Moving from US to Canada

D

DanDada2000

Registered Users (C)
Hello all!! I have an immigratino question that I hope some of you can
shed some light on:
Both my wife and I are US Permanent Residents living in Florida. I am
a Canadian citizen and she is a Guyanese citizen. Our goal is to move
to Canada to reunite w/ our families as soon as feasably possible.
Before moving we want to secure citizenship in the United States in
case we should decide to move back at a later time or perhaps for
retirement purposes. I have already applied for US Citizenship and
have been fingerprinted... I am now awaiting my interview/civics exam.
My wife will qualify to apply for US Citizenship in July 2006
(3months before her 5 year anniversary as a greed card holder). My
question is this: Since it takes on average, 1 year to gain US
citizenship, when would it be the best time to apply for a Visa for my
wife to move to Canada. I have learned that this process also takes
approximately 1 year. Should she apply for both US citizenship and
Canadian Visa at the same time so as to speed up the process, or would
it be best to wait until she is sworn in as a US citizen and then
apply for the Canadian Visa. Bear in mind, our ulitimate goal is to
move to Canada as soon as possible to be w/ our families. On top of
all of this, my wife is pregnant, expecting in Feb 2006. I know the
child w/ be both Canadian and US citizen by law so that shouldn´t be a
problem. Please advise.
Thanks in advance!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
DanDada2000 said:
Hello all!! I have an immigratino question that I hope some of you can
shed some light on:
Both my wife and I are US Permanent Residents living in Florida. I am
a Canadian citizen and she is a Guyanese citizen. Our goal is to move
to Canada to reunite w/ our families as soon as feasably possible.
Before moving we want to secure citizenship in the United States in
case we should decide to move back at a later time or perhaps for
retirement purposes. I have already applied for US Citizenship and
have been fingerprinted... I am now awaiting my interview/civics exam.
My wife will qualify to apply for US Citizenship in July 2006
(3months before her 5 year anniversary as a greed card holder). My
question is this: Since it takes on average, 1 year to gain US
citizenship, when would it be the best time to apply for a Visa for my
wife to move to Canada. I have learned that this process also takes
approximately 1 year. Should she apply for both US citizenship and
Canadian Visa at the same time so as to speed up the process, or would
it be best to wait until she is sworn in as a US citizen and then
apply for the Canadian Visa. Bear in mind, our ulitimate goal is to
move to Canada as soon as possible to be w/ our families. On top of
all of this, my wife is pregnant, expecting in Feb 2006. I know the
child w/ be both Canadian and US citizen by law so that shouldn´t be a
problem. Please advise.
Thanks in advance!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...

If you are not in a great hurry to move to Canada, why dont you and your wife wait in US till both of you become US citizens (which by your posting seems likely to happen by mid 2007) and your baby is born (2006). That way, you can move to Canada without having to give up your green cards here. If your wife is a US citizen and married to a Canadian/US dual citizen, in due course she should also be able to get Canadian/US dual citizenship.
 
gc-despo, i don't think you fully understood my question... the intent is to get US CITIZENSHIP, not retain our green cards. If anyone has an opinion, please do reply! All help is greatly appreciated!
 
DanDada2000 said:
Hello all!! I have an immigratino question that I hope some of you can
shed some light on:
Both my wife and I are US Permanent Residents living in Florida. I am
a Canadian citizen and she is a Guyanese citizen....My
question is this: Since it takes on average, 1 year to gain US
citizenship, when would it be the best time to apply for a Visa for my
wife to move to Canada. I have learned that this process also takes
approximately 1 year. Should she apply for both US citizenship and
Canadian Visa at the same time so as to speed up the process, or would
it be best to wait until she is sworn in as a US citizen and then
apply for the Canadian Visa. Bear in mind, our ulitimate goal is to
move to Canada as soon as possible to be w/ our families. On top of
all of this, my wife is pregnant, expecting in Feb 2006. I know the
child w/ be both Canadian and US citizen by law so that shouldn´t be a
problem. Please advise.
Thanks in advance!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...

If both you and your wife are US Permanent Residents, why would she need a visa to go to Canada? As PR, you can visit Canada without a visa. If the goal is to become US citizens, then you or your wife can move to Canada after your wife becomes a US citizen. Based on the fact she can apply in July 2006 and Florida is very slow in citizenship processing, if everything goes fine she would sworn in as a US citizen by mid to late 2007.
 
