Canadian Marrying American - in Canada

Hello;

Hoping someone can help...

We have a very straight-forward case.

- I am CAN citizen
- She's US citizen
- met in 2002, and she's been back and forth US/CAN for past 7 years
- now we want to legalize her as PERM RESIDENT in CAN
- I have been and can support her during the entire process

We are thinking of using a lawyer to get it done right and quickly - does anyone know of a GREAT lawyer in Toronto?

And from experience, how long does it take, and what's the typical process (via. common law, fiance, or marriage)?

Thank you in advance!

http://www.roadtocanada.com/ have a look at that site before you decide on a lawyer, as it may not be required. Save your $$$$

thank you Flames 9...will read, but also want to do it right, in case we don't know the latest rules/regs and can lead to bigger issues...heard some horror stories

I'm just the opposite--I married a USA citizen and moved to the USA.

We used a lawyer, what a waste of $$$$$$$!! Ours charged us $2500 usd plus the cost of filing. All she did was send us the forms (which one can download for free from the gov't site) We had to fill them out and mail back to her. So what you are paying for is a pricey proof reader. For people coming to the USA, the best internet site going is visajourney.com I'm not sure how good roadtocanada.com is, but if it is half as good as VJ, your in good hands!! Give it a read, ask some questions before you decide on a lawyer. As well many lawyers do give like a free 15 min consult. On VJ i have heard MANY lawyer horror stories as well. No one cares as much as ur case as YOU do! So even if one does go with a lawyer, educate urself about the process, so you don't get dooped!!!

great point Flames9! congrats on your move to the US, I am planning to head south in a few years as well...just bought a home in Tampa, and plan to retire/work there...but for now Toronto is a viable solution.

thanks again Flames9!

A lawyer can actually slow your process down, and unless your future spouse has a criminal record that will require extra paperwork to be done, you don't need a lawyer. The paperwork is fairly straightforward.

File "out-land", it's the quickest route, less than one year currently. "In-land" applications can take up to 2 years.

See the site posted by flames earlier, there is lots of Canadian immigration knowledge there. This site here is primarily for travelling Canadians in other countries, not about Canadian immigration.

thanks Reba!

And from experience, how long does it take, and what's the typical process (via. common law, fiance, or marriage)?

Thank you in advance!

Canada doesn't have a fiancée visa, so it's marriage-based. Common law usually means you've lived together for at least a year.

Once you're married it's relatively straightforward although somewhat long-winded, rather than recite it, read: http://www.cic.gc.ca/English/immigrate/ ... spouse.asp

thanks so much Steven!