On Mon, 12 Jan 2004 02:57:36 +0000, Matthew Powell
wrote:
>> My wife is the Canadian citizen so I'm assuming she's going to have no
>> problems as she will be travelling on a Canadian passport.
>
>That's right. If she's not already a British citizen, it might be worth
>your while applying for that before you leave. In my wife's case it
>only took a week and a half (!) and will greatly simplify her reentry to
>the UK should we ever decide to move back.
That's a good idea and one we hadn't really considered. We've
discussed it and reckon that it's worth doing so thanks for that one.
She finally got her new Canadian passport this morning (old one ran
out and London took 3 months to send a new one) so we'll grab the
forms from the IND website and send that off ASAP.
>In addition to the usual proof of relationship documents, the forms will
>ask her to show that she intends to resume residence in Canada. Little
>guidance is given on this point. My wife included a letter declaring
>her intent to resettle in Canada. She's maintained her Ontario driver's
Indeed they do. Again, thanks for that pointer.
>licence and bank accounts in Canada, and we have a joint savings account
>with a Canadian bank. We provided details of these.
We've got a savings account over there too (just in her name).
>They'll also ask her intended date of return to Canada. So far as I can
>see, this is something of a fiction: most couples will want to move
>together, so you'll both be travelling once the visa is issued.
Yep. Kinda thought this would be a 'best guess' question.
>Fortunately, I don't think you're held to the date stated. In our case,
>my wife already had a ticket booked some months hence, so we provided
>that date and a copy of the ticket as proof.
We'll be waiting to buy our tix until we know what's happening. Don't
think we're going to even list the house with an agent until we're
sure we're going.
>Here's our timeline. Past performance may not be a guide to the future,
>and every case is unique, but it may give you an idea. It's not wildly
>different from other timelines reported to the NG.
Very useful (and funny) - thanks for that.
>Your goal of moving in the late summer is probably achievable (provided
>that processing times are similar), but you'll need to apply for the
>police letter *now*. The law allows 40 days for a response, but in my
>case they took a little longer. Fill the CIC forms out and take the
>medical while you're waiting for the letter, and send everything off the
>day it arrives.
Prosecution / Conviction history applied for. Medical I'll phone for
sometime in Feb / March I think. Late summer is still the goal but
I've ensured that my wife is resigned to the fact that if the timeline
doesn't happen then it'll be next year! ;)
Reason for moving is my inability to find a decent job in the UK, I'm
an experienced Provisioning Manager who used to have a multiple
million UKP budget and I can't even get an interview anywhere after
being made redundant. :-/ Both of us feel the UK has let us down in
this regard and I get the impression that small businesses are
actively encouraged in Canada and I've always wanted to have my own
business...
>As a sponsored spouse you will be exempt from the 'excessive demand'
>requirements, so that shouldn't be a problem.
That's good news.
>If you're comfortable filling everything out and your case is
>uncomplicated (no criminal convictions, for example), there's probably
>no need to hire anyone. If you find the process daunting and have the
>money, pay for a consultant. They won't be able to speed things up, but
>they may be able to help you avoid some sources of delay.
Only conviction was about 8 years ago... 3 point + 60 quid fine CD10
(driving without due care and attention) which was a bloody fit-up but
that's another story... I'm assuming that this won't have an impact on
anything if it does get declared by the police on the history letter?
Garry |