Jeff Novotny

Hello all;

My fiancee (who currently lives and works in the US) and I were
originally going to apply via the Conjugal Partner route and then get
married after completion. But it looks like with the recent troubles and
the reports I've heard of *very* long delays for this route, we might be
better off with a new approach.

We were considering moving our wedding up to this winter (approximately
Jan or Feb) since we don't really require an elaborate ceremony, and
then apply after that. However, we're not sure what the best way to
apply for the regular spousal family class would be.

It looks like we have two choices. My fiancee could move up here to
Canada under a visitor's visa, and then we could apply inland, extending
the visa as necessary. We are aware that she could not work or study
during this time until granted PR status. The other option would be for
her to remain in the States while applying until the time when PR status
is completed.

Does anyone have a good idea which approach is better in terms of length
of processing time and straightforwardness (for lack of a better term)?
I've heard varying processing times from the US through Buffalo. Some
candidates have said six or seven months, but the voice mail at the
consulate says over a year. Inland processing appears to be consistently
taking six to eight months.

Thanks for any information that anyone can provide. We really appreciate
it!

Best;
Jeff

Frans Luit

Hi Jeff,

I would recommend:

1. Get married first
2. Bring your wife to Canada on a visitor's visa
3. Immediately start your wife's application for an in-land landing.


I have done the same thing for my wife and it took 5 months.

Keep in mind that doing it this way will put you on the hook for a 10 year
commitment with the Government for sponsoring your wife. Read the CIC
website for FAQ on sponsoring someone.

If your future to be wife has enough qualifications (diplomas) etc. then you
could choose to have her apply as an independent skilled worker. Processing
time will probably be longer. Your choice!

Good luck!
Frans



On 10/12/03 9:11 AM, in article , "Jeff
Novotny" <> wrote:

    > Hello all;
    >
    > My fiancee (who currently lives and works in the US) and I were
    > originally going to apply via the Conjugal Partner route and then get
    > married after completion. But it looks like with the recent troubles and
    > the reports I've heard of *very* long delays for this route, we might be
    > better off with a new approach.
    >
    > We were considering moving our wedding up to this winter (approximately
    > Jan or Feb) since we don't really require an elaborate ceremony, and
    > then apply after that. However, we're not sure what the best way to
    > apply for the regular spousal family class would be.
    >
    > It looks like we have two choices. My fiancee could move up here to
    > Canada under a visitor's visa, and then we could apply inland, extending
    > the visa as necessary. We are aware that she could not work or study
    > during this time until granted PR status. The other option would be for
    > her to remain in the States while applying until the time when PR status
    > is completed.
    >
    > Does anyone have a good idea which approach is better in terms of length
    > of processing time and straightforwardness (for lack of a better term)?
    > I've heard varying processing times from the US through Buffalo. Some
    > candidates have said six or seven months, but the voice mail at the
    > consulate says over a year. Inland processing appears to be consistently
    > taking six to eight months.
    >
    > Thanks for any information that anyone can provide. We really appreciate
    > it!
    >
    > Best;
    > Jeff

The Wizzard

    >
    > Keep in mind that doing it this way will put you on the hook for a 10 year
    > commitment with the Government for sponsoring your wife. Read the CIC
    > website for FAQ on sponsoring someone.
    >

The sponsorship term for a spousal sponsorship is 3 years under the new
law and has been since it came into effect over a year ago.