Seems there is a lot of confustion.... let me clarify our objectives. My wife and I have the ultimate objective of becoming US CITIZENS and then move to Canada. We have no intent of giving up our green cards until such time as we are sworn in. We also intend to MOVE to Canada to stay PERMANENTLY. The question remains, should she apply for a Canadian visa at the same time she is apply for US Citizenship so as to "speed up" the process... or would it be wise to wait until she is sworn in and then apply for her VISA. Remember, our goal is to move to CANADA as soon as feasibly possible. Would it be wise to apply here and risk delaying the process or should we move there right after gaining US Citizenship and then apply for a Visa for her in Canada. The problem I have w/ the later scenario, is how we will explain to the border crossing officials our intentions when we have our stuff loaded on a truck attempting to cross the border. My thoughts are that my child and myself will be able to go no problem but my wife would be declined on the basis that she is going to stay there permanently w/o having first applied and ascertained the VISA. We could say she will be visiting and then will return but i'm sure this will cast a lot of doubt on the situation. Another thing she could do is fly over on her own and I drive over w/ our stuff to avoid the "hastle". Do you think this would work???
 
US immigration will have no knowledge of your wife's application for Canadian permanent residence unless she decides to volunteer such information to them. So there is no harm in beginning her Canadian application process before she has obtained US citizenship.
 
JoeF, your comments provide no help to my inquiry... I have already read up on the immigrations laws pertaining to the US and Canada. Clearly you have not read and understood what the heart of my problem is. I am fully aware of how the green card and US Citizenship works. I did not at any point state that we intend to leave the US w/o aquiring citizenship first, that is a GIVEN. The question remains, what is the most appropriate time for my wife to apply for a Canadian VISA in order to aquire it in the fastest manner. Should she apply:

(a) Same time as when she applies for US Citizenship

(b) After she gains US citizenship but before moving to Canada

(c) After moving to Canada but BEFORE gaining a VISA.

Guys, our ultimate goal is to move to CANADA as soon as possible!!! Which of the three scenarios presented would get us to Canada the fastest???? It seems obvious that the 3rd option is probably best, but that would mean having to apply for an "In-Canada" Visa. Meanwhile, how can my wife, child and myself cross the border w/ all our stuff w/o being questioned about our intentions. I'm almost positive the border official will ask for my wife's Visa BEFORE entry into Canada. Sure she can go up on a visit but this would be very "suspicious". Does anyone understand the dilemna I am facing???? Please read my comments before commenting!!!! This is NOT about green cards or getting US CITIZENSHIP, that is a GIVEN!!!!! Thanks for the help so far......

stallion4949, your comments are helpful, are you sure about that?? we don't want to get into any "conflicts of interest" w/ either country... especially since we are asian and are being treated like any other "suspect" so to speak
 
Stallion, one more thing... let's say she applies for a Canadian Visa BEFORE getting US Citizenship. Obviously we don't want to move until such time as she gets US Citizenship so how would that works in terms of time constaints. IE. Isn't she required to move to Canada w/in a set period of time after getting the VISA?
 
DanDada2000 said:
US Citizen ship and Canada
Click to expand...

I am not a expert in these things, but it seems you already have the solution.

1. Apply for us citizenship.
2. Obtain us citizenship.
3. You,Your child move to Canada.
4. Your wife(now a US citizen) "visits" Canada on her own
5. Based on you, her child being a canadian citizen it should be pretty easy to get her Canadia VISA(http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/applications/spouse.html). So she can stay with you "illegally" and still be able to apply for her permament Candian residency.

Again, I am not an expert. Just pretty-savvy "Googling". (Actullay google makes you look savvy)
 
JoeF, obviously you don't have many freinds since you would like to pick a fight w/ me, a person who is simple looking for immigration help. Kindly STOP replying to my thread and go your merry way. YOU REFUSE TO READ AND UNDERSTAND MY PROBLEM BUT INSTEAD CONTINUE TO MISINTERPRET AND MISQUOTE ME, CONVIENTLY QUOTING SECTIONS OF MY POSTINGS ELIMINATING THE BIGGER PICTURE. How many times do I have to say that it is PURE common sense that if you leave the US w/o first getting citizenship, you will give up your green card status. THAT IS NOT THE ISSUE. I refuse to continue entertaining your ignorance.

To the others who have read and actually UNDERSTOOD the problem, THANKS! Any other input is greatly appreciated, outside of JoeF who thinks it fun to personally attack me.

I have already posted this question in the Canadian threads section. I was simply looking for a US perspetive on the issue.
 
DanDada,

Don't take JoeF personally. He's just like that to everyone. :D

Honesly, this is a US Citizenship/Immigration forum. I think you might have a higher likelyhood of success if you ask your question on a Canadian immigration forum.

It's going to take about 2 years before your W is a U.S. citizen (given that you are in florida where there are many relatively slow district offices of the USCIS).

When your child is born, you will probably have to communicate with the Canadian consulate in the US to obtain for the child proof of Canadian citizenship and a Canadian passport. You will also have to apply for a U.S. passport for the child based on his/her birth certificate proving US birth.

