Road To Canada Forums

Hi all,
this is a GREAT forum, I've found loads of helpful info here already. Unfortunately the thread titles are not always detailed enough for me to find out whether these questions have already been asked... hopefully some of the veterans can point me in the right direction if this material is already covered... please and THANK YOU!

I am a Canadian studying in France, I met the love of my life in Switzerland and we'd have no problem getting married by the end of the year (though if it were not for visas we might wait until we aren't so busy - just for planning purposes). We've visited each other a lot and I stay with him quite a bit - I've practically moved in but we've kept separate residences officially because of immigration hassles with Switzerland/France.

Now my studies are almost done and I have a great job offer from back home in Canada which would start in 3-6 months, so we are looking into it, to see what we'd need to do for him immigrate with me.

I see that you recommend applying from abroad (outland? is that the term?) to speed up the process. I had a question about applying overseas and so I looked on the Embassy in Paris's website (hahaha!) found nothing, called them, they have only a voice recording reading you website addresses... I asked the switchboard and there is no human being available to speak with in immigration "services". Ever! Unless I call Canada, I think you guys are my only hope! (I did finally find the answer though, just by downloading and reading EVERYTHING on the web, even the forms which did not seem applicable... go figure!)

I read about the delays and it seems to be fairly short, but we don't really want to be separated at all if it's not necessary (I know many of you have had it much tougher... but still... why would we if we don't have to?) so I wonder if there is any way to speed things up, other than getting married in a rush... I guess that's hoping for the impossible eh? I read something about having 2 weddings, one abroad and one in Canada to make it easier for the Canadian government to recognise the marriage - this seems suspect to me, isn't it illegal to get married when you already are married? (I guess if it's to the same person...)

Once married and with our applications submitted, is there any problem coming to Canada as visitors with a return ticket, like for Christmas? Or if we apply in Europe, but then I move to Canada alone and he stays in Europe so he can work while he waits for his PR to be approved - can he at least visit me? We have plans to vacation in Canada in October, and could marry then - any reason that you know of why that would be a bad idea? As long as we don't tell the immigration officers at arrival at the airport that we're coming to Canada to get married (otherwise they might think he wasn't planning to leave Canada after the holiday?).

Would love to hear any advice or warnings you have, plus anyone who has dealt with the embassy in Paris - please do let me know how it went and if there are any tricks to dealing with these people (in France there's always something...)

Cheers and good luck with all your own travels on the long "road to Canada"
TLH

There is no "suspect" to getting married twice. My daughter and her husband wanted to get married at the track. The minister couldn't accommodate them (his license wasn't for marriages in Ontario ), so they got married at the court house the day before and had a "blessing" ceremony at the track on the day they wanted to get married. If you are out of country and had family in both countries, it actually kinda makes sense you would want two ceremonies so that all could attend. (There are lots of people who get "remarried" for say their 25th anniversary)
As for visiting Canada, according to more knowledgeable people on this site, the Canadian would do all the talking and you would have all your supporting paperwork in hand (i.e., receipt of PR application, proof of funds so the sponsored spouse would not have to work if it was for an extended visit, return ticket if it was for a short visit (which you will have), etc). Someone else will probably answer this better for you, although there are lots of threads regarding it. Your spouse actually can VISIT with you for the entire time you are waiting for the PR application. We have just been granted a one year visitor record for this (we applied for an extension from within Canada). However, the sponsored person cannot work or go to school while they are waiting. We have not tried leaving the country for a visit and then returning yet, its pretty scary and there is never a guarantee you will be allowed back in.
Could you not just download all the paperwork off the CIC site even though you are in Paris? You could then submit the paperwork. We are filing outland even though they are in Canada, but would the paperwork not be the same even if they were in the States? Again, I'm going to watch this thread for information purposes when someone else also answers.
Good luck!...isn't this just so much fun?

Jayne Wrote:Could you not just download all the paperwork off the CIC site even though you are in Paris?

Thanks Jayne, this is very helpful stuff!

In fact I am in the process of downloading everything now, the problem was I was searching for an application package for people outside Canada because I thought the label on the link said "canadian citizens or permanent residents living in Canada" and so I was looking all over without success (and tried the Paris immigration office just to see). But as it turned out, that is the package as I see now that I've read it, it has an "if you reside outside canada" section so I think I'm all set. I just thought the local Paris embassy would be (more) helpful!

This is a truly amazing forum - what a wonderful resource and source of support, you guys really touch my heart - been reading the despondent emotional outpourings and kind words of support and all the time you spend giving advice - for strangers! On the other hand I think it's shameful that you guys seem to be doing the CIC's work for them! I see that they do their best to be clear and make everything understandable but still... the amount of questions we all have tells you something about how much falls through the cracks. I dunno how helpful the immigration services are when you call them in Canada? When I was moving to France and had even a small question to ask, I had to make an appointment online with the French embassy (wait time of 2-6 weeks) and go to the Toronto office during business hours in order to talk to someone! (or more correctly, be insulted by someone)

I guess immigration bureaucracy is the first test to prove one's motivation to move to our great country... The second and third would be the snow and mosquitos, eh? Golly, can't wait to be home!:rotflmao:My poor man has no idea what he's signing up for...

Cheers all,
TLH

I wish you the best of luck.
Also, as a suggestion, don't know where you're from in Canada, but when we had some questions, the lady at our MPs office was a great help. I know this is a long distance call for you, but it may be worth it in extreme cases.
Hope all goes smoothly and you're home soon!
Jayne