Richard Loubert

Commitment is 3 years for spouse and 10 for family member.
"Frans Luit" <> wrote in message
news:BBAED90C.35AE%...
    > Hi Jeff,
    > I would recommend:
    > 1. Get married first
    > 2. Bring your wife to Canada on a visitor's visa
    > 3. Immediately start your wife's application for an in-land landing.
    > I have done the same thing for my wife and it took 5 months.
    > Keep in mind that doing it this way will put you on the hook for a 10 year
    > commitment with the Government for sponsoring your wife. Read the CIC
    > website for FAQ on sponsoring someone.
    > If your future to be wife has enough qualifications (diplomas) etc. then
you
    > could choose to have her apply as an independent skilled worker.
Processing
    > time will probably be longer. Your choice!
    > Good luck!
    > Frans
    > On 10/12/03 9:11 AM, in article , "Jeff
    > Novotny" <> wrote:
    > > Hello all;
    > >
    > > My fiancee (who currently lives and works in the US) and I were
    > > originally going to apply via the Conjugal Partner route and then get
    > > married after completion. But it looks like with the recent troubles and
    > > the reports I've heard of *very* long delays for this route, we might be
    > > better off with a new approach.
    > >
    > > We were considering moving our wedding up to this winter (approximately
    > > Jan or Feb) since we don't really require an elaborate ceremony, and
    > > then apply after that. However, we're not sure what the best way to
    > > apply for the regular spousal family class would be.
    > >
    > > It looks like we have two choices. My fiancee could move up here to
    > > Canada under a visitor's visa, and then we could apply inland, extending
    > > the visa as necessary. We are aware that she could not work or study
    > > during this time until granted PR status. The other option would be for
    > > her to remain in the States while applying until the time when PR status
    > > is completed.
    > >
    > > Does anyone have a good idea which approach is better in terms of length
    > > of processing time and straightforwardness (for lack of a better term)?
    > > I've heard varying processing times from the US through Buffalo. Some
    > > candidates have said six or seven months, but the voice mail at the
    > > consulate says over a year. Inland processing appears to be consistently
    > > taking six to eight months.
    > >
    > > Thanks for any information that anyone can provide. We really appreciate
    > > it!
    > >
    > > Best;
    > > Jeff

Frans Luit

In 1999 it was still 10 years, however with the change of the law last year
this is now 3 years then!

Thanks!



On 10/12/03 12:24 PM, in article , "Richard
Loubert" <> wrote:

    > Commitment is 3 years for spouse and 10 for family member.
    > "Frans Luit" <> wrote in message
    > news:BBAED90C.35AE%...
    >> Hi Jeff,
    >>
    >> I would recommend:
    >>
    >> 1. Get married first
    >> 2. Bring your wife to Canada on a visitor's visa
    >> 3. Immediately start your wife's application for an in-land landing.
    >>
    >>
    >> I have done the same thing for my wife and it took 5 months.
    >>
    >> Keep in mind that doing it this way will put you on the hook for a 10 year
    >> commitment with the Government for sponsoring your wife. Read the CIC
    >> website for FAQ on sponsoring someone.
    >>
    >> If your future to be wife has enough qualifications (diplomas) etc. then
    > you
    >> could choose to have her apply as an independent skilled worker.
    > Processing
    >> time will probably be longer. Your choice!
    >>
    >> Good luck!
    >> Frans
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >> On 10/12/03 9:11 AM, in article , "Jeff
    >> Novotny" <> wrote:
    >>
    >>> Hello all;
    >>>
    >>> My fiancee (who currently lives and works in the US) and I were
    >>> originally going to apply via the Conjugal Partner route and then get
    >>> married after completion. But it looks like with the recent troubles and
    >>> the reports I've heard of *very* long delays for this route, we might be
    >>> better off with a new approach.
    >>>
    >>> We were considering moving our wedding up to this winter (approximately
    >>> Jan or Feb) since we don't really require an elaborate ceremony, and
    >>> then apply after that. However, we're not sure what the best way to
    >>> apply for the regular spousal family class would be.
    >>>
    >>> It looks like we have two choices. My fiancee could move up here to
    >>> Canada under a visitor's visa, and then we could apply inland, extending
    >>> the visa as necessary. We are aware that she could not work or study
    >>> during this time until granted PR status. The other option would be for
    >>> her to remain in the States while applying until the time when PR status
    >>> is completed.
    >>>
    >>> Does anyone have a good idea which approach is better in terms of length
    >>> of processing time and straightforwardness (for lack of a better term)?
    >>> I've heard varying processing times from the US through Buffalo. Some
    >>> candidates have said six or seven months, but the voice mail at the
    >>> consulate says over a year. Inland processing appears to be consistently
    >>> taking six to eight months.
    >>>
    >>> Thanks for any information that anyone can provide. We really appreciate
    >>> it!
    >>>
    >>> Best;
    >>> Jeff
    >>
    >
    >

Renee

Hi Jeff,

I am about midway through the waiting time for my inland spouse application.
My husband and I looked into the possibility of applying as conjugal
partners ahead of my moving to Canada for the wedding, but we decided that
it made more sense to have a spousal relationship at the time I applied for
PR.

