Spousal (including children) application

[mr-moose]

Hi All,

My wife and I would like to move to Canada with our 3 children. While we were both born and raised in Australia, she has Canadian citizenship through her parents. I also have US citizenship through my parents, although I don't believe that is of much use.

I've seen the processing times for visa applications. It seems it can be up to 16 months for the children. Is there any particular way (Inland vs Outland) that will reduce that time frame? I'm happy to go with my wife to Canada and apply from there, but I'd like the kids to be able to go to school while we wait for our application to be processed too. Ideally, I'd be keen to work also, but if that isn't possible, I'll happily wait until the visa is processed I'm aiming for some time frame of about mid next year ideally.

Some details of our situation are;
- Married for 14 years
- Wife is 37 and I am 41
- Both university educated
- I (the person to be sponsored) have consistently had a full time job for the past 15 years
- 3 children (aged 5 through 9)
- Own our home here in Australia
- Will have ~$50K Canadian to support ourselves while we wait for work permit or visa to be approved

I'd love to find out any information about whether it is possible to have a visa processed (or visit canada while we wait for visa to be processed) by mid 2017.

Thanks in advance,
Chris

 

[canadianwoman]

Your wife can apply to sponsor you and the children outland. It will probably take much less than 16 months. Since the children will be included on your application, you will all be processed together and will get approved at the same time.

Your wife will have to include proof that she is going to be relocating to Canada in the application. She should write up a plan of how you all will be establishing yourselves in Canada once you become PRs. She can show things like: proof of job searches or a job offer; proof of school enrollment or inquiries about this; searches for a place to stay; affidavits from family members who might be willing to help you get settled; proof of savings; affidavits or letters from family members or friends who know of your plans to move to Canada; examples of things you have done to prepare to leave Australia, such as letters from your bosses stating they know of your plans, letters from schools stating the same, plans to sell your house, plans to move household goods to Canada, etc.

 

[mr-moose]

Thanks so much for your reply. It is really exciting to read that it may come in under 16 months. The information you've provided has really helped. We've been putting off applying for a while now as we haven't been sure of the correct route for us in terms of the application. I am now certainly leaning towards the outbound route.

Once a visa is granted and issued, do you know know how long you have to enter the country? Trying to work out the logistics of preparing to leave given the unknown time frames makes planning somewhat difficult.

Thanks again for the reply.

Chris

 

[CDNPR2014]

Thanks so much for your reply. It is really exciting to read that it may come in under 16 months. The information you've provided has really helped. We've been putting off applying for a while now as we haven't been sure of the correct route for us in terms of the application. I am now certainly leaning towards the outbound route.

Once a visa is granted and issued, do you know know how long you have to enter the country? Trying to work out the logistics of preparing to leave given the unknown time frames makes planning somewhat difficult.

Thanks again for the reply.

Chris

assuming you will be applying through australia, more than likely you will be approved in 6ish months. i'd recommend checking out the Sydney visa office thread to see what the actual trend is. Sydney was one of the fastest visa offices at one point.

No one can say for sure how long you will have to land once approved. it is different for every applicant. generally speaking, the landing document's (COPR) expiration date corresponds to the 1 year anniversary of the medical exam or 6 months from the applicant's passport validity date. the expiration date can also be extended beyond the 1 year of the medical exam to help the person land. you really won't know until you get the paper.

 

[mr-moose]

Wow! 6 months sounds a lot better than 16. The CIC page that shows processing times is saying 10 months for a spousal application from Australia, but even that is ok for us. I just need to get the application prepared and lodged.

We are still toying over where to live in Canada though. As you need to nominate a location on the application form, is this something you need to stick to? We are looking at either Ontario (Waterloo, Kitchener or Guelph) or Vancouver. Even Victoria would be nice, but I think it'd be much harder for me to find work there.

Thanks again
Chris

 

[profiler]

Wow! 6 months sounds a lot better than 16. The CIC page that shows processing times is saying 10 months for a spousal application from Australia, but even that is ok for us. I just need to get the application prepared and lodged.

We are still toying over where to live in Canada though. As you need to nominate a location on the application form, is this something you need to stick to? We are looking at either Ontario (Waterloo, Kitchener or Guelph) or Vancouver. Even Victoria would be nice, but I think it'd be much harder for me to find work there.

Thanks again
Chris

Really only Quebec has a slightly different process. They require a CSQ. Otherwise, you can change your destination, just advise CIC.

Can I ask why KWCG? I am from the area....

 

[mr-moose]

Hi Profiler,

I think we'll specify a location initially then and if it turns out we change our mind, we'll inform CIC.

KWCG look appealing to me as it isn't a huge metropolis for one thing, and I'm quite enthusiastic about working on innovative and exciting projects. I saw a great documentary on the start up culture that was going on in Kitchener/Waterloo and I found it really intriguing. Quite a few of the projects in the doco revolved around tech start ups (which is exciting for me as a software developer). I'd be really keen to get involved in a vibrant community of like-minded individuals.

A good friend of ours worked out of Guelph for about 5 years recently too, and she seemed to enjoy the area. I'd love to hear your thoughts on it as a destination for new migrants with a young famiky. Feel free to PM me with your unbiased opinions

Thanks again,
Chris

 

[profiler]

Hi Profiler,

I think we'll specify a location initially then and if it turns out we change our mind, we'll inform CIC.

KWCG look appealing to me as it isn't a huge metropolis for one thing, and I'm quite enthusiastic about working on innovative and exciting projects. I saw a great documentary on the start up culture that was going on in Kitchener/Waterloo and I found it really intriguing. Quite a few of the projects in the doco revolved around tech start ups (which is exciting for me as a software developer). I'd be really keen to get involved in a vibrant community of like-minded individuals.

A good friend of ours worked out of Guelph for about 5 years recently too, and she seemed to enjoy the area. I'd love to hear your thoughts on it as a destination for new migrants with a young famiky. Feel free to PM me with your unbiased opinions

Thanks again,
Chris

I'm also a dev, and lived here since -- '92? Anyway, yes this is one of the start up incubator regions of the world for sure. You're right that it isn't a metropolis. Though if you want a big city, Toronto is just down the road! If you want any region-specific info, feel free to shoot me a PM and I will see what I can dig up for you...