Visiting fiance while papers being processed

[vangirl]

Does anyone know if it is ok for me to visit my fiance while our papers are being processed? The reason why I ask is because I bought my ticket 6 months in advance and found out that our papers have been approved. However, I don't know if I'll be able to get everything organized before the plane trip.

[Reba]

Can't get what organized before your trip?

yes, it is perfectly legal for you to visit while you have petitions processing, as long as you can show that you do not have immigrant intent on that particular trip.

Take along a photocopy of your approved petition, to show that you are going about things the legal way. Take a letter from your employer stating that you are on approved vacation leave, and are expected back on XX date. Anything to show that you have obligations in Canada that you will not likely abandon.

If you have a receipt from when you first purchased your tickets, have that with you as well.

You may not be asked to show any of this stuff, but it's good to have it with you just in case they're thinking of denying your entry based on immigrant intent.

[vangirl]

Thanks for the tips, Reba. I really appreciate it. My fiance and I recently had our Petition papers approved and I'm in the process of gathering documents for my medical exam and interview. I'm not sure if I'll be able to have everything completed before April. We have been working on our paper work for a few years, so I was pleaseantly surprised when I found out that they were approved. (We did try applying before and our application was incomplete so we had to look through everything again and it took a while to do this).

[Reba]

Shouldn't take too long to gather up your interview paperwork. It only took me a couple of weeks, other than my long form birth certificate. For that I had to call my MPPs office and have them light a fire under the registrar's butt to get it done. Ontario government is slow at everything

Where in Canada do you live? If your interview will be scheduled in Montreal, you've got quite a wait anyway. That consulate is always backed up, and slow in scheduling interviews. Vancouver is a bit faster.

[vangirl]

I'm in Vancouver. I have most of my paperwork done. I just have to get a couple of police certificates. I have my birth certificate (the paper version). I requested that a while ago so it's sitting at home in a shoebox. You don't happen to know if I need my fiance's birth record as well? I have heard of some people needing it for their interview at the consulate, but it seems rather odd to me. How long did it take for you to get your interview set up with the consulate after you submitted your checklist?

[Reba]

If it says on the checklist that you need his birthcertificate, he'll have to send it to you. Vancouver and Montreal requirements on the checklist were/are different so I don't know anymore.

Its been several years since I've been thru the process, and some of it has changed. Vancouver is still quicker than Montreal at scheduling interviews though, but you'd have to check timelines at Visa Journey to get a general idea of how long it'll take before your interview. Personally, it didn't take long at all for them to schedule mine, but that was 4 1/2 years ago, so my experience is a bit outdated I'm afraid.