It seemed like the requirements to prove the legitimacy of the relationship
were the same, but waiting for processing through Buffalo (which has been
backlogged for a while now) and taking a chance that I'd be turned down just
wasn't worth it. Besides, the application would likely still be in
processing at the time of our wedding, and then we'd have to deal with
updating the application with our new marital status. We'd already been
planning the wedding, and we made sure we planned financially to deal with
my transition period while living in Canada on a temporary resident visa.

Even though we had to wait until the wedding to apply, it seemed a much
better choice than applying as conjugal partners and having a greater risk
of rejection. After reading the recent posts on these boards, I'm glad we
made that decision. The experiences of a few posters here were exactly what
we were afraid of, and it just wasn't worth taking chances when we were
already planning the wedding.

The current estimate for an inland spouse is 167 days. I thought that would
be much better than waiting for Buffalo. Here's the link to check the
current estimates for inland applicants if you don't have it already -
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/departm...rocess-in.html

I'm not familiar with the differences in the application requirements for
inland vs. overseas processing. I can tell you that it took me several
hours to complete my inland application package...most of that was pulling
together all the supporting documentation. It wasn't nearly as bad as I
thought it would be.

Good luck to you.

Renee

Jazzyb!

Hi Renee,

Quick question: Does the processing time mean the time from CIC receipt of
inland application to approval/denial notification?

Jay
"Renee" <reneeno.spam.@shaw.spamguard.ca> wrote in message
news:MMiib.77469$9l5.59412@pd7tw2no...
    > Hi Jeff,
    > I am about midway through the waiting time for my inland spouse
application.
    > My husband and I looked into the possibility of applying as conjugal
    > partners ahead of my moving to Canada for the wedding, but we decided that
    > it made more sense to have a spousal relationship at the time I applied
for
    > PR.
    > It seemed like the requirements to prove the legitimacy of the
relationship
    > were the same, but waiting for processing through Buffalo (which has been
    > backlogged for a while now) and taking a chance that I'd be turned down
just
    > wasn't worth it. Besides, the application would likely still be in
    > processing at the time of our wedding, and then we'd have to deal with
    > updating the application with our new marital status. We'd already been
    > planning the wedding, and we made sure we planned financially to deal with
    > my transition period while living in Canada on a temporary resident visa.
    > Even though we had to wait until the wedding to apply, it seemed a much
    > better choice than applying as conjugal partners and having a greater risk
    > of rejection. After reading the recent posts on these boards, I'm glad we
    > made that decision. The experiences of a few posters here were exactly
what
    > we were afraid of, and it just wasn't worth taking chances when we were
    > already planning the wedding.
    > The current estimate for an inland spouse is 167 days. I thought that
would
    > be much better than waiting for Buffalo. Here's the link to check the
    > current estimates for inland applicants if you don't have it already -
    > http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/departm...rocess-in.html
    > I'm not familiar with the differences in the application requirements for
    > inland vs. overseas processing. I can tell you that it took me several
    > hours to complete my inland application package...most of that was pulling
    > together all the supporting documentation. It wasn't nearly as bad as I
    > thought it would be.
    > Good luck to you.
    > Renee
    > --
    > Inland Spouse Timeline so far:
    > 19 Feb 2003: Moved to Calgary from U.S. on 6 month TRV
    > 12 May 2003: Did medicals in Calgary
    > 20 June 2003: Applied for TRV extension
    > 5 July 2003: Wedding Date
    > 17 July 2003: CIC received inland spouse PR application
    > 15 Aug 2003: Received 6 month TRV extension
    > 20 Aug 2003: CIC request for work history dates (which were sent with
    > application)
    > 21 Aug 2003: CIC received work history reply by overnight post
    > 4 Sept 2003: CIC e-Client finally shows "in process"
    > "Jeff Novotny" <> wrote in message
    > news:...
    > > Hello all;
    > >
    > > My fiancee (who currently lives and works in the US) and I were
    > > originally going to apply via the Conjugal Partner route and then get
    > > married after completion. But it looks like with the recent troubles and
    > > the reports I've heard of *very* long delays for this route, we might be
    > > better off with a new approach.
    > >
    > > We were considering moving our wedding up to this winter (approximately
    > > Jan or Feb) since we don't really require an elaborate ceremony, and
    > > then apply after that. However, we're not sure what the best way to
    > > apply for the regular spousal family class would be.
    > >
    > > It looks like we have two choices. My fiancee could move up here to
    > > Canada under a visitor's visa, and then we could apply inland, extending
    > > the visa as necessary. We are aware that she could not work or study
    > > during this time until granted PR status. The other option would be for
    > > her to remain in the States while applying until the time when PR status
    > > is completed.
    > >
    > > Does anyone have a good idea which approach is better in terms of length
    > > of processing time and straightforwardness (for lack of a better term)?
    > > I've heard varying processing times from the US through Buffalo. Some
    > > candidates have said six or seven months, but the voice mail at the
    > > consulate says over a year. Inland processing appears to be consistently
    > > taking six to eight months.
    > >
    > > Thanks for any information that anyone can provide. We really appreciate
    > > it!
    > >
    > > Best;
    > > Jeff

