Considering moving back to Canada - what to know

[soon2batexan 3]

I apologize if I'm posting this in the wrong spot, but if there is a more appropriate thread please let me know.

My hubby (US citizen) and I (Canadian citizen and US LPR) have contemplated the idea of moving back to Canada. He loved Alberta when he used to visit me there, and I feel like such a fish out of water here that a return to Canada often sounds like a wise choice. We'll want to start a family in the next few years, and with the economic prospects here not looking especially promising, the idea of repatriating doesn't sound half bad!

My question is, what would we need to know and/or do to make sure my husband can enter Canada to live, work and apply for Permanent Residence? I'm heard different things from various people... some have told me that if you're a Canadian citizen, you can basically just show up at the Port of Entry with your spouse, say that he intends to immigrate and they'll admit the spouse and start the PR application process at that point. Perhaps it IS that easy with the spouse is a USC?

Others have told me that it's best to apply here in the US as returning residents and that he would go through medical, etc on this side of the border.

As a USC, I know he can visit for up to 6 months but of course we would a) want to be forthcoming and honest upon entry, and b) be prepared and know for sure that he can enter and live while he awaits his PR.

Any information my fellow Canadians can provide - for those of you who are going through the process or have been through it - would be GREATLY appreciated .

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Immigrating to Canada is actually very straight forward and a number of VJers have done what you are considering. Basically, you would sponsor your husband to become a permanent resident of Canada. Here is a link to the website for Canada Citizenship and Immigration. There are two ways to do this - apply for PR status from outside of Canada or apply for PR status from inside of Canada. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/sponsor/spouse-apply-how.asp

To apply from within Canada, you would return to Canada as a returning resident. Your husband can apply for a temporary resident permit either before you reach the border or at the border (double check this one - it used to be possible but may have changed). It should be valid for 6 months and can be renewed from within Canada. You would then submit the sponsorship package for a spouse (everything gets included at once) which would include security checks from everywhere your husband has lived for more than 6 months as an adult, a medical exam and a sponsorship package, although the minimal income level is waived for a spouse). Your husband wouldn't be able to work until the application was approved in principle but he would be able to travel back and forth across the border without jeopardizing his status. You would have to keep his status valid during the time it takes to obtain approval, and once he is approved, he would have to exit Canada and then 'officially' re-enter as a permanent resident (just cross the border into the US and come back).

To apply from outside of Canada you would basically prepare the application and sponsorship package, include all of the same items required for in-Canada processing and send it to the Canadian Consulate in Buffalo, NY. When the application was approved, he would then cross the border and officially become a permanent resident at that time. Outside of Canada processing has been historically faster than from within Canada but you can reasonably expect the process to take about a year from start to finish.

You can find the information and access to the application forms and instructions at the above posted link. Read over the site thoroughly. It is very well organized and much easier to follow that USCIS. You can decide how viable an option relocating back to Canada is after you read up on the process. It really shouldn't be that difficult nor expensive.

Good luck.

Edited August 4, 2012 by Kathryn41

[Flames9_RN 358]

roadtocanada.com is a site similar to VJ

[soon2batexan 3]

Thank you, Kathryn41! I really appreciate all your helpful information. I've bookmarked this page in case we need to reference it in a few months' time. We're just throwing the idea around right now, but it's definitely something to consider and it sure helps to have the information and know what our options are should we decide to go ahead with it.

Thanks again! It's people like you who make this forum awesome!!

[Colleens 40]

I apologize if I'm posting this in the wrong spot, but if there is a more appropriate thread please let me know.

My hubby (US citizen) and I (Canadian citizen and US LPR) have contemplated the idea of moving back to Canada. He loved Alberta when he used to visit me there, and I feel like such a fish out of water here that a return to Canada often sounds like a wise choice. We'll want to start a family in the next few years, and with the economic prospects here not looking especially promising, the idea of repatriating doesn't sound half bad!

My question is, what would we need to know and/or do to make sure my husband can enter Canada to live, work and apply for Permanent Residence? I'm heard different things from various people... some have told me that if you're a Canadian citizen, you can basically just show up at the Port of Entry with your spouse, say that he intends to immigrate and they'll admit the spouse and start the PR application process at that point. Perhaps it IS that easy with the spouse is a USC?

Others have told me that it's best to apply here in the US as returning residents and that he would go through medical, etc on this side of the border.

As a USC, I know he can visit for up to 6 months but of course we would a) want to be forthcoming and honest upon entry, and b) be prepared and know for sure that he can enter and live while he awaits his PR.

