Hi everyone,
Does anyone here have an idea of the current cost of a Visitors Record and/or Temp. Res Permit? Also, if you appeared at the border with your spouse, what all paperwork did you provide for that initial crossing? I have the application filled out, State record checks, proof of cohabitation, etc. My CDN lawyer is being a boob and not providing me with anything written for the crossing
but I do have all my correspondence back to 2006 when the first lawyer was handling things, so there's plenty to show it's not for the lack of trying to get the divorce settled. I'm confident I can present this to the IO and have been reading through the US2Canada site as well, just looking for some encouraging words.
My partner is only bringing along a small bag of clothing, I'm bringing some of our household goods back, the rest is in storage pending arrangements to get things moved north.
There really isn't anything your lawyer can give you that will help facilitate the process - you guys simply have to demonstrate that 1) you have a "qualifying relationship"; 2) that you intend to sponsor your partner for PR; 3) that there is a reasonable expectation that you can support your partner while waiting for PR so s/he won't work illegally in Canada; and 4) that you will ensure that your partner either applies to extend their temporary status or leaves Canada before their status expires.
There is no fee at the border for a VR - the cost ($75) comes when you apply to extend. There is a $200 fee for a TRP, but TRPs are only issued to people who are otherwise inadmissible to Canada - if the IO determines there are compelling reasons to admit them.
I'd say the most important thing, and the strongest evidence you need to be able to provide, is proof of your common-law qualification. I would not bring up the difficulties you're having getting your divorce finalized - it could seriously work against you. It did us! Unless they specifically ask your marital status (in relation to another partner) don't even open that up for discussion. Some IOs are of the opinion that a sponsor with an unfinalized divorce cannot be a common-law partner. I don't believe this to be true under federal law, but whether it's true or not, you're not going to be in a position to argue the point. If they go there, you're done.
Remember, proof of your common-law qualification (co-habitation), proof that you are filing a PR application (to help avoid them looking through your application papers, have a copy of your receipt for application fees paid instead), proof of employment for you (the sponsor), and your partner needs a valid passport. If your partner already has current FBI/State clearances that are clean, those are good, too.
Important things to remember: don't start pushing papers at them until they tell you what they need. Don't produce any documentation that is not specifically requested. Don't volunteer information - answer their questions directly and briefly - wait for the question, don't anticipate. Let them lead. Your partner keeps quiet unless directly asked a question, and hands any documentation the IO requests to you, for you to give to the IO. And as I said, the less said about your pending divorce, the better.
Sounds good, thank you! I will have as much put together as possible. The only hiccup would be the proof of a job. I have two interviews lined up but I need to get there before they'll make a firm offer. We have money for travel and expenses and in the meantime, I was planning on taking some cash and leaving the rest on the debit card. In the interim though, we are staying with family in Sarnia.
Is it a relatively quick process at the border or should I anticipate a few hours there?
I would say that you should probably prepare for the no job thing with proof that you have interviews scheduled, maybe see if you can get the prospective employers to fax you an invitation letter or something of the sort - and you should have a declaration from your family saying that they're going to provide you both with housing and accomodations until you can go to work. Remember - you don't have to produce any of this, or even an employment letter, unless asked . . . so if you don't make it really obvious that you haven't settled in yet, it might not come up. That's why it's really important not to offer information or documentation that's not requested . . . the more you put out there, the more complicated things get.
It should be a relatively quick process - on average 20 minutes or so if everything goes smoothly.