Only 3 more sleeps.....

[Colleens 40]

I am getting so excited to be heading back to Canada. We are hopefully going to be able to start the drive Sunday night (we have a 1.5yr old so are trying to drive at night while she sleeps).

I am sad in a way because this is where we got married, started our family and Si's family is here, but going back to Canada is the best choice for our family. I have a job lined up there and hubby will be a SAHD until his immigration journey in Canada is complete (hopefully it is faster then coming to the US )

My family is a bit more tight knit then hubby's so I am looking forward to all the family things we do and having Emma be a part of that. Things like holiday dinners, camping trips and just getting together for dinner during the week.

I will still come on here to chat it up. You all have been a great support system during this journey and I thank all of you for your advice and support. I couldn't have done it without your help!

[Krikit 1,163]

Ohmygosh, how exciting for you, Colleens! Have a safe journey, and all the best. Will be very interested in your experiences with the Canadian immigration system if you care to share with us. How did you manage to get a job lined up? That is awesome.

Keep in touch!

[Colleens 40]

Ohmygosh, how exciting for you, Colleens! Have a safe journey, and all the best. Will be very interested in your experiences with the Canadian immigration system if you care to share with us. How did you manage to get a job lined up? That is awesome.

Keep in touch!

A family friend runs his own business and has offered me a position! We will be staying with my parents for a few months until we can get all of our medical bills from here paid off. My sister has a rental home and they are having issues with their current renters being able to pay the rent on time. So in the late summer/early fall we will be able to move into there and have our own place

I will definitely keep you updated with our Canadian journey. And I will be sure to come back and post lots of pics of me enjoying all our beloved "Canadian" foods

[Kimbear 53]

Wow the things i miss when i dont have net for 2 weeks! lol.

Congrats on the move back. I know you have been thinking about it for a while now. I'm sure it will all work out for you and hey at least you two get to be together during the Canadian side of Immigration eh? Dont be a stranger once you leave!

[Hugglebuggles 60]

Have some Timbits for me!

I'm excited for you Colleen's! All the best to the 3 of you. I'm impressed you were able to pull this move off so quickly!

[Krikit 1,163]

A family friend runs his own business and has offered me a position! We will be staying with my parents for a few months until we can get all of our medical bills from here paid off. My sister has a rental home and they are having issues with their current renters being able to pay the rent on time. So in the late summer/early fall we will be able to move into there and have our own place

That is fantastic! So glad things were able to fall into place for you.

I will definitely keep you updated with our Canadian journey. And I will be sure to come back and post lots of pics of me enjoying all our beloved "Canadian" foods

Oh, now you're just being mean.

[Ontarkie 13,979]

Glad things are looking up for you all.

Eat a wonder bar for me or several

[Colleens 40]

Have some Timbits for me!

I'm excited for you Colleen's! All the best to the 3 of you. I'm impressed you were able to pull this move off so quickly!

I have moved 5 times in the past 3 years....I am getting pretty efficient at it!

[KTandTommy 30]

I may have to track you down in a few years from now!

We're keeping our options open, and may eventually move back to Canada after a few years in the USA. My family is definitely bigger and more close-knit than Tom's (it's only his dad down there, and one uncle who he sees every few months... whereas, I see my super huge Italian family pretty much once a week. But due to other circumstances, it definitely makes more sense for us to start our lives together down in the US)

Is there a board similar to VJ for people making the move to Canada that you've found? How did you find the process, as compared to the US visa journey?

[alizon 77]

I just wanted to add my voice to the choir of people interested in how the immigration process goes for your husband. Hopefully we'll be doing the same in 2-3 years.

Good luck with your travels! Keep us updated!

[Colleens 40]

I may have to track you down in a few years from now!

We're keeping our options open, and may eventually move back to Canada after a few years in the USA. My family is definitely bigger and more close-knit than Tom's (it's only his dad down there, and one uncle who he sees every few months... whereas, I see my super huge Italian family pretty much once a week. But due to other circumstances, it definitely makes more sense for us to start our lives together down in the US)

Is there a board similar to VJ for people making the move to Canada that you've found? How did you find the process, as compared to the US visa journey?

There is a similar board called Road to Canada www.roadtocanada.com but it is a pretty slow board compared to VJ. There are some very helpful people on there though.

We have not actually started the process. Canada allows your spouse to stay with you while are are going through the process, so we will apply once we arrive. From what I understand the paperwork is a bit more work at the very beginning, but you send everything in all at once and then you wait for approval. Not like the US where you have several stages. You do the police check and medical right at the beginning and send that in with your sponsorship application and PR application. Currently it seems it is taking about 8-9 months for everything to be completed for a straight forward case.

I will definitely be back and keep you all updated on the process!

[Canadiandggal 49]

There is a similar board called Road to Canada www.roadtocanada.com but it is a pretty slow board compared to VJ. There are some very helpful people on there though.

We have not actually started the process. Canada allows your spouse to stay with you while are are going through the process, so we will apply once we arrive. From what I understand the paperwork is a bit more work at the very beginning, but you send everything in all at once and then you wait for approval. Not like the US where you have several stages. You do the police check and medical right at the beginning and send that in with your sponsorship application and PR application. Currently it seems it is taking about 8-9 months for everything to be completed for a straight forward case.

I will definitely be back and keep you all updated on the process!

Let us know How the POE is for your husband,,, We are thinking of starting it here so he can work the moment we get but if something happened and we wanted to move back asap it would nice to know what happens at the poe.

Good luck, I cannot wait to start out journey back in 1.5 years If not less depending on how quick citizen is and how quick immigration takes

[alizon 77]

There is a similar board called Road to Canada www.roadtocanada.com but it is a pretty slow board compared to VJ. There are some very helpful people on there though.

We have not actually started the process. Canada allows your spouse to stay with you while are are going through the process, so we will apply once we arrive. From what I understand the paperwork is a bit more work at the very beginning, but you send everything in all at once and then you wait for approval. Not like the US where you have several stages. You do the police check and medical right at the beginning and send that in with your sponsorship application and PR application. Currently it seems it is taking about 8-9 months for everything to be completed for a straight forward case.

I will definitely be back and keep you all updated on the process!

I thought I had read that applying for permanent residency from within Canada actually takes longer than doing it from outside? This link says inland can take 1-2 years: http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/spousal-sponsorship-t46995.0.html;wap2=

Edited May 10, 2012 by alizon

[Colleens 40]

I thought I had read that applying for permanent residency from within Canada actually takes longer than doing it from outside? This link says inland can take 1-2 years: http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/spousal-sponsorship-t46995.0.html;wap2=

You can apply outland from within Canada. The file gets sent to the consulate of your country (in our case to Buffalo) and it processed there. You may have to travel back to the US for an interview if it is required, but I think you have a choice of 4 or 5 cities to do your interview at.

Inland does take A LOT longer and IMO when it you are so close to the US it would not be worth it. You also get no right of appeal when you apply inland.

[alizon 77]

You can apply outland from within Canada. The file gets sent to the consulate of your country (in our case to Buffalo) and it processed there. You may have to travel back to the US for an interview if it is required, but I think you have a choice of 4 or 5 cities to do your interview at.

Inland does take A LOT longer and IMO when it you are so close to the US it would not be worth it. You also get no right of appeal when you apply inland.

Oh, great! I didn't know that you could do that. Thanks for the info!