brocku00

Hi Everyone,

You have officically got me in a panic!! I had my interview last August and had my xrays with me. The officer told me to do whatever I wanted with them and said that I wouldn't need them ever again....I even asked if I could throw them out and he said yes! I do not have my xray anymore!! When I get my Visa...should I go back to Toronto and get another xray....explaining to them why I need it?? OMG....I can't believe that I would throw those out....even on the advice of a Gov't official!!! Help me!

Hi there,

I have a little experience with this. My husband bought an RV in Florida last year (he's American) and we drove it up to Canada for vacation, etc. On the way up from Florida we stopped into Delaware to get it titled. We went through the inspection but it failed one part. So, we decided to head to Canada (I had to get back to work) and then my husband would get it fixed and then bring it back down with him to get it repaired. Well, anyways, time went on and my 'VERY SMART" husband decided to sell the RV and put it up on EBAY with DELAWARE listed as home. Well, someone in Canada purchased it. SO we found out that this "RV" could be imported (some vehicles can't), but WE needed the title...which my husband hadn't done yet. We thought we would have to drive the RV all the way to Delaware but when I talked to the DMV in Delaware, since we were already there before and they recorded our info they said all we needed to do was come and do the paperwork...NO RV. Originally when we went to DMV for inspection, that is where they check the VIN and all paperwork PLUS the safety issue. So good thing for us we had done that. The Canadian that bought it fly to Ontario, and we signed the title over to him. He had a temporary tag printed from his province to us to drive the rv. I followed him to the local CBSA office (all over the place...just like CBP) and he went in with rv paperwork and got the 'customs' paperwork done there. They inspected the vehicle to make sure that it was 'importable', and for the VIN. He paid the one tax there, got his CBSA paperwork, drove back to his province and registered the vehicle. I'm guessing it will work the same down there. As long as your wife has the title, she can have car towed to local CBP office that does commercial imporation (just phone and ask for local office). They physically have to see the car, VIN and paperwork. Once you are done there, you can sign title over and give American customs paperwork to new owner and he can then go and register it. I would look up CBP on website, search importation of vehicles inland and look for your local office. My husband has sold two American vehicles up here in Canada without having to do anything. Hope this helps.

Hi there,

Yes, I sent mine in but I sent it on January 14 and it was received by Montreal on Tuesday, January 19th at 9:02 a.m. So it has almost been 2 weeks and nothing yet. I'm hoping for 4 weeks....but I'm not holding my breath. I know what a backlog is like and how much pressure they are under, but I'm hoping that they can see my interview was last August and kinda put a little rush on it....but it will come when it comes and I can't do anything to speed it up. Good luck with yours and let me know if you hear anything.

wow....surprised I don't have anyone adding to this question!!!

Hey Jones, I was actually thinking about you lately and wondered how things were going? Did you ever send anything else back in? I just sent off my 'hopefully' last package and I keep thinking that no matter what I send in, it will be denied....but maybe I'm just thinking that way since I've been denied soo many times. Technically they shouldn't be able to deny it this time since my husband is permenantly living there, he started a new job and we provided his job contract/first paycheck/business card/December sales summary, a lease agreement, a letter from US spouse, a letter from me, storage unit rental agreement and a daycare letter stating that they had room for our children. I'm hoping that this is enough and will let you know if I hear anything.

Hi Everyone,

I'm just wondering if someone that is already on EI due to a lay off or something, and then immigrates to US, are they entitled to keep the EI until it runs out or until they find a job in the US???

Thanks for you help.

Looking at how Montreal processed a whole bunch of interviews this past week, I wonder if that means that they have more officers working now or have some extra help??? I'm hoping that it is a good sign since I sent in my proof of domicile package 10 days ago. I'm not counting the first weekend so I am at 1 week for my countdown. Hopefully I will here back within 4 weeks and not 9 weeks like last time. Anyone here is Montreal is processing faster??

Sorry I ask alot of questions again, but I guess that is what this forum is for???!! So trailmix, you are saying that even if she becomes a US citizen, she can keep her Canadian passport and such documents and get a US passport and such documents? And that I would be able to do the same?

