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| Subject: Studying in Montreal and PR timeline |
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Hi,
My boyfriend and I are planning to move from the USA to Montreal,Quebec to study French for 6 months, possibly more. This should help us find jobs in Quebec. Neither of us are US citizens. We intend to go there on student visas and then apply for PRs. We both have skills in high demand occupations so it should not be a problem. We intend to start the process as soon as we land in Quebec.
My question is how long does it take to get the ASC from Quebec? Where will the rest of the PR including medicals and police checks be verified? I have lived in the USA for the past 8 years and my boyfriend has been here 3 years. Will our applications be processed in Buffalo or will they be processed in Montreal? What is the approximate timeline from start to finish?
Thanks in advance for your replies!
[28-09-2005,16:19]
[***.74.247.194]
GretaB |
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(in reply to: Studying in Montreal and PR timeline)
Hi GretaB,
As you are planning to move to Quebec, I would say apply for CSQ (Quebec selection certificate). As you had been in US for 8 years, I assume that you have more work experience, so you will definitely get CSQ (I am in Quebec, what I am telling is based on the experience of my friends who have applied/got CSQ).
Nowadays, for getting an appointment with CSQ office in Montreal, it is taking around 5 months. after your meeting with them/ if you get CSQ, you have to apply for PR to Canada with your CSQ (it is like a recommendation from Quebec that they want this skilled worker). Keep in mind, the timeline for PR who already have CSQ is different from that of people who apply for PR without CSQ (even if the applicant is in Quebec). The former´s application is faster than the latter.
Only thing I need you to confirm from others is, whether you have to apply for CSQ only after one year in Quebec.
Please don´t forget to confirm the timeline for couple applying for Canadian PR.
Most of my friends who had CSQ, got PR in another 6-7 months. Do the calculations. Thats all I know.
[28-09-2005,16:39]
[**.149.73.5]
Mountains |
(in reply to: Studying in Montreal and PR timeline)
Thanks Mountains!
The CSQ is what I meant by ASC(Application for selection certificate). I guess I got the jargon wrong :) I checked various sites and they don´t mention the need to wait a year before applying for the CSQ. Did you experience that when you applied for your CSQ?
After the CSQ is approved, where will the rest of our applications be processed? Is the queue faster for couples? We intend to live in Quebec the whole time.
[28-09-2005,17:13]
[***.74.247.194]
GretaB |
(in reply to: Studying in Montreal and PR timeline)
Lot of people got their CSQ rejected because they didn´t know French, they didn´t have previous work experience. One of my friend got his CSQ because his wife (who was back in India at that time) also showed interest in imigrating to Quebec, so if you apply as a family point increases. If you are married now, your point system would be even more higher because both would be showing interest to immigration to Quebec, but still, no doubt, you have 8 years experience, so there is no way they can reject for CSQ.
As per my analysis, you will definitely get CSQ, as you are showing interest in to learn French, lotta work experience.
It is a good question, on whether you have to be in Quebec for one year before you apply, call (514) 864-9191. Because students in Quebec, wait for one year of stay in Quebec because they get a few more points for that. I think that from time-to-time people might have misinterpreted as a requirement, but call the phone number before you apply. Also ask for the wait time for getting an appointment.
http://www.immigration-quebec.gouv.qc.ca/anglais/
After getting your CSQ, Quebec office gives an application package for Canadian PR. You have to fill these forms, and send it to Buffalo, NY (everything would be specified the time you get CSQ) even if you are are in Montreal.
If the one year minimum stay is not required, I would strongly suggest you apply for CSQ. Don´t forget to give documents that supports your interest in French.
If you have any specific questions, let me know, I will ask my friends who got CSQ and let you know.
[28-09-2005,17:48]
[**.149.73.5]
Mountains |
(in reply to: Studying in Montreal and PR timeline)
Hello GretaB
My wife and I were living in the US for about 2 years... we´re not from the US, and came to Montreal. My wife came under a study permit and I got an open work permit. You do not need to wait for the one year to start the CSQ application... you can submit it right away.
In the case of students, it´s sometimes said that you have to apply when you´re one year about to finish your studies. Of course, if you´re comming to learn french for 6 months, that´s automatic. Once you get the CSQ (which may take from 5 months up to a year..... ours took about 10 months), you send the application to Buffalo, where they will use the CSQ as the ´skilled worker assesment´ and they´ll do the background checks and medical requests etc.
I do think however that in order to apply from Canada to Buffalo, you need to have been admitted to Canada for at least 1 year. But you should check that.
