| Read it late: Kickstart & Immigration Scariness |
by deadweasle |
2002-07-22 12:35:24 |
That $1500 is just the tip of the iceberg if you don't complete all the paperwork before the marriage. Our wonderful government will attempt to wrest every last penny you have from you during the process if you opt to apply from within Canada. I married a US citizen last Aug. and due to some complications we were forced to apply after the wedding and thus far we have paid:
$550 - in application processing fees
$75 - every 3 months to extend her stay in Canada while we wait for the application to be approved
$150 - for the application for a work Auth. once we received word that we had passed the first stage of the process.
I can't remember how much the medical exam cost us and we are still having the fun of her not being allowed to legally work in Canada because her skillset doesn't fall under Free Trade. We were allowed to apply for a work Auth. after we received word about passing the first stage of the process (6 months after the initial application) and the work Auth. can take up 50 days to be processed. During all this time she has been completely reliant on my paychecks and having to pay for health insurance since Canadian health care doesn't cover your spouse until I believe 3 months after you receive the notification about passing the first stage.
Oh and don't forget to toss in $18 US for a FBI background check which you'll need for the application. Then once you've passed everything you have to hand over that $975 for the landing fee. I'm sure I'm forgetting some of the other costs involved but if I'd known how much head-ache this would have caused us - I'd have just postponed the wedding a year while we did all this from outside of Canada, of course then you are under an even nastier set of criteria for sponsorship.
In short, immigrating to Canada is pretty much evil incarnate unless you qualify as a refugee.
-DW |
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[ Reply ] |
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Gosh. | by nin_man | 2002-07-22 12:40:03 |
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Actually I heard going to the US is easier | by Arienadean | 2002-07-22 12:50:55 |
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They outlawed duel citizenship here | by Naruki | 2002-07-22 14:09:13 |
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Though if you are a child born to | by Arienadean | 2002-07-22 16:58:03 |
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Breaking news! You're a mean S/DOB, Naruki! | by adiplomat | 2002-07-22 21:16:18 |
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Lost a :+) there! (n/t) | by adiplomat | 2002-07-22 21:17:02 |
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An easy way to do it is to help nin_man | by Naruki | 2002-07-22 20:24:46 |
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Yes I heard the married bringing spouse in | by Arienadean | 2002-07-22 12:46:50 |
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Ughh... | by Kickstart | 2002-07-22 12:52:39 |
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Ditto (n/t) | by DaNutBall | 2002-07-22 19:37:42 |
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Wow you got off cheap so far (longish) | by justncase | 2002-07-22 13:01:29 |
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Under same topic line | by Arienadean | 2006-11-19 12:55:59 |