YES! If she becomes a US citizen she will NOT lose her Canadian citizenship. Some countries do not follow this same agreement but Canada and US do. And the same goes for you, you will not lose your American citizenship if you become a Canadian Citizen. And the same goes for your children, they are entitled to both citizenship (you must apply for it though) and they cannot be denied it.

O then we already screwed up because we are already working on her paperwork for the US, and I was talking on a diff topic about our children having dual citizenship, but I would rather talk about it here any way since we are all dealing with Canada/US. A friend told me that if my wife becomes a US citizen, our children could not have dual citizenship, the reason I ask this is because that is what holds us from getting her citizenship papers. We want travel to/from US to be easy as possible as we will be doing it quite frequently, and I want to be able to work when I go there if we are there for an extended amounts of time. Her father is also a farmer and sometimes could use some help so I want to be able to help him, but maybe that is one of the FEW not so good things of marrying a Canadian. (L)

There's nothing stopping you from starting your Canadian PR application right now. Apply from outside US while waiting for the US application to go through. Once you have your Canadian PR you can live in US or Canada. And with the dual citizenship thing, if they are your natural children with your wife, then it is their right to have dual citizenship. I am Canadian, my husband in American, we had twins in Canada in 2005 and we applied for their US Citizenship Abroad Certificate...that was easy to complete and I received the certificates and their American Passports. They will always be citizens of both countries. Your wife becoming a US citizen will never affect your children.

Sorry I was trying to edit my post to add something but it wouldn't let me.

Canadian PR application consists of:

Sponsor application

Applicant application

Federal and State Police checks (from whatever county(ies) they have lived in since 18 and whatever states lived in since 18)

Medical (can be done in Canada or other countries - list of approved doctors on cic.gc.ca website

Photos

Documents: photocopies - B.C, Passport, D.L., marriage certificate, divorce papers (if any), if any criminal record...court documents, for Canadian sponsor - last tax assessment (even though there is no set income to provide when sponsoring your spouse), letter from Canadian employer

It's pretty straight forward and not that hard to do...it can be overwelming when you start it, but just take your time. The benefit about applying within Canada is that once you are approved as a sponsor (usually 1-2 months after sending if application) your spouse can apply for a work visa which is taking about 24 days now. So, even though within Canada applications are taking 18 months to process, after the first three months your spouse can have a work visa and work and live in Canada until the application is complete.

Does anyone know what the time requirements are for my spouse who will be a GC holder? Like how much time must she spend in the USA? Also trailmix or anyone else that has done it, what is the total cost of me to become PR of Canada? and what is the order of forms and other things that need to be done? I am sorry, I get so confused looking at government websites, in my OPINION, government websites are not at ALL clear, they want to make it confusing it seems like.

Hi there,

The cost of PR without a lawyer is about 1700 CDN. The application itself is 1050 CDN but then you have your medical which costs just under $200, your Federal and State police search (fingerprints, application and mailing them) costs about $150 CDN all together, mailing your application ($20?). I'm sure I'm missing something but that' a rough estimate. Are you applying within Canada or outside Canada? There is a big difference in wait time so before you do your application let me know. If you apply as if he is living in Canada already the processing time is about 17 months and if you apply with him 'outside' the country it's about a 6 month process.

You are correct about 3 out of the 5 years but here's how it goes:

To maintain residency obligation: A Canadian PR can either

A) be married to a Canadian PR and reside in Canada, or reside outside Canada as long as spouse is working for Government of Canada

B) simply reside in Canada with their Canadian (citizen or PR) spouse

C) Live outside Canada with Canadian CITIZEN spouse (only citizen's not PR's) regardless of job or location (so basically as long as you are married to a Canadian citizen, you can live wherever you want with them and still maintain your residency obligation)

So as someone said earlier, the easiest way to satify both your needs is to become a US citizen first or have your US spouse become a Canadian PR first