By the way, we got the CSQ with a general knowledge of French, some work experience (2 years), graduate degrees, and having found a job in Quebec while applying (we updated our application showing the employment offer). We had the interview waived.
cheers
[28-09-2005,19:41]
[**.200.112.211]
carlos |
(in reply to: Studying in Montreal and PR timeline)
Thanks Mountains! You have been wonderfully helpful :)
I have another question. I am in the adjustment of status phase of my US green card. Due to recent heavy backlogs, it might be years before my green card is approved. So, I am essentially abandoning that to go to Canada. Will this cause problems at the Canadian port of entry because I am going as a student on an temporary visa?
[29-09-2005,15:11]
[***.74.247.194]
GretaB |
(in reply to: Studying in Montreal and PR timeline)
I don´t think it should be a problem. But I strongly suggest you to consult this forum regarding legal issues like this.
If you have any questions that I could help you with, don´t hesitate to bring it to my attention. I am a student in Montreal, if you want to know more about Montreal, Unys. in Montreal, I could give some suggestions, again give me a shout.
Thanks.
[29-09-2005,15:28]
[**.149.73.5]
Mountains |
(in reply to: Studying in Montreal and PR timeline)
Thanks once again Mountains! You said I should consult this forum regarding legal issues? I am not sure I understand that.
I am thinking of taking french lessons at ILSC because they are reasonably priced and offer classes for 6 months or longer. They also offer the part time option which is what I intend to take because it seems low key. I am pretty burned out from my "High demand occupation" and I am looking forward to stress free language classes. Do you have other suggestions for language school besides ILSC?
[29-09-2005,18:08]
[***.74.247.194]
GretaB |
(in reply to: Studying in Montreal and PR timeline)
Hi GretaB:
(Re: Thanks) It is my pleasure.
"You said I should consult this forum regarding legal issues?"
Legal issues- I misquoted. I was meaning to say, official issues. You asked whether the green card application you are gonna abandon would cause cause any problems in the border to Canada, I would say definitely not a problem. (I am 100% sure about that) but I didn´t want to commit myself thats why I said also to consult other people in the forum.
"Do you have other suggestions for language school besides ILSC?"
I checked the ILSC prices. It seems very costly. In my case I completed my Master´s in Canada, I want to extend my stay by as a student, thats why I am trying to learn French in Concordia or McGill University, I don´t know the rates here, but I am sure it is not that costly as ILSC.
If you are interested in McGill or Concordia, go to the respective websites at:
www.concordia.ca and www.mcgill.ca
And call (514) 848-2424 for Concordia and (514) 398-4455 for McGill and ask them to connect to ISO, they would tell you more abt this or direct you to the proper department.
But I am sorry thats all I know about this. What I can advise you is, try to think about applying for Quebec CSQ (in your case, it seems CSQ is the better option) and apply as soon as possible.
If you come to Canada on Study permit, I think you must be full time. You can study partime if you are on work permit in Canada. I am not sure whether you have a job already in Canada. (I am not sure this paragraph is 100% correct, if you want this info. plz contact other people too)
Should I be of any help, please do not hesitate to message me.
[30-09-2005,03:46]
[**.149.73.5]
Mountains |
(in reply to: Studying in Montreal and PR timeline)
Thanks Mountains!
I am hesitant to apply for the CSQ because I don´t want my student visa rejected because I have applied for the CSQ. I will probably start the process once I am in canada.
Are Concordia and Mcgill really that much cheaper? I could not find any information on long term french course part time at either of these universities. Also, I could not find information anywhere that you have to be enrolled full time to get a student visa. I emailed the folks at the Quebec immigration site. I will wait to see what they say. How long did it take you get your student visa? What country did you apply from?
[01-10-2005,00:33]
[**.247.228.56]
GretaB |
(in reply to: Studying in Montreal and PR timeline)
Hi GretaB:
Yes, absolutely, apply only after you get your study permit. I meant to say, make everything ready so that once you reach Canada, next thing should be post the CSQ to the office, or even go to that office in downtown Montreal and post it.
I thought Concordia and McGill would be cheaper than the one you were talking about. As I see inILTS, it is 200$/week or something like that, that I feel is pretty costly. But I would strongly suggest you to talk to the ISO (International student office) of both the Unys. Unys like international student´s because they are the ones that give lot of money to the Uny by paying high fees. Also, if I had been you, I would have called the CSQ office instead of mailing them. But it´s up to you.
I applied from India. I would apply at least (stressing at least) 2 months before the classes start. Because you will be asked to do medical exam, and the doctor has to send the result to the Canadian office and then Canadian office has specialist who grades the results, so you must allow time for all these.
Yes, that a good question, I thought International students must be full time, you can create a new topic and ask the people here for their suggestions.
Let me know if you have any questions.
[01-10-2005,04:03]
[**.149.73.5]
Mountains |
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