Any information my fellow Canadians can provide - for those of you who are going through the process or have been through it - would be GREATLY appreciated .

I have just returned to Canada with my husband and daughter. We had planned on moving later in the year and wanted to start his PR application while still in the US. But my husband lost his job and we were tired of the stress of not having decent employment and health insurance so we decided to move back ASAP. 3 weeks after he lost his job we were back in Canada!

We did just show up at the border. When going through I told them I was a returning resident and that I would be sponsoring my husband for PR. We had to go inside and speak with a immigraition officer. They asked questions about any criminal history etc and since he did have an arrest on his record he had to produce the court records showing that the charges were dismissed. He was given something called a visitors record. It is valid for 6 months, but you can apply to have it extended for another 6 months. You have to prove that you have applied for PR within that first 6 months before they will grant you the extension.

Once you get here your husband would have to get a medical and his background checks before you can send in the application. In Canada you send everything in at once and then wait, unlike the US where you have to send it in in bits and pieces!! I would suggest if you know a time frame that you may be moving that you get the FBI check done before the move since it can take up to 4 months to get it (ours took 2 and a bit).

If you have any other questions just let me know and I will do my best to help you out!

[soon2batexan 3]

I have just returned to Canada with my husband and daughter. We had planned on moving later in the year and wanted to start his PR application while still in the US. But my husband lost his job and we were tired of the stress of not having decent employment and health insurance so we decided to move back ASAP. 3 weeks after he lost his job we were back in Canada!

We did just show up at the border. When going through I told them I was a returning resident and that I would be sponsoring my husband for PR. We had to go inside and speak with a immigraition officer. They asked questions about any criminal history etc and since he did have an arrest on his record he had to produce the court records showing that the charges were dismissed. He was given something called a visitors record. It is valid for 6 months, but you can apply to have it extended for another 6 months. You have to prove that you have applied for PR within that first 6 months before they will grant you the extension.

Once you get here your husband would have to get a medical and his background checks before you can send in the application. In Canada you send everything in at once and then wait, unlike the US where you have to send it in in bits and pieces!! I would suggest if you know a time frame that you may be moving that you get the FBI check done before the move since it can take up to 4 months to get it (ours took 2 and a bit).

If you have any other questions just let me know and I will do my best to help you out!

Thank you, Colleens!! This is a HUGE help, especially coming from someone who has recently gone through the process. It's great to have an idea of the steps involved, and that the process can be started at the border if one desires. Should we find ourselves in a similar situation, it's reassuring to know that we wouldn't have to wait out the processing here in the US if we wanted to just head home to Alberta on shorter notice as you and your hubby did.

I really appreciate your offering to answer questions also.. it's very kind of you, and I just might take you up on that!

How are you and your husband enjoying being back in Canada so far? I hope y'all are happy and that it has been an easy transition so far . It's definitely the best time of year to move (Spring/Summer). The healthcare and employment part is surely much better! My husband and I haven't yet started a family, but the idea of having a decent maternity leave when the time comes is certainly attractive!

[Colleens 40]

Thank you, Colleens!! This is a HUGE help, especially coming from someone who has recently gone through the process. It's great to have an idea of the steps involved, and that the process can be started at the border if one desires. Should we find ourselves in a similar situation, it's reassuring to know that we wouldn't have to wait out the processing here in the US if we wanted to just head home to Alberta on shorter notice as you and your hubby did.

I really appreciate your offering to answer questions also.. it's very kind of you, and I just might take you up on that!

How are you and your husband enjoying being back in Canada so far? I hope y'all are happy and that it has been an easy transition so far . It's definitely the best time of year to move (Spring/Summer). The healthcare and employment part is surely much better! My husband and I haven't yet started a family, but the idea of having a decent maternity leave when the time comes is certainly attractive!

We are enjoying it....and the reduced stress that is going with being back. My husband is finding it a bit difficult not being able to work. He stays home with our year and a half old daughter, so that can be pretty exhausting......she is go, go,go and into everything!! It would have been ideal if we could have at least go the process started while in the states, but it didn't work out that way. But deep down we know that in the grand scheme of things a year really isn't all that long. It was like when we were waiting for our K1....it seemed to take FOREVER but now that we look back on it, it is hard to remember.

I meant to add into my post yesterday that we also moved back to Alberta. We qualified for AHC immediately, and even my husband is covered since he is my dependant. All we had to do was go to the registry office with the proper paperwork. In 48 hours we could call and get our AHC #'s and we got our cards in the mail within a week.

Funny enough getting my car re-registered and my drivers licence was a bigger hassle then getting health care......go figure!!