spousal sponsorship

Canada Immigration Forum (discussion group)


 
       
Subject: spousal sponsorship
  Hi guys,

my question is regarding spousal sponsorship (wife in Canada, husband in US): we´ve received the letter that that the application has been received by Buffalo, and the file has been created, awaiting assessment. Do any of you have experience knowing how much longer it could take before they make the decission? (we´ve completed the medical, background, and paid all fees).

Thanks

[28-01-2005,23:22]
A.
Spousal sponsorship (in reply to: spousal sponsorship)
I am in similar circumstances, I a canadian citizen (for whatever that´s worth) am sponsoring my wife, who´s overseas now and going through CIC Vienna, we´ve been waiting for 6.5 months (and counting). It ain´t gonna be fast.
[29-01-2005,00:07]
steve
(in reply to: spousal sponsorship)
Has she done the medical, submitted background check, and paid all the fees?
[29-01-2005,00:22]
A.
(in reply to: spousal sponsorship)
This is standard procedure for spouse sponsorship now. Everything is done upfront. All left is background check, which should be done in 6-8 months. In many cases it should be done in 3-4 months.
[29-01-2005,00:48]
Moe
(in reply to: spousal sponsorship)
Moe, what is your case?

And what do you mean ´all left is background check, which should be done in 6-8 months´? We have submitted FBI, state clearance, and clearance from his home country. 6-8 months from what time?

[29-01-2005,01:17]
A.
(in reply to: spousal sponsorship)
Moe, when shall we start counting the 6-8 months in Buffalo? From the time we get the AOR or from the time we get the initial assesment and interview waiver?

This is my timeline:

Sent joint application to CPC in Miss in march 04
AOR : JUn 04
IA and interview waiver: Dec 04

Since IA is completed...do they proceed with background check? IN my case the requested a second set of original police certificates. The first set was submitted in the joint application. I sent the second set yesterday.


[29-01-2005,02:15]
Ozz
(in reply to: spousal sponsorship)
Ozz, why did they require a second set of police certificates? Did you have to apply for an FBI certificate again and wait another 2 months to get it back? These are kind of scary stories I´m hearing, and not encouraging at all, but I guess that more fortunate people don´t visit this forum. My friend´s sister´s husband got his application approved and was able to move to Canada in 4 months (also through Buffalo, with no such problems).
[29-01-2005,02:26]
A.
(in reply to: spousal sponsorship)
Hi,

I´m an American citizen, my husband´s Canadian. I´ve been living in Canada since January 2004. I was issued a visitor´s record by the immigration officials at the border upon entering Canada with my belongings & informing them that my intention was to live with my husband while applying for Canadian permanent residence. Despite the fact that I´m legally in Canada (therefore making me eligible to apply from Inside Canada) I decided to have my application processed outside Canada by the Buffalo RPC. All the necessary fees were paid upfront (including Right of Permanent Residence), my medical exam was completed prior to submitting the applications, all proper police certificates (FBI and state clearance) were included with the application, and all the necessary supporting documents were included as well.

Here´s my timeline.

July 6th, 2004 - my husband´s sponsorship application & my permanent residence application received by the Mississauga Case Processing Centre.

August 6th, 2004 - my husband is approved as my sponsor, permanent residence application forwarded to Buffalo for processing.

October 6th, 2004 - AOR sent out from Buffalo stating that they have received my application and that it has been placed in priority queue awaiting assessment. They began processing my application on October 5th.

Decemberr 20th, 2004 - letter sent from Buffalo stating that they have finished processing my application for permanent residence and that I am required to send in my passport within 30 days for visa stamping.

January 12th, 2005 - sent my passport to Buffalo via Express Post, it was received on the 18th.

I will hopefully get my passport back sometime in the next week or so, as they stated in the letter that it normally takes 2 weeks.

I´m part of a mailing list on yahoo which is for people going through spousal sponsorship permanent residence applications to Canada, and a lot of other people on the list have had timelines fairly similar to mine (mainly getting their passport requests within roughly 6 months of when their applications were forwarded to Buffalo). If you´re interested in the yahoo group just let me know and I can get you the link to the group´s homepage.

Hope this helps.

[29-01-2005,04:16]
Mel
(in reply to: spousal sponsorship)
Thank you Mel very much, and yes, this helps a lot, first of all because you explained everything. I am Canadian, my husband is living in the States, but is not a US citizen (nor does he have a green card). I have been approved as a sponsor within a month, 10 days after they sent his pat of the application, they created a file for him, and mailed us a letter to inform us of that step. That was actually today, and now we just wait. Fees are paid, medical done, and all the police cetificates submitted. If you can send me that link, that be great. Good luck to you and everyone else.
[29-01-2005,05:32]
A.
(in reply to: spousal sponsorship)
I read on other forum really good answer about background check and think that you should know about this.

Security check has absolutely nothing to do with FBI fingerprints - those are only needed for criminal check.

Security check is conducted completely outside of Immigration by Canadian security and intelligence agencies, with or without cooperation of proper authorities in countries where check is being conducted. It is looking deep into your life, background, activities, associations etc. to find out if you are or ever were involved or are or have been associated with someone who is or was involved in espionage, terrorism, radical movements, crimes against humanity, organized crime, etc.

Unfortunately authorities in some countries take months or longer than a year to reply to inquiries from Canadian authorities and in some countries check has to be done using old fashion spy methods. It all takes time and depending from your background, nationality, countries you lived in, people you associated with (knowingly or not), your activities etc. it may take anywhere from several months to well over a year to conclude.

[29-01-2005,10:45]
Jassy
(in reply to: spousal sponsorship)
Here´s the link to the yahoo group:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/canadian_immigration/

I´ve found the people on the mailing list to be extremely supportive and helpful.

[29-01-2005,15:52]
Mel
(in reply to: spousal sponsorship)
Thanks Mel. Very kind from you to give us the address.
[29-01-2005,17:30]
Ozz


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