Approx time to get canadian residency with a canadian spouse sponsoring an american ? ?

Question

Does anyone know approx how long it will take for my soon to be american husband to have canadian residency? (We will be applying as soon as we have our marriage certificate) - I meet all the requirements of a sponsor.

Answer 1

it depends on two things. Inside or outside?

Is the american spouse staying with you inside of Canada? If yes then you the Canadian MUST support the american as the american will NOT be allowed to work for the first stage of the processing.

Or is the american spouse is staying in the USA - outside Canada.

which will you apply for?

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information...

This is processing times for outside Canada applicants - currently taking less than 1 year from Buffalo.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information...

Inside applications - currently the first stage is taking about 6 months. There is no time line for how long the processing takes after that - but between 1 and 2 years is quite common. And the applicant is alowed to apply for a work permit and work during this time. The applicant CANNOT work during the first stage.

Like Lonya, my inside application took 5 years but I did have unusual circumstances. And we too had a child born in Canada.

I suggest you contact the below yahoo group for any questions. They were a huge help to me during my LONG processing. They know everything about spouses emigrating to Canada - both inside and outside applications.

One more thing - does your spouse have his FBI clearance and his state clearances? He will need the FBI clerance for the application. CIC may or may not ask for the state clearances.

Has he done his medical exam? Make sure you enclose a COPY of the receipt from the doctors office. At some point, he MAY be required to get another medical exam - especially if processing does take more than 2 years.

Answer 2

It takes an average of 1 to 2 years.  Some take longer (mine took 4 years) and some take less time.  It will depend also if you apply from inside or outside of Canada.

Meeting the requirements of sponsorship is just one step in a long list of others that you must take to get your spouse permanent residency.  Your spouse must also meet the requirements to emigrate.

Having a Canadian born child will not speed up your processing time.  We also had a child born in Canada.

Good luck with the process.