Hello! new to forum

[Delicia 1]

I am a U.S. citizen married to a Canadian PR. We decided, for various reasons, we would plan our future in the Toronto area as opposed to him moving to the U.S. I have been in process for PR in Canada for 1.5 years, no AIP granted, no communication from CIC whatsoever, and the local MP couldn't help get my process moving. The husband and I have decided to just withdraw the stalled application and move back to the U.S. where he has a valid B1/B2 visa until 2010. I am not sure how we are going to pull this off, but my initial feeling is for me to find a job in the U.S. (looking at the Phoenix area currently), move to the U.S. start working (so I can show income for the U.S. immigration) and start the process while he remains in Toronto.

I have been reading the instructions of the various forms and visa types and I would like to pursue a Consular processing, if at all possible. I am technically not a resident of Canada, as I have no status here whatsoever. I do have an Ontario driver's license and have been living in Ontario as a 'visitor' for 2 years. All my mail comes to Ontario, all my banking is in Ontario, etc.

I am just trying to find the fastest way for me to get my husband's visa processed so we are not separated for years, like I fear we will be, other than the short visits to me he will be taking, if we go this route. Any suggestions?

[Keisha 0]

I am a U.S. citizen married to a Canadian PR. We decided, for various reasons, we would plan our future in the Toronto area as opposed to him moving to the U.S. I have been in process for PR in Canada for 1.5 years, no AIP granted, no communication from CIC whatsoever, and the local MP couldn't help get my process moving. The husband and I have decided to just withdraw the stalled application and move back to the U.S. where he has a valid B1/B2 visa until 2010. I am not sure how we are going to pull this off, but my initial feeling is for me to find a job in the U.S. (looking at the Phoenix area currently), move to the U.S. start working (so I can show income for the U.S. immigration) and start the process while he remains in Toronto.

I have been reading the instructions of the various forms and visa types and I would like to pursue a Consular processing, if at all possible. I am technically not a resident of Canada, as I have no status here whatsoever. I do have an Ontario driver's license and have been living in Ontario as a 'visitor' for 2 years. All my mail comes to Ontario, all my banking is in Ontario, etc.

I am just trying to find the fastest way for me to get my husband's visa processed so we are not separated for years, like I fear we will be, other than the short visits to me he will be taking, if we go this route. Any suggestions?

Delicia, I am sure you tried to call Canada Immigration numerous times, so What do they say? What is their typical processing time for your type of case? Talking from my experience, Canada Immigration is pretty good, they answer questions on the phone, and keep their timelines as posted at the official website.They update the website every week, so you can see how your case is supposed to be moving. You might be very-very close to getting your AIP. Are there any red flags with your case which would delay the processing?

You might start the US immigration for your husband, and see which goes faster, but I understand that comes from your desperation and can cost you being away from your husband, and more money, effort and time.

Sorry, don't know much about consular filing, just my thoughts here...

[Lance27 19]

I am a U.S. citizen married to a Canadian PR. We decided, for various reasons, we would plan our future in the Toronto area as opposed to him moving to the U.S. I have been in process for PR in Canada for 1.5 years, no AIP granted, no communication from CIC whatsoever, and the local MP couldn't help get my process moving. The husband and I have decided to just withdraw the stalled application and move back to the U.S. where he has a valid B1/B2 visa until 2010. I am not sure how we are going to pull this off, but my initial feeling is for me to find a job in the U.S. (looking at the Phoenix area currently), move to the U.S. start working (so I can show income for the U.S. immigration) and start the process while he remains in Toronto.

I have been reading the instructions of the various forms and visa types and I would like to pursue a Consular processing, if at all possible. I am technically not a resident of Canada, as I have no status here whatsoever. I do have an Ontario driver's license and have been living in Ontario as a 'visitor' for 2 years. All my mail comes to Ontario, all my banking is in Ontario, etc.

I am just trying to find the fastest way for me to get my husband's visa processed so we are not separated for years, like I fear we will be, other than the short visits to me he will be taking, if we go this route. Any suggestions?

Hello and welcome to VJ

We were in the same situation you are in a year and a half ago. We had filed for my wife to become a permanent resident but for some reason processing for people from within Canada seems to be taking forever. We finally gave up last May and decided to go the US route.

We filed for the K3 because it was the fastest option at the time (this was before Montreal became backlogged) We filed in late October I finally have my interview date this month. If all goes well my daughter and I will be moving around the 20 of this month. So about 9 months from filing to Interview if your case does not get stuck anywhere for too long along the way.

Good luck

Edited August 3, 2007 by Lance27

[misa 2]

You don't have to move back first before you start the process. You can start the process now and use your current Ontario address (you just can't do DCF since you're technically still a visitor but you can still file to the U.S.) OR use your parents' address in the U.S. (make sure they are speedy with mail and let you know when things arrive). If your parents are cool with it (or other family in the U.S.), they can co-sponsor the affidavit of support for your husband since the consulate will want to see U.S. income.

It will still take awhile since he will be interviewing in Montreal but not years.