Renee

I consider processing time to start the day that CIC receives an application
(in my case on July 17) and the day I leave my landing interview and have my
PR card ordered.

For the purposes of the CIC link for estimated processing times, they note
that the 167 days is only for the first round of approval, or Approval in
Principle.

Some applicants on this newsgroup have reported receiving letters for
approval in principle and final decision on the same day, but I am not
taking anything for granted when it comes to my own case. If the CIC site
says the estimate is for the first round, I'll be happy just to have finally
reached that stage and open work permit eligibility...a final decision on
the same day would be a great birthday or Christmas gift for me, as my
application will reach the current estimated processing time in the third
week of December. A bit earlier than that, and it's "happy birthday to me,"
a bit later and it's "Merry Christmas."

Renee

Billythekid

Dear Renee,

You sound so sweet all the time!

If you were not to get married I am sure there would be lots of good people
out there falling for you, just linning up for such sweet girl with a cat!

Best of luck!



"Renee" <reneeno.spam.@shaw.spamguard.ca> wrote in message
news:GRzib.84774$6C4.31056@pd7tw1no...
    > I consider processing time to start the day that CIC receives an
application
    > (in my case on July 17) and the day I leave my landing interview and have
my
    > PR card ordered.
    > For the purposes of the CIC link for estimated processing times, they note
    > that the 167 days is only for the first round of approval, or Approval in
    > Principle.
    > Some applicants on this newsgroup have reported receiving letters for
    > approval in principle and final decision on the same day, but I am not
    > taking anything for granted when it comes to my own case. If the CIC site
    > says the estimate is for the first round, I'll be happy just to have
finally
    > reached that stage and open work permit eligibility...a final decision on
    > the same day would be a great birthday or Christmas gift for me, as my
    > application will reach the current estimated processing time in the third
    > week of December. A bit earlier than that, and it's "happy birthday to
me,"
    > a bit later and it's "Merry Christmas."
    > Renee
    > --
    > Inland Spouse Timeline so far:
    > 19 Feb 2003: Moved to Calgary from U.S. on 6 month TRV
    > 12 May 2003: Did medicals in Calgary
    > 20 June 2003: Applied for TRV extension
    > 5 July 2003: Wedding Date
    > 17 July 2003: CIC received inland spouse PR application
    > 15 Aug 2003: Received 6 month TRV extension
    > 20 Aug 2003: CIC request for work history dates (which were sent with
    > application)
    > 21 Aug 2003: CIC received work history reply by overnight post
    > 4 Sept 2003: CIC e-Client finally shows "in process"
    > "JazzyB!" <> wrote in message
    > news:Rpqib.91614$...
    > > Hi Renee,
    > >
    > > Quick question: Does the processing time mean the time from CIC receipt
of
    > > inland application to approval/denial notification?
    > >
    > > Jay
    > > "Renee" <reneeno.spam.@shaw.spamguard.ca> wrote in message
    > > news:MMiib.77469$9l5.59412@pd7tw2no...
    > > > Hi Jeff,
    > > >
    > > > I am about midway through the waiting time for my inland spouse
    > > application.
    > > > My husband and I looked into the possibility of applying as conjugal
    > > > partners ahead of my moving to Canada for the wedding, but we decided
    > that
    > > > it made more sense to have a spousal relationship at the time I
applied
    > > for
    > > > PR.
    > > >
    > > > It seemed like the requirements to prove the legitimacy of the
    > > relationship
    > > > were the same, but waiting for processing through Buffalo (which has
    > been
    > > > backlogged for a while now) and taking a chance that I'd be turned
down
    > > just
    > > > wasn't worth it. Besides, the application would likely still be in
    > > > processing at the time of our wedding, and then we'd have to deal with
    > > > updating the application with our new marital status. We'd already
been
    > > > planning the wedding, and we made sure we planned financially to deal
    > with
    > > > my transition period while living in Canada on a temporary resident
    > visa.
    > > >
    > > > Even though we had to wait until the wedding to apply, it seemed a
much
    > > > better choice than applying as conjugal partners and having a greater