THEN, probably no sooner than the fall of 2007, ASSUMING you and your wife have both already become US citizens.... you try to go to Canada.

If you are concenerned that Canadian border people might not believe your wife is a tourist when (in the fall of 2007) you arrive at the Canadian border with your truckload of household goods, then I would suggest, (after you all are US citizens,) you and your child-to-be, with all your load of stuff, drive across to Canada, using you and your child's Canadian passports. Then, your wife can come seperately, using her U.S. passport, since, as a US citizen (at that time about 2 years in the future), she will be able to "visit" Canada without a visa. However, I think it would be better - and not likely to be difficult - to do it all legitimately by applying for her Canadian resident visa at some appropriate time. Canada has only 38 million people - and lots of cold empty tundra on which I'm sure they would be delighted for any worthy folk to attempt to live. :D

Again, although the name "immigrationportal.com" might seem universal, this forum is concentrated on U.S. immigration and is not generally populated with people who can answer Canadian immigration questions.

-Ocelot
 
Ocelot, thank your for your insightful response... wow! 2 years for my wife to become a citizen? sheesh...I expected 1 year at the most! Most replies I have replied in this section of the forum and the Canadian section state is should only be about 1 year. Well that remains to be seen. I will be able to gauge it based on how quickly my own naturalization goes thru.

W/ regard to crossing the border. Assuming all 3 of us become American Citizens, say 2 years down the road. I pack up my belongs, sell my house, pick out a house in Canada, etc etc. The border crossing seems to be a scary thought. I guess I have a few options:

(1) Cross w/ wife, child, belongings and explain we will be applying "in-canada" for my wife. Will they be receptive to his proposal? Will they say, I should have applied before coming to Canada?

(2) Cross border on my own w/ belongings and make no mention of wife and child, or if they ask, say they will be coming at a later time w/ visa application in the works?

(3)Send wife & child over on a "holiday", then cross on my own w/ belongings. Then explain if asked about family that they are already up there and "incanada" visa is in the works.

I'm trying to figure out the best possible scenario to avoid any form of conflict at the border. The reason I'm so paranoid about the border is I had numerous problems when crossing into the US from Canada when I moved here. "eveything was suspicious - i claimed to be going on vacation for 2 months w/ a whole car load of goods" it was pretty stupid in retrospect... live and learn!
 
From a fellow Canadian (and now American too)

For what it is worth, U.S. permanent residents (regardless of nationality) do not need a visa to "visit" Canada -- you present your passport and green card when entering. I suspect you probably already know that since you're a Canadian citizen yourself and probably have visited there with your wife. I just wanted to correct the statements of others who suggested she would not need a visa to enter Canada once she's a U.S. citizen (she already doesn't need a visa).

Of course, this could change in the intervening time while your wife's U.S. citizenship process is pending as both the U.S. and Canada scrutinize their respective visa exemption policies.

This is one case where I don't mind being in Michigan vs. Florida -- it's typically 6 months or less to become a citizen for many of us here. That seems to be more the processing performance for many DOs recently vs. the long delays still seen in Florida.

Back to your wife's situation, why not apply for her Canadian PR status outright when she's about 6 months from when she's expects to become a U.S. citizen? PR applications in Canada sometimes take as little as 4-6 months (if everything is straightforward, otherwise maybe 12 months is reasonable) and also she'll have some time after it is approved before she has to "land" to secure her status there. She could also "land" earlier and return to the U.S for a short while to "tidy things up" before moving to Canada permanently once she gets her U.S. citizenship.
 
DanDada,

Sorry, I don't stop in here every day - since my wife's citizenship has been secured.

I really have already said more than I know about the subject. :)

Perhaps 2 years is pessimistic - but she's not quite ready to apply - and I hear is typical 15 months in some parts of FL. If you know what DO you will go through, you can start a post with that in the title and somebody will tell you how long it takes there.

But even though I don't know anything, I'll give my opinion again.

You seem to assume that your child will be attached to his/her mother, so I'm wondering why you assume that a man cannot travel with a young child.

Both you and your child will be Canadian citizens, and for simplicity it seems perfectly normal for a canadian man and his son/daughter to cross into canada with a load of (used) household goods.

It is also perfectly normal for a US citizen to cross the border into Canada for a "visit".

So, splitting yourselves that way seems almost certain to be unsurprising to the border officials. You and your child will certainly pass - and now that I think about it, your wife could cross first and you could follow an hour later (or 15 minutes).

But, probably, as CanTex suggested, she can get the Candian resistent permit within a reasonable time period and ya'll can do everything in the most completly circumspect manner. That's how I would do it.

-Ocelot

Disclaimer : I'm not a lawyer, nor a Canadian, and have only twice been in Canada (once by an unplanned landing in Gander on the way to London).
 
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