Originally Posted by luda209

Hi,

Yes, after all the trouble to get PR it would be silly right now to throw it all away.

Originally Posted by luda209

We applied for an inland common-law application in late April. We heard nothing at all until late July when I received a request for an interview at the local CIC office in the first week of August. The application had been transferred there because of a couple of things wrong with the application itself. Apparantly I missed a couple of dates that didn`t match and a few minor queries.

Unfortunately we were away at the time and missed the interview. In a panic we sent an urgent letter to the senior officer at the local CIC office. Two weeks later another letter arrived. I figured I was in trouble for not attending the interview, but no they accepted the situation and arranged another interview, which was a few days ago.

Upon arriving, I was very nervous and never sweated so much. He asked a few questions about our relationship, corrected the problems on the form. He then informed me the CSIS check had still not been completed and the medicals had still not arrived. I started panicking thinking the worst and I was to be led to the gallows!

To my shock, he closed the folder with all my papers in and informed me the relationship seems genuine and thought I would make an excellent permanent resident. Well at that point my jaw almost hit the floor. If the CSIS and medicals were complete I would have been granted PR, however while they await those clearances, he granted me an AIP so that I can work.

I asked about the work permit and how long that would take. To my shock, he said five minutes. They can do them at the local office. Sadly, I didn`t have the money to pay for it at the time! He gave me his phone number to call when I have the money, and he will arrange a time to call by at the office apply, pay and receive the permit. Yes, I was thrilled!!!! My partner gets paid tomorrow, so guess what I`ll be doing!

So, it`s taken 5 months to get an AIP, however if the CSIS and medicals were completed, I would have received PR. I can only assume the rest is a formality. I know I`m in good health and also have a good background. Just have to wait for the PR completion, but at least I can now work.

Originally Posted by annabella

So pleased for you. That was a very positive experience. Out of interest where were you interviewed?
All the best.

Originally Posted by luda209

Moncton, NB.

I wasn`t aware that local offices could create work permits on the spot, I assumed they had to be sent off to Vegreville, then a long wait.

Well, fees have been paid today. Unfortunately my IO is away today for some meeting so I put the forms and fees receipt in an envelope and popped it through the mail slot at the door. Hopefully I`ll have my permit next week

Maple Leaf, sorry yes I did mention about returning to the UK however the post in question was more hypothetical, don`t take any notice. I tend to go on sometimes!!!

I should add that the ecas service was a complete waste of time. It has never recognized my client number and details, even now I have AIP it still doesn`t recognize me!!!

Originally Posted by Maple Leaf

haa so do i !!!..i am forever searching at and looking at ways to get us back to australia.....however......i presume you do realise if you are a spouse visa holder..and you leave the country with your spouse..that counts as days IN canada...towards maintaining your PR status!!!..isnt' that fantastic..

Originally Posted by luda209

Does it? So if after receiving my PR we spent (for example) a year in the UK, that would be counted as time spent in Canada?
Hmmm, I never knew that, I just assumed time spent elsewhere was a bad thing for maintaining my PR status.

Originally Posted by Maple Leaf

yes indeed it does..you have to be with your spouse tho.....and i would keep air tickets etc..to prove you were together....and other documents etc...keep a diary perhaps..?? so aren't we the lucky ones!!! i found this that one of the helpful immigrant consultants had posted on another thread..( click here -->

DIVISION 3: ENTERING AND REMAINING IN CANADA
Rights and Obligations of Permanent and Temporary Residents

..i would suggest to read over it ..and before leaving Canada if you decided to..to follow up some things about it........

1. do you have to be back in Canada for renewal of the PR card in 5 years time..?? i am sure i read somewhere that you need to be physicaly in Canada to renew the card..however dont take that one as gospel.

also...your days in Canada BEFORE you got your PR card at Landing.....is counted towards citizenship days by half..so for instance if you were here for say ummm...12 mths waiting...you get 6 mths credit towards your citizenship days if you so desire to take citizenship when the time comes up. now when those days start counting from i am not exactly sure..>>???

when you go for you LANDING, the immigration person from CIC should explain all that to you...as when i went for mine..that is what she told me...i didnt' know anything about it before hand..........

Originally Posted by luda209

Interesting, thanks for the info.

The IO told me the next time I would be seeing him would be for the landing, obviously so long as the CSIS and medicals are ok.

Originally Posted by Maple Leaf

just something to be aware of....where ever you do your medical..IF they ( CIC) want further information...you have to return to that same dr.

now for most of us in spouse catefory that is a tad unlikely...as we are medical exempt...however....for instance..in my circumstances i had cancer and other health conditions prior. ....there was a chance that CIC may have required fruther information....a slim chance....~..and it didnt' happen!!......according to the Dr i had in Canada..he said it was realy helpful that i had...a letter from my specialist in Australia..outlining my cancer type, treatments and follow ups etc...

it is just something to be aware of as i say...unlikely ..but you just never know.

Originally Posted by Kittykerr

sorry if i sound dumb. but does that mean spouses dont need a medical when being sponsered for PR?

Originally Posted by Maple Leaf

hello~

yes the spouse does need to have a medical.....( not the sponsor)......even tho we cannot be classified as inadmissable by the medical ...we still have to have one in case.....we have a contagious disease..which can be a threat to the public health of Canada.

Originally Posted by Pog

Hi and first of all. let me say thanks to all who replied, you have given me a lot of hope that I will be able to understand the ins and outs of this process lol!
Ok..I'm 47, he's 45, we've been an online couple for over 2 years and I've been to BC to visit a few times in the last year.
I'm in the middle of a divorce in N.Ireland, have the decree nisi and will probably have to go back soon to organise the decree absolute part..obviously we can't get married until that's over and done with so my questions are really...
do we apply as ..inland or overseas? common law or conjugal partners? will they want proof of how long we've been together and if so, what kind?
and how long can I stay here without a permit/visa? I've been here now since mid May......So many questions, so little brain!!!

Originally Posted by Maple Leaf

hi Pog.....

once you are married..you apply as a SPOUSE........and congrats on your upcoming marraige...

you can view the forms online...and i would suggest to do so..as realy that tells you what you need to do and what you need to have as in showing your relationship etc.

there is a number of ways you can go about applying for your spouse visa. it could be inland...or you could be out of Canada and apply from overseas...or as quite a few are posting on here they are in Canada and applying as an OUTLAND applicant.

i would suggest to do some research..well lots of it actualy and see which route is best for you. We are lucky that we have choices.

i did the INLAND route as it was the right one and the best one for us.

also you could start gathering some info towards your application....dates you met etc.....online and in person.....trips you have made to canada and vice versa.....we included copies of our plane tickets, photos of us both together on holidays....and wedding photos. we also included a couple of emails we had sent to each other and i think i included old phone cards aswell used for ringing overseas.

we didnt' have the big hoo haa wedding either..we had my husbands 2 children and one friend there..and that was it!...we went out for lunch afterwards, and it was a lovely day.

the main thing CIC want to be sure of is that you are in a genuine relationship.