    > risk
    > > > of rejection. After reading the recent posts on these boards, I'm
glad
    > we
    > > > made that decision. The experiences of a few posters here were
exactly
    > > what
    > > > we were afraid of, and it just wasn't worth taking chances when we
were
    > > > already planning the wedding.
    > > >
    > > > The current estimate for an inland spouse is 167 days. I thought that
    > > would
    > > > be much better than waiting for Buffalo. Here's the link to check the
    > > > current estimates for inland applicants if you don't have it already -
    > > > http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/departm...rocess-in.html
    > > >
    > > > I'm not familiar with the differences in the application requirements
    > for
    > > > inland vs. overseas processing. I can tell you that it took me
several
    > > > hours to complete my inland application package...most of that was
    > pulling
    > > > together all the supporting documentation. It wasn't nearly as bad as
I
    > > > thought it would be.
    > > >
    > > > Good luck to you.
    > > >
    > > > Renee
    > > >
    > > >
    > > > --
    > > > Inland Spouse Timeline so far:
    > > > 19 Feb 2003: Moved to Calgary from U.S. on 6 month TRV
    > > > 12 May 2003: Did medicals in Calgary
    > > > 20 June 2003: Applied for TRV extension
    > > > 5 July 2003: Wedding Date
    > > > 17 July 2003: CIC received inland spouse PR application
    > > > 15 Aug 2003: Received 6 month TRV extension
    > > > 20 Aug 2003: CIC request for work history dates (which were sent with
    > > > application)
    > > > 21 Aug 2003: CIC received work history reply by overnight post
    > > > 4 Sept 2003: CIC e-Client finally shows "in process"
    > > > "Jeff Novotny" <> wrote in message
    > > > news:...
    > > > > Hello all;
    > > > >
    > > > > My fiancee (who currently lives and works in the US) and I were
    > > > > originally going to apply via the Conjugal Partner route and then
get
    > > > > married after completion. But it looks like with the recent troubles
    > and
    > > > > the reports I've heard of *very* long delays for this route, we
might
    > be
    > > > > better off with a new approach.
    > > > >
    > > > > We were considering moving our wedding up to this winter
    > (approximately
    > > > > Jan or Feb) since we don't really require an elaborate ceremony, and
    > > > > then apply after that. However, we're not sure what the best way to
    > > > > apply for the regular spousal family class would be.
    > > > >
    > > > > It looks like we have two choices. My fiancee could move up here to
    > > > > Canada under a visitor's visa, and then we could apply inland,
    > extending
    > > > > the visa as necessary. We are aware that she could not work or study
    > > > > during this time until granted PR status. The other option would be
    > for
    > > > > her to remain in the States while applying until the time when PR
    > status
    > > > > is completed.
    > > > >
    > > > > Does anyone have a good idea which approach is better in terms of
    > length
    > > > > of processing time and straightforwardness (for lack of a better
    > term)?
    > > > > I've heard varying processing times from the US through Buffalo.
Some
    > > > > candidates have said six or seven months, but the voice mail at the
    > > > > consulate says over a year. Inland processing appears to be
    > consistently
    > > > > taking six to eight months.
    > > > >
    > > > > Thanks for any information that anyone can provide. We really
    > appreciate
    > > > > it!
    > > > >
    > > > > Best;
    > > > > Jeff
    > > >
    > > >
    > >
    > >

Renee

*blush* Well, thank you...but I just try to keep my rose colored glasses on
most of the time, and that seems to work fine. There's some things you just
can't control, so I try to get through my waiting period for PR by focusing
on the good parts of it. I think of how happy I am that I can at least live
here in Canada while my application is processed...and I think of how I'll
be grumbling at an office job before I know it, and somehow that makes a
couple of more months of waiting A-okay (even if I don't have much pocket
money or hockey ticket money in the meantime).

I noticed I omitted a word in my reply about processing time - I meant to
say I considered the end of processing to be the day I have my landing
interview. Oops. Forgot the word "end." I was too preoccupied hoping the
Caps would beat the Leafs in the NHL tonight, I guess.

Renee