Sponsoring your spouse living in Pakistan to immigrate to Canada

Sponsoring your spouse living in Pakistan to immigrate to Canada

(Canada )

Hello,

I am a Canadian citizen and married my husband who lives in Pakistan in June 2009.

In march of 2010 I applied for his immigration and in July 2010 I received a letter saying that the file has been cleared and has been sent to Pakistan. However since then I have heard no news. I don't understand why it is taking so long.

I have heard rumors that the immigration office that was in Pakistan has now been relocated to London, England. Is this true? and if so is that why it is taking longer?

Also is there anybody who I can contact to find out how far along my file is in the process?

Thanks

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Sponsoring your spouse living in Pakistan to immigrate to Canada

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Sponsoring your spouse living in Pakistan to immigrate to Canada
by: Sharon - Expats Guide

Hello

Thanks for your inquiry (please note that I am not an immigration officer).

According to The Canadian High Commission in Pakistan as of April 2010 only applicants under the Economic Class (Federal and Quebec Skilled Worker, Entrepreneur, Self Employed, Investor, and Provincial Nominee) will be processed in London, United Kingdom.

Sponsoring a spouse to immigrate to Canada is divided into two parts:

If you are a citizen or permanent resident of Canada, you must apply to sponsor them.

Your spouse must also apply for permanent residence.

The applications for both sponsorship and permanent residence should be filled out and sent at the same time. There are two steps to process the application forms:

The sponsorship application is processed by the Case Processing Centre (CPC) in Mississauga, Ontario (for family members living outside Canada).

If you are approved as a sponsor, the permanent residence application is sent to the appropriate Canadian visa office.

To find out what is the total approximate time it may take for your application to be processed, you should calculate the time it takes to assess you as a sponsor (from inside Canada) plus the time it takes to assess your spouse?s application in Pakistan.

According to Canada Citizenship and immigration assessment of a sponsor in Canada takes around 37 days and the assessment of the person being sponsored depends on where he submitted the application. For Pakistan the processing time is around 16 months

You can find the statistics in here.

Another thing you can do is check the status of yours and your spouse?s application online in here.

Please note that according to the Canadian High Commission Service the processing times for the services delivered at a visa office generally depend on three factors - the volume of applications, their complexity and the amount of resources (staff) available to the visa office

Best of Luck
Sharon

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new visa policy
by: Anonymous

hi
i just wanted to know about the new immigration policy for sponsoring a spouse from pakistan...somebody told me that from april 2011 the visa policy has been changed in a way that the processing time is now increased from 9 months to 22 months? i need a little guidance in this regard...looking forward for your response...

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New Canadian Sponsorship Visa Policy
by: Sharon - Expats Guide

Thanks for your inquiry (please note that I am not an immigration officer)

I can only reffer you to the processing times for sponsorship of spouses processed by visa offices outside Canada which is published by CIC Canada.

According to their statistics that were published on June 2011 it takes 42 days to assess the sponsor + 23 months to assess the spplicant who is coming from Pakistan.

Sharon

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Online Status
by: Anonymous

Hi Sharon,

I have applied for my husband's sponsorship in February 2011, received a letter of acknowledgement in March 2011 and now since then under my husband's PR section, it says application received in March 2011.

Its been 3.5 months and i still dont see Application IN PROCESS.

THis is my main concern here. Does it take that long for them to begin the process? or Is it true that they dont have time to update the online status frequently?

Please advise...
Thanks

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No Record of Canadian Visa Application on CAS
by: Sharon - Expats Guide

Dear Madam

Thanks for your inquiry (please note that I am not an immigration officer)

According to Canada Citizenship and Immigration - "Until the visa office or case processing centre to which you submitted your application for immigration or citizenship has begun processing your application, your application status will not be available through CAS.

It is not necessary to contact the Call Centre - or, in the case of applications submitted outside Canada, the Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate overseas - regarding the status of any in-Canada applications unless the specified time period for the specific type of application has passed".

Best of Luck
Sharon

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Processing Time for Canadian Family Sponsorship Visa Application
by: Anonymous

Hi sharon,

I am in the same boat as other guys and have sponsored my husband who lives in pakistan.

I am a canadian citizen and would want to inquire if the processing time of 23 months is maximum or minimum time?

Does it take at least 23 months or maximum 23 months??

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Processing Time for Canadian Family Sponsorship Visa Application
by: Sharon - Expats Guide

Hi

Thanks for your inquiry (please note that I am not an immigration officer)

According to CIC the processing time which is published is an approximate time.

Best of Luck
Sharon

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