing really assuring numbers from you guys on wait times. 7-9 months would be awesome. We haven't started the process yet so that will add time. I am going to start work on my background check and medical check. The only panel certified doctor is 3 hours away though. I wish they had more doctors available. Any idea on cost for the FBI check?

 

[Ponga]

I am seeing really assuring numbers from you guys on wait times. 7-9 months would be awesome. We haven't started the process yet so that will add time. I am going to start work on my background check and medical check. The only panel certified doctor is 3 hours away though. I wish they had more doctors available. Any idea on cost for the FBI check?

It's $18 plus whatever the cost is to have your fingerprints taken, but...don't send the fingerprint card in until you're almost ready to apply for PR. The FBI PCC is only valid for 90 days, so CIC must receive it before it expires.

 

[rhcohen2014]

I am seeing really assuring numbers from you guys on wait times. 7-9 months would be awesome. We haven't started the process yet so that will add time. I am going to start work on my background check and medical check. The only panel certified doctor is 3 hours away though. I wish they had more doctors available. Any idea on cost for the FBI check?

$18

go here...
http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/identity-history-summary-checks

note that you want to time getting your FBI record with when you plan to submit your application, since CIC only considers them valid for 3 months. Considering, you are not even married yet, it doesn't make sense to request it yet. Also, the forms are updated frequently, so there may be new forms available when you plan to submit. they will send your application back or consider it incomplete if you don't use the most updated forms.

 

[stonecloudjim]

I saw it could take 16-18 weeks to get the FBI thing back once sent in. Is there any limit on how long the doctor check is good for?

 

[keesio]

One more thing about the FBI report - it takes anywhere from 4-8 weeks to get the report from the date you mailed the application and prints to them. So I recommend mailing it in about a month before you planning on sending in your sponsorship application.

 

[rhcohen2014]

I saw it could take 16-18 weeks to get the FBI thing back once sent in. Is there any limit on how long the doctor check is good for?

you are looking at the processing time for FBI checks on the CIC site, NOT the processing time the FBI actually posts. If you click on the link i posted above, you would see the current processing time is 25 days, not including mail.

the medical exam is valid for 1 year from the date it was peformed.

 

[keesio]

I saw it could take 16-18 weeks to get the FBI thing back once sent in. Is there any limit on how long the doctor check is good for?

The 16-18 week thing is VERY conservative. It is usually 4-8 weeks. Even during the backlog last year when the US govt shut down for bit and everything slowed down, it was like 8-10 weeks.

 

[stonecloudjim]

I wish I found this forum a long time ago. Its so awesome of you all to help folks out.

 

[Ponga]

I suggest you have 2 sets of fingerprints taken, just in case there is an issue with the first set (mail them both, explaining that you are simply providing a second set...just in case they need it). The additional cost to the fingerprint technician (~$10-15) would be well worth the peace of mind, since it's not that uncommon for a fingerprint to be rejected. This is also why it's suggested that you find a very experienced fingerprint technician!

Submit the fingerprint cards about a month before you think you will have your application ready to mail (but realize that it will take longer than you think). Most people spend ~ a month putting everything together, but each person is different, of course.

Schedule your medical exam as close to that `estimated' date as well.