Girls coming from China, then we want to move to Canada

[endoftheroad 1]

Yeah, USA is best in the rearview mirror in our opinion but they have to come here first. Then we want to go to Canada. Just wondering if anyone else has done this and what difficulties and timeframe can we expect?

TIA!

[thetreble 19]

So let me get this straight...You want your significant other and her children to move from China to Canada, and then go from Canada to the USA? Are you a citizen of both countries?

[Darnell 8,478]

Your group will have to become Permanent Residents of Canada.

There's a VJ member here who knows how to do it - send me a PM, I'll send you his ID.

He worked it sideways, though.. his wife came to canada, got pr status.

he is usc, but also has pr status - didn't want any border crossing issues, was easier to get domicile in canada .

their I-130 is winding down, interview next month. I'm sure he can tell you 'how to do'.

[ashenflowers 5]

So let me get this straight...You want your significant other and her children to move from China to Canada, and then go from Canada to the USA? Are you a citizen of both countries?

I think he's wanting to get them from China to the USA, then from USA to Canada.

EotR, check out http://www.roadtocanada.com/ as well. It's like VJ, but for people immigrating to Canada. They may have some insight. I do know some friends of mine immigrating their spouses to Canada, but the spouses were originally from the US, and didn't come from elsewhere first, so I'm not sure what effect that will have. Since you're not a citizen or PR of Canada already (I'm assuming), it might make the process take a little longer for you, since you're all starting from the beginning, and don't have a foothold in Canada right now. The immigration process isn't that easy going into Canada either, and will take a number of years from start to finish I imagine (and by 'finish', I mean to the ultimate end result of citizenship). I don't know how long it will take before you actually are able to move there and live though. If you'd like, I can talk to my fiance about it. Now that I'm talking about this, I'm realizing that about 30 years ago his family actually all began in the US then moved to Canada together, due to his father having a job offer at a university there. I can see what they have to say about it, though I'm sure things have changed since then.

Edited October 17, 2009 by ashenflowers

[Kathryn41 3,205]

There are two ways:

If you are a Canadian citizen (I will have to check if the same applies for being a Permanent Resident) then you would apply for visitor visas for your spouse and daughter at a US based Canadian Consulate. The visas should be good for 6 months - the maximum amount of time allowed for a temporary resident permit. You would then arrive at the border stating you are a returning Canadian resident. All of you should be allowed across. Once you have re-established your residency in Canada (place to live, work, etc) you would then submit the Family sponsorship applications using the 'from within' forms to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). You will need to keep your wife's and daughter's Temporary Resident permits valid so it means re-applying about 2 to 3 months before they expire to apply for a new TR permit. (The fees are reasonable, don't worry). Your wife and daughter will need to undergo immigration medicals, provide police record checks of every place they have lived for more than 6 months after the age of 16, have copies of all identification documents (properly translated) for both China and the US - and then you wait, approximately a year. Once they receive their approval, they will have to leave Canada and return to have their landing status recorded (most people just drive into the US don't even bother to go through US customs but turn around and come back through Canadian customs). They will then receive their permanent status cards in the mail shortly afterwards. Half of the time spent legally in Canada for up to 2 years (translate to one year maximum) may also be counted towards the 3 year waiting period to obtain Canadian citizenship. While waiting your wife cannot work or go to school until she receives an 'approval in principal' which means the application has been reviewed and recommended for approval but the paperwork isn't done yet. It can still be a number of months afterwards before the actual approvals arrive. Your daughter will require a student visa to attend school and this can be obtained by going in person to the closest Canadian Consulate in the US - it needs to be obtained from outside of Canada, not from within, although it can be renewed from within.

The second way is to apply for their Permanent Residence status while remaining in the US. There is a different application form that is submitted to the Canadian Consulate in Buffalo. All of the requirements are the same and all are submitted at the same time. You 'wait' after the submissions are sent - it is usually a shorter waiting time than doing the process from within Canada - and when they receive approval, then all of you cross the border together - you are a returning Canadian and they as landing immigrants. Again, they will receive their PR cards in the mail shortly afterwards.

All of the information you will require is here as are the necessary forms: http://cic.gc.ca . Interviews are seldom required, but they do sometimes happen.

Edited October 17, 2009 by Kathryn41

[endoftheroad 1]

Sorry, I should have been more clear. I am a USC, they are PRC. They are coming to the USA. After they get PR status here (which I just assume they need first) we are considering moving to Canada. They have not decided anything about USA or CAN citizenship yet. Thanks to everyone for their pointers! Lots of good info!!

Anyone else add anything?