I'm a teacher in Ontario and I don't agree with this date cutoff aspect. In Ontario the date is December 31 and has never been an issue. MY best friend growing up was born January 1 and my birthday is December 2 and there was never an issue on academics or social skills. In the first few years the younger children (Sept. - Dec kids) are a little more immature but everyone catches up to each other by grade 2. What if my kids had to wait this extra year, they complete grade 1 and 2 and then I move back to Canada (not likely but just posing a question). My kids would be going into grade 3 but their age group would be going into grade 4 and they would then be the odd one's out since they were a year older than their classmates? Just food for thought

Hi there,

I sent in my "hopefully" last proof of domicile package 10 days ago and I'm hoping to have it back with a big fat "Approved" and if it is, then I am going to wait until June to move since I have twins in JK. I have contacted the state where I will be going and talked to the schools (private and public) and they have a cut off date of October 1. So, my twins birthday is October 11 and they miss the cutoff and they said they would make no exception. So, my twins will be going from JK, to daycare for a year and then to Kindergarten the following year. The year that they start kindergarden in the states they would have started grade one here. I'm hoping, on one of my visits down there before June, to go and meet with the principal of a couple schools and try to get an approval/exemption for my children since that kinda seems ridiculous to have them go a step backwards!! But, for my children's sake I will not take them out of their JK year here in Hamilton. They are in a routine and they have friends, I think at their age (4) they would be effected by the sudden change.

P.S. The state in New Jersey and I also forgot to mention, that I talked to KinderCare (daycare/preschool) and they are officially allowed to offer a kindergarden program (same as the state school kindergarden) with no birthday cutoff...only thing is at the end of the year, these students take a test provided by the state to make sure that they have learned enough and if they pass they can go to grade 1.

Hi there,

You can apply to become a PR in Canada. The only thing is as a Canadian PR you can meet your PR residency obligations by being with your Canadian spouse wherever she is, whether living in the US, Europe...etc. (I find this idea a great one!) On the other hand, when your wife has a greencard for the states (same as PR), she must meet residency obligations as well BUT she must fulfill those obligations within the USA. From what I have heard, if a GC holder has to leave the States for an 'extended' leave (I think over 6 months) they have to apply to get permission (in order for her to be allowed back into US) and the time you spend away from the US (your wife that is), will not count as the time needed to gain in order to become a citizen of the US. Hope this helps. I can help you with any Canadian Immigration questions but I'm not that experienced with US immigration yet.

The most recent is MissMystery, she waited almost 2 months. Other than that I think the only other person waiting is Jonesg111 - and he still hasn't heard back - the difference with his is I think they are at a standoff.

Well...here's hoping to a short wait AND an approval!! Why is Jonesg111 at a standoff? I'll try to research it here to find out, but if you have time let me know what going on there....is it the same situation as mine??

Thanks again everyone for your thoughts and prayers!

Thank you everyone for your well wishes. It's been very hard on us and yes even though I'm living with my parents, it will be a great time for the kids to spend time with their grandparents....and they love them so much!

Since I haven't been online for a month, can anyone tell me how the timeline is going for Montreal....when you have to send additional info? I know there were a whole bunch of us waiting but just wondering who has heard, who hasn't and what time length have people been waiting? I know I read a while ago that one person actually got their's back within the 4 weeks (WOW!!), and I know another VJ'er and myself had waited 9-10 weeks back in the fall, so just wondering if it has changed.

Thanks everyone!

Hi Everyone,

Hope everyone had a good Christmas and New Years! Since I last posted, my husband moved to New Jersey and I have sold the house and moved in with my parents until my visa is approved! Just a recap for everyone, I had my interview in August and was denied. Sent in passport (long story, but officer at consulate phoned me and said there was a mistake and to send in passport for visa), 3 weeks later passport sent back to me and this time they asked for proof of domicile. Sent in the package with a lot of info and 9 weeks later I was denied again with message "AMCITS must return to USA and re-establish domicile". So, even though husband was only visiting and had no status here, he found another job, accepted it, moved to a new state (New Jersey), rented an apartment, and started a life down there. Meanwhile, I'm up here with kids, sold house faster than expected with turbo fast closing date, living with parents now and just WAITING. So, today I sent in hopefully my last package. The package included: a cover letter from me with what I am sending, a letter from my husband, employment contract and employment pay stubs, apartment lease, storage unit lease in NJ, day care/school letter we got from NJ daycare saying that they would have room for our kids if/when we move down there and that's it. So I hope that this is enough! What do you guys think??? Keep me in your prayers....and hopefully my family can be together again soon.

