Canadian Immigration

[Nelson Grisales]

Does anyone know how the process for fiance visa or spousal visa work for Canadians? Is it similar to the US in terms of time and procedure?
Thanks.

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Nelson Grisales
nelson@latinintro.com
LatinIntro.com

[cdrab]

... in response to Canadian Immigration, posted by Nelson Grisales on Dec 26, 2002

I have had first hand experience and here is how it works.
First the man has to get an application form off the internet and after meeting the requirements, he sends it off to immigration in Canada with the non refundable 575.00 processing fee. This will take three months to get the approval letter back and the application for your spouse/fiancee.
The next step is to have your fiancee or wife fill out the appropriate forms and send them to the Canadian embassy in Bogota. It doesn't matter if you are married or have a fiancee it still takes another 6-9 months. There is also a 975.00 landing fee that has to be paid when the visa is approved. This time can be be shortened but not by very much. There is also a good lawyer in Cali who double checked my fiancees paper work and helped her obtain the proper papers with notorized translations.This I highly recommend because if something isn't right it will just add more time to the process. Also check out   http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/bogota/menu-e.htm and follow the links for family class.
If you have some specific questions let me know.

Clint

[Nelson Grisales]

... in response to Re: Canadian Immigration, posted by cdrab on Dec 27, 2002

Thanks Clint... so the process will take about 12 months? It seems it would be better if the interested lady would be better off if she would apply for a tourist visa instead.

[cdrab]

... in response to Re: Re: Canadian Immigration, posted by Nelson Grisales on Dec 28, 2002

Hi Nelson
 I tried the tourist visa route with my first novia in Cali but unless they have money, property and/or a job you can forget it. I even sent a letter stating I would take full responsbility for her and that still didn't matter, She was even going to leave her son in Cali and they said that that still wasn't enough incentive for her to returnto Colombia. Only and best way is Fiancee or spousal visa, if you had everything lined up you would probably have it done in 9 months. besides 9 months gives you enough time to get your act in gear anyway.
Clint

[Canadian]

... in response to Re: Canadian Immigration, posted by cdrab on Dec 27, 2002

Just trying to clarify things. The dollars you refer to, are they Canadian dollars or American dollars? The reason I ask is when I was dealing with the Canadian embassy in Russia, they would NOT take Canadian dollars, only American dollars. I was shocked at this, but hey, that's the way things are.

[cdrab]

... in response to Re: Re: Canadian Immigration, posted by Canadian on Dec 27, 2002

Canadian Dollars and they are paid to immigration in mississauga, ont. When paying the application fee  at the same time it is good to pay for the landing fee as this will prevent further delays if the visa is approved, if the visa is denied they will return the landing fee but not the application fee.
Clint