Which CIC Office to use?
Sep 30th 2007, 5:22 am
#1
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Which CIC Office to use?
Hi,
My partner and myself are curently looking at applying for a permanent visa through the Skilled Worker route, but we're unsure as to which CIC office to apply under.
My nationality is British, and I was looking at being the main applicant and going through the London office, but processing times are currently 30-41 months, which is a bit longer than we anticipated. My partner has moved from Argentina to the UK, but as well as an Argentinian passport she also has an Austrian one as this is where her family comes from - though she has never lived in Austria.
Processing times in the Vienna CIC office are much shorter (10-23 months), so we are thinking of applying through that route instead, as we both have similar point scores. We are a bit unsure as to whether we're allowed to, but her Austrian passport states that she is of Austrian nationality which fits into the immigrations requirements:
Applicants for Permanent Residence
"You must apply in your country of residence, your country of nationality or the country where you have been legally admitted for at least one year."
Anyone able to help us out on this?
Thanks,
Simon & Juliet
My partner and myself are curently looking at applying for a permanent visa through the Skilled Worker route, but we're unsure as to which CIC office to apply under.
My nationality is British, and I was looking at being the main applicant and going through the London office, but processing times are currently 30-41 months, which is a bit longer than we anticipated. My partner has moved from Argentina to the UK, but as well as an Argentinian passport she also has an Austrian one as this is where her family comes from - though she has never lived in Austria.
Processing times in the Vienna CIC office are much shorter (10-23 months), so we are thinking of applying through that route instead, as we both have similar point scores. We are a bit unsure as to whether we're allowed to, but her Austrian passport states that she is of Austrian nationality which fits into the immigrations requirements:
Applicants for Permanent Residence
"You must apply in your country of residence, your country of nationality or the country where you have been legally admitted for at least one year."
Anyone able to help us out on this?
Thanks,
Simon & Juliet
Sep 30th 2007, 5:38 am
#2
Retired
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 34,649
Re: Which CIC Office to use?
Hi,
My partner and myself are curently looking at applying for a permanent visa through the Skilled Worker route, but we're unsure as to which CIC office to apply under.
My nationality is British, and I was looking at being the main applicant and going through the London office, but processing times are currently 30-41 months, which is a bit longer than we anticipated. My partner has moved from Argentina to the UK, but as well as an Argentinian passport she also has an Austrian one as this is where her family comes from - though she has never lived in Austria.
Processing times in the Vienna CIC office are much shorter (10-23 months), so we are thinking of applying through that route instead, as we both have similar point scores. We are a bit unsure as to whether we're allowed to, but her Austrian passport states that she is of Austrian nationality which fits into the immigrations requirements:
Applicants for Permanent Residence
"You must apply in your country of residence, your country of nationality or the country where you have been legally admitted for at least one year."
My partner and myself are curently looking at applying for a permanent visa through the Skilled Worker route, but we're unsure as to which CIC office to apply under.
My nationality is British, and I was looking at being the main applicant and going through the London office, but processing times are currently 30-41 months, which is a bit longer than we anticipated. My partner has moved from Argentina to the UK, but as well as an Argentinian passport she also has an Austrian one as this is where her family comes from - though she has never lived in Austria.
Processing times in the Vienna CIC office are much shorter (10-23 months), so we are thinking of applying through that route instead, as we both have similar point scores. We are a bit unsure as to whether we're allowed to, but her Austrian passport states that she is of Austrian nationality which fits into the immigrations requirements:
Applicants for Permanent Residence
"You must apply in your country of residence, your country of nationality or the country where you have been legally admitted for at least one year."
However you should check as this may only apply to the main applicant.
Also bear in mind that standard processing times may not apply to an "out of jurisdiction" applicant and you may have to deal with logistic issues getting your visa stamped.
Longer term, how long has your partner lived in the U.K. and does she know whether she will be allowed to keep her Argentine and Austrian passports later on when she eventually becomes a Canadian citizen?
Sep 30th 2007, 5:54 am
#3
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Joined: Sep 2007
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Re: Which CIC Office to use?
Hi JAJ,
Thanks for the info.
Must admit I didn't think about the Vienna application only applying to the main applicant or the "out of jurisdiction" possibility. Will have to contact them and find out.
She's lived in the UK on and off since 2003, but going by what I've read about in other threads that it's not a problem keeping various passports. She certainly finds her Austrian one more useful in getting around Europe than her Argentine one!
Simon
Thanks for the info.
Must admit I didn't think about the Vienna application only applying to the main applicant or the "out of jurisdiction" possibility. Will have to contact them and find out.
She's lived in the UK on and off since 2003, but going by what I've read about in other threads that it's not a problem keeping various passports. She certainly finds her Austrian one more useful in getting around Europe than her Argentine one!
Simon
Sep 30th 2007, 6:12 am
#4
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 34,649
Re: Which CIC Office to use?
In any case, it's not clear what you are trying to find out. The information you need has already been given to you.
She's lived in the UK on and off since 2003, but going by what I've read about in other threads that it's not a problem keeping various passports. She certainly finds her Austrian one more useful in getting around Europe than her Argentine one!
Has she thought about whether she would want to become a British citizen before she leaves?
Sep 30th 2007, 6:59 am
#5
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Joined: Sep 2007
Location: London
Posts: 20
Re: Which CIC Office to use?
Good luck in "contacting them". It's usually impossible to do so.
In any case, it's not clear what you are trying to find out. The information you need has already been given to you.