Hi there,

So sorry to hear how long it's taking, but I'm sure everything is okay and it's just a delay on Montreal's end! I have a feeling you will get your Visa today or tomorrow. I know how it feels to worry about it and have problems sleeping and eating, I wish the Consulate and it's employees knew what a toll it takes on us! So, I hope to read your post today or tomorrow with the good news and then you can have a few drinks to celebrate and relax!

I read that link and it seems weird but maybe it means that if you were both Americans and came to Canada, then maybe that would be for you. But I could be totally off...hopefully trailmix can add to this.

Hey there,

Yeah, we didn't need any immigration papers, but my husband has no status in Canada other than being a visitor. I'm pretty sure that you don't need any immigration papers since the whole idea is to Citizenize your children for the US not Canada....unless your husband renounced his citizenship but I think I recall you saying he is dual. So, everything I said before should be good and you should be good to go if you have all the doc's, your spouse and child!!

Forgot to tell you.....if you have all the proper stuff and they approve it that day, you will have passport and certificate within 2-3 weeks (that's what they told us) but it only took about 9 days for us once we were 'approved'. Hope this helps.

Hey there, yes I went to Brock...started in 2000..hence brocku 00. Anyways, your husband does not need to leave his passport. And yes the highschool, college transcipts are good. My husbands problem was that he dropped out in grade 9 and after contacting his elementary and grade 9 school, they had no records because it was too long ago. And yes the proof of domicile is that weird thing with either so many years before the age of 14?? and so many after 14??? (sorry don't remember exact age). Anyways, the only thing that we used was the printout of previous tax years and it literally took 10 minutes at SSN office and I think $8.00. I took my husband in with us for our first visit and they copied his b.c. He did not have a passport at that time. They will go over your paperwork, make sure that your spouse is American, make you pay the fees, hand in kids passport picture, check proof of domicile and then they will say approved. They will then send you the certificate and passport in the mail. Ours would have been completed the first visit except we did not realize the proof of domicile thing....oh and don't forget, you actually have to bring in your child!!! If there is no child present, then they will not complete it!! Compared to my immigrant visa process, the registration of birth abroad is soooooo easy! Just collect everything, have your husband and child ready for the consulate and I would suggest calling Toronto Consulate the day before you go and just say, "I'm completing a Birth abroad package and will be coming in tomorrow....just wondering if you could let me know if I have everything that is needed?" They were helpful on the phone. Even though you are not going to Toronto, just call them anyways and pretend you are.

If you look up on the website just follow the instructions and when you think you have everything (there is a checklist provided) then give Toronto a call to ask any questions and to make sure you have everything. The office may vary in location but the application procedure is the same for every Consulate. On our first trip there we had everything except the proof of domicile (my mistake) so they processed our application, we paid the fees and they said once we have the proof of domicile to bring it in or fax it in. So on our second visit we brought our proof in but they said it was the wrong stuff and that's when he told us to go get a printout from SSN for prior taxes. So we left Toronto, drove directly to Niagara Falls, NY, got the printout, faxed it to Toronto office (on Friday) and on Monday they called to say it was approved and will be sent out immediately. We received it within a week (certificates and passports). So hope this helps and if you have any questions about it, ask away.

Hi there,

My husband and I have gone through the process. We have twins that we registered in Toronto. I'm CDN and my husband is American and they were born in Ontario. Anyways, I forget how we obtained the paperwork...I think online, but it was fairly easy. They do ask for long form birth certicates and few other simple things but the only big thing is proof of domicile for your husband. This proof of domicile is different than immigrant visa. Just phone consolute and ask them, the easist way and the way we did it was to go to Social security office in Niagara Falls USA and had a printout of his years of filing taxes....and that proved his domicile. If you have any questions please feel free to ask....it's simple and fast and they give you your certificates and passports.