Hello to all friends and members, I wanted to share my experiences with all of you regarding the Canadian Immigration Process. I hope that some of this information will help some of you, and perhaps answer a few of your questions
Please note that I am in Quebec and some of the Immigration documents and/or information may be slightly different for the other provinces and territories.
I decided to hire Immigration lawyers to help me with my application, simply because I wanted to make sure everything was properly done and that there would be not mistakes in my immigration application, which could cause many delays and problems if there ever where any. It is not necessary to hire immigration lawyers, and contrary to belief it will not help your application with Immigration go quicker, on the Immigration Canada website will even tell you this. I hired the lawyers back in November of 2008, at a price of $3000.00 CND. They sent me and my wife all the required documents via e-mail for us to complete, then they reviewed the completed documents to make sure everything is in order and properly done.( they sent all documents to my e-mail, the documents were separated in two sections, my form's to be completed and my wife's forms) I then forward my wife's documents for her to complete. These documents can be downloaded from the Canadian Immigration website. Note: If your wife can not read or write English, then she will have to find someone that can help her with the forms and translate the information that they ask from her.
I was told by the lawyers that each case is a little different, on average according to there many years of experience dealing with Immigration that it will take approximately 4 to 10 months before my wife will receive her visa to stay in Canada. However it is most likely to be around the 9-10 month period in my case.
Please keep in mind that Immigration will look at many factors regarding your relationship with you lady/wife, the length of time you known each other,how long you have been corresponding with each other?, if you met in person? how many times? Did your family and friends know about your relationship? does she have any criminal records? and the questions go on and on. This is normal, they have to make sure your relationship is a real one, and that your marriage is not some sort of arrangement or deal you have made (false marriage to allow her to enter the country). This is very understandable.
You have to prove that your relationship is true and that you really are in love with each other. So it is VERY important that you keep EVERYTHING regarding your relationship, here are some examples; If you went to China, KEEP ALL RECEIPTS !! used airline tickets (stubs) and intinuary, Hotel receipts,restaurant receipts,keep all correspondence letters, e-mails,phone bills,get signed letters from your family and her family and friends that knew of your relationship since the beginning when it started,pictures,pictures,pictures of you and your wife together and with the family and friends that you met when in China,keep notes on the date you met each person ( they will ask you this on one of the forms), receipts of all gifts you bought your wife(including wedding ring), write the name of all the places you have visited in China with your lady/wife, other cities/provinces, this includes tourist attractions,restaurants,etc,,Send a scanned copy of your China visa with the red stamps as additional proof you went to China. Scanned image of your lady/wife ID Card, front and back of card,Basically keep record of everything you did together. They ask many questions on the documents, and supporting documents/proof will be asked. The more information you can give them, the better. Everything that I have mentioned here, immigration have asked from me.
My wife had some documents notarized as well, marriage certificate authentication, non criminal certificate,next of ken(who are her parents,brother, where she was born),and a few others. Some of this may not be necessary, however we wanted to give as much information as possible. A "non criminal" certificate is required! Usually this is obtained by the local town police station where your lady/wife lives.
Your wife will have to take a medical exam, she must go to the specific doctor appointed by immigration, they will tell you what doctor she will have to visit with at the appropriate time. The doctor will complete a form that she must return to Canada (to you)to be sent along with the immigration application,(must be the original, no photo copies or scanned images)
In many cases there will be an interview to attend, ( we have not yet done this, so I can not comment on this issue at the moment.)
It sounds more complicated then it actually is, be honest and truthful, give much details about your relationship, supply them with as much information and proof of your relationship as possible! and everything should be fine.
I know from experience and I know many of you are also feeling this, "The waiting is really difficult", we must be patient and think of the day when we will reunite with our lady/wife. Hang in there, our lady/wife is well worth it.
