Advice on immigration choices
 

Hello,

I could use some advice on how to go about moving to Canada, hope someone
can help me out.

First for some details of my situation. I'm a portuguese citizen, 26 years
old. I'm about to graduate in Information Systems in just a few months. I've
had 10 months of work experience as a web designer and systems
administrator, and am currently doing a 6 month internship in R&D at my
university. My fiancee is a canadian citizen, 21 years old. She's been
working in retail for about 2 years now.

Right now we are trying to figure out which would be the best way for me to
go there. As I see it there's several choices. I can apply as a skilled
worker, we can get married (which we will in any case) and apply as a
spouse, or I can try to get a work permit but would have to find a job
first.

I'm not sure which would be easiest, and take less time to accomplish. Any
insight about which way to go and how long each takes would be helpful. In
case there are some details that I have not included that would make a
difference in my case, please let me know so I can post them.

Thanks in advance,

Pedro Marques

Re: Advice on immigration choices
 

The simplest and fastest is always a spousal sponsorship, so get married.

--

../..

Andrew Miller
Immigration Consultant
Vancouver, British Columbia
email: [email protected]
(delete REMOVE from the above address before sending email)

For confidential phone consultation go here:

http://members.yahoo.liveadvice.com/andrewmiller_canada
________________________________


"Pedro Marques" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Hello,
    > I could use some advice on how to go about moving to Canada, hope someone
    > can help me out.
    > First for some details of my situation. I'm a portuguese citizen, 26 years
    > old. I'm about to graduate in Information Systems in just a few months.
I've
    > had 10 months of work experience as a web designer and systems
    > administrator, and am currently doing a 6 month internship in R&D at my
    > university. My fiancee is a canadian citizen, 21 years old. She's been
    > working in retail for about 2 years now.
    > Right now we are trying to figure out which would be the best way for me
to
    > go there. As I see it there's several choices. I can apply as a skilled
    > worker, we can get married (which we will in any case) and apply as a
    > spouse, or I can try to get a work permit but would have to find a job
    > first.
    > I'm not sure which would be easiest, and take less time to accomplish. Any
    > insight about which way to go and how long each takes would be helpful. In
    > case there are some details that I have not included that would make a
    > difference in my case, please let me know so I can post them.
    > Thanks in advance,
    > Pedro Marques

Re: Advice on immigration choices
 

" The simplest and fastest is always a spousal sponsorship, so get married."
Andrew Miller
Immigration Consultant
Vancouver, British Columbia

Thank you Mr. Miller.

If the group would humour us a little further, we have more questions about
the process.
We'll get married then apply through the Paris office (apparently the office
processing applications from Portugal).
Questions are: Does anyone know how long processing of spousal cases takes
through Paris? Is there an interview with spousal cases? If there is, does
he have to go to Paris for the interview?
Also, I currently work full-time, but am not making enough for the
government's "cut-off" amount. If he co-signs, is it based on his current
earning amount or based on proof that he would be able to make up the rest
of that amount after coming to Canada (through a job offer or somesuch).
I am planning to travel to Portugal in April until August (thus erasing my
source of income, although I will resume working after coming back in
August), we plan to get married during that time and send the application
off. Then we are planning to travel back to Canada and stay here. He would
stay for as long as he could legally, then if not PR by then, go back to
Portugal. This is why I would be really grateful to find out the answers to
the above questions.
It would be difficult for him to attend an interview in Paris if he is in
Canada.
Is it just more viable to hold the application off until later when both of
us are working and in our respective countries?

Thank you in advance for any advice

Karolina Bialkowska

Re: Advice on immigration choices
 

First of all - there is no minimum income requirement when sponsoring a
spouse, so as long as you have a job and are not collecting social
assistance you will be approved as a sponsor.

Second - you must first file application (here in Canada) to be approved as
a sponsor and after that he will submit his application to Paris. And yes,
he may be asked to attend interview in Paris. Spousal applications take
about 8 to 10 months in Paris now for cases from within Paris visa post
jurisdiction (and Portugal is within such jurisdiction).

Seems that your understanding of the process is rather limited, so it would
be better to ask for some assistance before you make mistakes and/or
decisions you'll regret.

--

../..

Andrew Miller
Immigration Consultant
Vancouver, British Columbia
email: [email protected]
(delete REMOVE from the above address before sending email)

For confidential phone consultation go here:

http://members.yahoo.liveadvice.com/andrewmiller_canada
________________________________


"Pedro Marques" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > " The simplest and fastest is always a spousal sponsorship, so get
married."
    > Andrew Miller
    > Immigration Consultant
    > Vancouver, British Columbia
    > Thank you Mr. Miller.
    > If the group would humour us a little further, we have more questions
about
    > the process.
    > We'll get married then apply through the Paris office (apparently the
office
    > processing applications from Portugal).
    > Questions are: Does anyone know how long processing of spousal cases takes
    > through Paris? Is there an interview with spousal cases? If there is, does
    > he have to go to Paris for the interview?
    > Also, I currently work full-time, but am not making enough for the
    > government's "cut-off" amount. If he co-signs, is it based on his current
    > earning amount or based on proof that he would be able to make up the rest
    > of that amount after coming to Canada (through a job offer or somesuch).
    > I am planning to travel to Portugal in April until August (thus erasing my
    > source of income, although I will resume working after coming back in
    > August), we plan to get married during that time and send the application
    > off. Then we are planning to travel back to Canada and stay here. He would
    > stay for as long as he could legally, then if not PR by then, go back to
    > Portugal. This is why I would be really grateful to find out the answers
to
    > the above questions.
    > It would be difficult for him to attend an interview in Paris if he is in
    > Canada.
    > Is it just more viable to hold the application off until later when both
of
    > us are working and in our respective countries?
    > Thank you in advance for any advice
    > Karolina Bialkowska