She should be aware that she will lose her Austrian citizenship automatically upon becoming a Canadian citizen. The only way to avoid this is to get permission from the Austrian government in advance. I don't know how easy or hard this is to obtain (maybe harder if she has not many ties to Austria).
Has she thought about whether she would want to become a British citizen before she leaves?
In any case, it's not clear what you are trying to find out. The information you need has already been given to you.
She should be aware that she will lose her Austrian citizenship automatically upon becoming a Canadian citizen. The only way to avoid this is to get permission from the Austrian government in advance. I don't know how easy or hard this is to obtain (maybe harder if she has not many ties to Austria).
Has she thought about whether she would want to become a British citizen before she leaves?
We didn't realise that Austria doesn't recognise dual citizenship; and after reading about it seems it just depend on the country, even though they are all in the EU. Like you say, not being resident in Austria doesn't really help with any special permission case!
Guess if she were to lose the Austrian passport then having a British one would be worth getting, as it makes travelling in Europe a lot easier.
Thanks again for the help.
S&J
Sep 30th 2007, 11:05 am
#6
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Re: Which CIC Office to use?
Incidentally, you need to get used to the idea that if what you can see on the CIC site and these forums isn't good enough, you will need to find an experienced professional if you want "more information".
We didn't realise that Austria doesn't recognise dual citizenship; and after reading about it seems it just depend on the country, even though they are all in the EU. Like you say, not being resident in Austria doesn't really help with any special permission case!
Guess if she were to lose the Austrian passport then having a British one would be worth getting, as it makes travelling in Europe a lot easier.
Guess if she were to lose the Austrian passport then having a British one would be worth getting, as it makes travelling in Europe a lot easier.
However that does not mean that Austria will take the same view if she becomes naturalised Canadian later on.
She should investigate how easy it is to get this "permission", maybe by looking online for Austrian expatriate forums where it may already have been discussed. (the current Governor of California is one who managed to keep his Austrian citizenship when he became a U.S. citizen in 1983)
She could look at this in the context of getting British citizenship. If the Austrians say "no" then she might want to swap her Austrian passport for a British one. And if they agree, then she can take out British citizenship and repeat the process some years later when she looks to become a Canadian citizen.
As to what might happen to her Argentine citizenship : contact the Argentine Embassy and get advice in writing if this is important.
But is she eligible for British citizenship? When you say she has been living in the U.K. "on and off" since 2003, what exactly do you mean by this. And have you any plans to get married?
Sep 30th 2007, 5:00 pm
#7
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,533
Re: Which CIC Office to use?
Hi,
My partner and myself are curently looking at applying for a permanent visa through the Skilled Worker route, but we're unsure as to which CIC office to apply under.
My nationality is British, and I was looking at being the main applicant and going through the London office, but processing times are currently 30-41 months, which is a bit longer than we anticipated. My partner has moved from Argentina to the UK, but as well as an Argentinian passport she also has an Austrian one as this is where her family comes from - though she has never lived in Austria.
Processing times in the Vienna CIC office are much shorter (10-23 months), so we are thinking of applying through that route instead, as we both have similar point scores. We are a bit unsure as to whether we're allowed to, but her Austrian passport states that she is of Austrian nationality which fits into the immigrations requirements:
Applicants for Permanent Residence
"You must apply in your country of residence, your country of nationality or the country where you have been legally admitted for at least one year."
Anyone able to help us out on this?
Thanks,
Simon & Juliet
My partner and myself are curently looking at applying for a permanent visa through the Skilled Worker route, but we're unsure as to which CIC office to apply under.
My nationality is British, and I was looking at being the main applicant and going through the London office, but processing times are currently 30-41 months, which is a bit longer than we anticipated. My partner has moved from Argentina to the UK, but as well as an Argentinian passport she also has an Austrian one as this is where her family comes from - though she has never lived in Austria.
Processing times in the Vienna CIC office are much shorter (10-23 months), so we are thinking of applying through that route instead, as we both have similar point scores. We are a bit unsure as to whether we're allowed to, but her Austrian passport states that she is of Austrian nationality which fits into the immigrations requirements:
Applicants for Permanent Residence
"You must apply in your country of residence, your country of nationality or the country where you have been legally admitted for at least one year."
Anyone able to help us out on this?
Thanks,
Simon & Juliet
I think some are missing the main points here. From your initial question you say that you are the main applicant. In that case you will need to apply to London. In the case of your partner, I don't think Austria comes into it as she has never lived there, certainly not for over a year, which is stipulated by CIC. Depending on how long she has lived in Argentina, she may be able to apply there, or in London where she has been living for over the magic year. As your partner, she would also have to prove the relationship with you is bona fide....so best way all round is probably to get married....drastic I know.....and apply through you in the London Office.....and join the long queue like the rest of us
Someone will correct me if I am wrong, but that is my understanding of your post and the system.
Good Luck whatever you do decide to do.
Cheers
Stef and Lins
Sep 30th 2007, 11:39 pm
#8
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Joined: Aug 2006
Location: Sydney, Aus
Posts: 101
Re: Which CIC Office to use?
yes she can apply from vienna if shes austrian.
yes austrian citizenship is complicated and she will need to get permission from austria to keep her citizenship if she wants to be come canadian. if she applies for this, i must say its not easy as austria wants o know why it is in their interest to let you be citizen of another country so you have present some good arguments to be successful - theyre pretty strict about this ive been told.
yes austrian citizenship is complicated and she will need to get permission from austria to keep her citizenship if she wants to be come canadian. if she applies for this, i must say its not easy as austria wants o know why it is in their interest to let you be citizen of another country so you have present some good arguments to be successful - theyre pretty strict about this ive been told.