Hope this helps!

Edited August 3, 2007 by misa

[mozplay 29]

And with no valuable input I will just say ... Welcome to VJ!

Mo

[Emancipation 2]

Yes.. welcome to our family !!!

[Flames9_RN 358]

Welcome to VJ! For the most part a very friendly family,lol Pretty civil here in the Canada forum, one can pretty much discuss any topic and not get al snippy, can't say that for the off -topic section,lol Enjoy and best of luck

[Reba 2]

Where is your husband from originally? Did you include his sponsorship petition with your immigration application at the same time? I'm not sure if CIC takes longer for PR's petitions for spouses or not. But a year and a half seems about right from what I can see on their processing times page. Its a couple of months for the sponsorship petition, and then about a year for the immigrant's application. All processing times are just guestimates, they're not carved in stone of course.

If you do choose to start the process to move to the US, I believe your application fees are 75% refundable from CIC. They were at least when my husband and I went thru it a few years ago.

[Delicia 1]

I have contacted CIC on many occasions and I cannot get any answers from them, other than 'it's in process'. My file was transferred for an undisclosed reason (I have no idea and CIC isn't sharing) to a local CIC office that has a 12+ month backlog before they even start on it. The medicals for my son and myself expired in Nov 2006, the criminal checks expired before that. When my husband and I requested the MP help, he got the same response. CIC has not requested an interview with me or any additional information from from me.

Their normal processing time to AIP is 9 months. My 2 year anniversary in Canada is in 2 weeks and during that time, I don't have access to medical care nor can I get a job, register my car, nothing. Due to fee changes in early 2006, I have been overpaid by $500 since Oct 2005 and even my request for a refund goes unanswered. At this point, I am so angry at the process, I just want out.

I started looking for a job in the U.S. and the same day that I sent in resumes, I got calls for interviews. I have my second phone interview with as many companies next week. Things seem very promising and the only concern I have at this point is getting in and out of Canada while I fly out for interviews.

I would love to apply for U.S. immigration for my husband while I am still in Canada, but have had 0 income since I moved here and don't have any assets I can use in lieu of that. We will be going the K3 route for my husband. He has a B1 visa for the U.S. valid until 2010 because he used to come and visit me in the states all the time. My parents will not cosponsor at this point. We had a falling out several years ago and we don't even communicate anymore. After I get a job, the income requirement will not be hard for me to satisfy.

[Delicia 1]

Where is your husband from originally? Did you include his sponsorship petition with your immigration application at the same time? I'm not sure if CIC takes longer for PR's petitions for spouses or not. But a year and a half seems about right from what I can see on their processing times page. Its a couple of months for the sponsorship petition, and then about a year for the immigrant's application. All processing times are just guestimates, they're not carved in stone of course.

If you do choose to start the process to move to the US, I believe your application fees are 75% refundable from CIC. They were at least when my husband and I went thru it a few years ago.

My husband is a Chilean citizen, but has been a Canadian PR since 1994. Because we elected to file an inland spousal application in Canada, the spousal sponsorship is processed at the same time the rest of the package is processed. They don't approve the sponsor first. According to the CIC webpage, they are currently processing out of the Vegreville AL location at 9 months. Supposedly, Vegreville will make an initial assessment and approve for AIP in about 9 months, or if they don't like something, they typically request additional information from the applicants. Our applications seem to have been just opened, then put into another pile and shipped to another office.

I contacted CIC about 3 weeks ago and inquired about our fees. According to the agent I spoke to, if we withdrew now, they would refund 100% of our fees (except the $75 processing fee) since they haven't processed anything yet. So he admitted to me right there that they have done nothing with my file and their projection is that the local office won't start processing until Nov/Dec 2007 based on when my file was sent there. Keep in mind, that is 'start' to process. They will more than likely ask for new FBI check (2-6 months right there) as well as new medicals ($600 for 2 of those). I am just unwilling to keep my life in limbo any longer.

[misa 2]

I would love to apply for U.S. immigration for my husband while I am still in Canada, but have had 0 income since I moved here and don't have any assets I can use in lieu of that. We will be going the K3 route for my husband. He has a B1 visa for the U.S. valid until 2010 because he used to come and visit me in the states all the time. My parents will not cosponsor at this point. We had a falling out several years ago and we don't even communicate anymore. After I get a job, the income requirement will not be hard for me to satisfy.

A co-sponsor doesn't need to be your parents, it could also be a friend. Is there someone else that could help you co-sponsor? A friend? Another family member? The requirements to meet aren't that much.

If you pursue the K3, you don't have to show the affidavit of support until the interview stage so you could actually start filing for it now. Additionally, if your husband has friends or family on the west coast of Canada, he could potentially be able to interview in Vancouver which is a much faster consulate than Montreal.

[jg_am 0]

Welcome to the group!

[jg_am 0]

Welcome to the group!

[L_n_O 3]

welcome!

[thetreble 19]

hey delicia-

welcome to vj and I am sorry you are having such a hard time with your process. I hope you can get it worked out soon!