American/Canadian in Canada

[monkeygirl 0]

Hi everyone...

I don't know if Im posting in the right place....but here it is.

My guy and I live in border towns, have been dating for a few years. We met on line years ago, and he moved as close to me as he could.

He now lives in Buffalo and has an excellent job, that he intends to keep. I am in Ontario, with excellent job..and kids. My guy crosses over daily, to visit and stay over on occasion. We now want to marry. We will live here in Ontario, and he will keep his job in New York. His Employer says it's fine to do so. He plans to cross the border daily, to get to work.

Where to start?

I know it will be time consuming and confusing... that's not a problem. The most important thing, is that while we are marrying, filing forms...etc, is that he can still cross over the Border to me, whenever he wishes. It's okay if I can't cross over to him, but he does need to see my kids. Is it best for us to marry in New York or here, in Ontario? Do we tell the Border Patrol that we are married now...or no? I know we should have a consult with an Immigration Lawyer..but maybe someone here can direct us? I have been on the Canadian Immigration site, but it is just general information. Every situation is different.

Any advice will be appreciated.

Thanks alot.

[thermophile 0]

where you get married doesn't matter-marriages in Canada are recognized by the US and visa versa. If I understand you correctly, he will be applying for status in Canada? you won't be applying for US residency? You should have no more difficulty in seeing him than before, since you have no intention of moving to the US. He can cross the border while his CIC application is processing, but I'm not sure if he'll be able to cross daily?? why don't you call CIC and ask how his current daily commute across the border would be changed if he were to be in the application process. I crossed the border 5-6 times while I was waiting for my landing visa and didn't have any problem, but I was crossing about once a month rather than every day.

Maybe Neiks will weigh in on how CIC views really frequent crossings.

I don't know if an immigration lawyer would be able to help you, the forms are pretty straight forward. We didn't use a lawyer for either the US or Canadian process.

I looked at britishexpats.com for Canadian immigration help.

Edited January 20, 2008 by thermophile

[monkeygirl 0]

where you get married doesn't matter-marriages in Canada are recognized by the US and visa versa. If I understand you correctly, he will be applying for status in Canada? you won't be applying for US residency? You should have no more difficulty in seeing him than before, since you have no intention of moving to the US. He can cross the border while his CIC application is processing, but I'm not sure if he'll be able to cross daily?? why don't you call CIC and ask how his current daily commute across the border would be changed if he were to be in the application process. I crossed the border 5-6 times while I was waiting for my landing visa and didn't have any problem, but I was crossing about once a month rather than every day.

Maybe Neiks will weigh in on how CIC views really frequent crossings.

I don't know if an immigration lawyer would be able to help you, the forms are pretty straight forward. We didn't use a lawyer for either the US or Canadian process.

I looked at britishexpats.com for Canadian immigration help.

Hi there...

Thanks for your response. Yes, he will be coming here to Ontario to live with me. It would be great if he could at least come occasionally from Buffalo, to see my kids and I, during the CIC process. At this point he comes daily, with no problems, as I said.

From what I understand, the application process for Permanent Residency can take up to 10 months?

We're going to get started right away...

Thanks again.

Julie

[kimmbo 0]

Heres a link to a group that I used 6 years ago when I Immigrated to Canada...

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/canadian_immigration/

good luck with your process!

[bradcanuck 1]

http://www.roadtocanada.com/forums/index.php

The guy who runs this posts on VJ and is a very very good guy. They are all helpful here, give it a shot.

[neiks 19]

Hi there, If you give me another couple of weeks I'll be up to speed on the CIC info for you. I'm currently in Calgary for my indepth immigration training. But, I will give you a little info from my experience as a Canadain Customs officer. You and your other can get married where you please. Your husband can remain in the US as you start the CIC process and will probably be allowed to visit as much as he pleases. He may be issued a "visitor record" or "temp resident permit". He may also be able to stay/live with you in Canada while your case is being processed as long as you keep up with it. He can not work or study in Canada but is fine to commute to the US to continue working at his US employment. Now, like I said, this is what I have seen happen for others and can not say this is definate in your case and there may be certain critieria that must be met. Hopefully, in a few weeks I will be be able to give definate confident advice in regards to the Immigration stuff.

Good luck to you

[Reba 2]

One thing to consider about where to get married is that the province of Ontario can be pretty slow in getting your marriage certificate to you, and you'll need to include that with any immigration paperwork. The certificate may be quicker in New York.

[~Laura and Nick~ 5]

Hi there, If you give me another couple of weeks I'll be up to speed on the CIC info for you. I'm currently in Calgary for my indepth immigration training. But, I will give you a little info from my experience as a Canadain Customs officer. You and your other can get married where you please. Your husband can remain in the US as you start the CIC process and will probably be allowed to visit as much as he pleases. He may be issued a "visitor record" or "temp resident permit". He may also be able to stay/live with you in Canada while your case is being processed as long as you keep up with it. He can not work or study in Canada but is fine to commute to the US to continue working at his US employment. Now, like I said, this is what I have seen happen for others and can not say this is definate in your case and there may be certain critieria that must be met. Hopefully, in a few weeks I will be be able to give definate confident advice in regards to the Immigration stuff.

Good luck to you

Just on the side...

How long does it usually take to get PR so that they can work?

Thanks!!

[thermophile 0]

it took me 10 months to get my pr. but both the hubby and I missed a signature so the app was returned to us and then was lost in the mail. we didn't know how long it should take so waited 3 months to even call to find out that it was lost. then took us another 1.5 months to resubmit the app. (we had copies of everything except the hubby's schedule C which takes a while to get, COPY EVERYTHING). So if it hadn't been for our delays, I probably would have landed within 6 months of applying.

Since we were in Calgary it took me 1 week to find a job and start working.

[trailmix 77]

Took my Husband 6 months from mailing in the application to approval - but that was in 2000 and apparently it's a bit slower now. I thought he could work while it was processing, but I can't really remember now, that is probably not true

[~Laura and Nick~ 5]

Thanks peoples

[monkeygirl 0]

Thanks peoples

Thanks so much everyone. You've been a great help.

Julie

[neiks 19]

Just on the side...

How long does it usually take to get PR so that they can work?

Thanks!!

This was discussed in our training today. The Instructor said is is taking about a year on average to process right now. The processing offices are 6-8 weeks behind right now. She also said she has seen some LPR applications processed in less than 6 months but this is very rare right now and generally are taking a year or more.

[~Laura and Nick~ 5]

Just on the side...

How long does it usually take to get PR so that they can work?

Thanks!!

This was discussed in our training today. The Instructor said is is taking about a year on average to process right now. The processing offices are 6-8 weeks behind right now. She also said she has seen some LPR applications processed in less than 6 months but this is very rare right now and generally are taking a year or more.

Wow thanks for that info Neiks!