Can I apply for PR while living in US with my wife who is a Canadian Citizen.

[danko]

I think this should be an easy question.

I'm an American citizen and my wife is a Canadian Citizen. We both are living in the US for the last 15 years or so. We are thinking about moving to Canada. I'm an engineer, and the only one who provides income in our family. So the question is: Can we apply for my permanent residency or something of equivalent of US "Employment Authorization" while still living in US? We cannot afford a laps in income, so we cannot move until I find a new job in Canada. I would assume it would be much easier to do with approved work documents, than asking employer to provide you with work visa while we are working out immigration paperwork.

Thanks a lot.

 

[Tubsmagee]

I think this should be an easy question.

I'm an American citizen and my wife is a Canadian Citizen. We both are living in the US for the last 15 years or so. We are thinking about moving to Canada. I'm an engineer, and the only one who provides income in our family. So the question is: Can we apply for my permanent residency or something of equivalent of US "Employment Authorization" while still living in US? We cannot afford a laps in income, so we cannot move until I find a new job in Canada. I would assume it would be much easier to do with approved work documents, than asking employer to provide you with work visa while we are working out immigration paperwork.

Thanks a lot.

Yes,your wife can apply to sponsor you as PR from the US, and once you get your authorization you can wait until finding a job (I think it was a year) before moving, or so a short landing and then accompany your wife back to US until you found a job.

 

[Pitt1234]

Yes, no issues with that. You don't need work document or job offer for a spousal sponsorship. The only thing you guys do need to provide is a clear statement that you intend to move to Canada after sponsorship approval, and some documentary proof. This may include documentation of some ties to Canada, a future house rental or search log, or some job search log, etc.

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/how-to-prove-intent-to-return-to-canada-after-my-spouse-gets-pr-t198037.0.html

You don't have to go overboard with your documentation. But do consider providing some.

I think this should be an easy question.

I'm an American citizen and my wife is a Canadian Citizen. We both are living in the US for the last 15 years or so. We are thinking about moving to Canada. I'm an engineer, and the only one who provides income in our family. So the question is: Can we apply for my permanent residency or something of equivalent of US "Employment Authorization" while still living in US? We cannot afford a laps in income, so we cannot move until I find a new job in Canada. I would assume it would be much easier to do with approved work documents, than asking employer to provide you with work visa while we are working out immigration paperwork.

Thanks a lot.

 

[danko]

Thank you very much. This is very helpful information. We were under the perception that in order to sponsor me my wife have to reside in Canada. This makes a lot of difference.

 

[Aquakitty]

Thank you very much. This is very helpful information. We were under the perception that in order to sponsor me my wife have to reside in Canada. This makes a lot of difference.

If you are a licensed engineer, you could qualify for a work permit under NAFTA professional categories.

http://www.canadavisa.com/nafta-work-permits.html

 

[Pitt1234]

That still about the same time as he would still need labor certification, which is a 4+ months process. He can instead become a PR in that time via the spousal route as he is from US that has much faster processing.

If you are a licensed engineer, you could qualify for a work permit under NAFTA professional categories.

http://www.canadavisa.com/nafta-work-permits.html