Regular readers and visitors to my various social media accounts (these days I’m primarily on Insta) know that my husband and I are working to move to Canada. As I’m a Canadian (actually, dual) citizen I can sponsor his application for Permanent Resident status up north.
He doesn’t automatically get Residency just because we’re legally married.
While every situation is unique I do think our story could be of value to people who seem to believe they can just arrive at a Canadian border crossing and claim asylum based on the current US constitutional crisis. The Canadian requirements for an Asylum claim require strong evidence of direct threat; the real dangers LGBT/Queer folk face living in some parts of the US are generally not enough. To say nothing of the blowback if Canada offered asylum to a US citizen.
Nor will being legally married to a Canadian guarantee you quick entry (or even entry at all). You must be sponsored, just as with my husband.
In our situation I do have a loving, supportive network of family & friends to attest to our long-standing relationship, long before our legal marriage ceremony. Decades in fact. I’m not an expert on the algorithm behind accepting/ rejecting applications but I’m told that is a very important aspect.
Written letters (yes, signed postal letters not just emails) along with photographic evidence of our presenting ourselves (and being received) as a ‘real couple’ for some time are important.
The next step is to verify each of our identities, and substantiate his ‘good moral character’ worthy of being permitted to live and thrive in the Great North. That requires pages and pages of detailed history– schooling, jobs, past serious relationships, the applicant’s biological family, etc.
Beyond all that are the official documents required- Passport, photograph, medical examination, police report, fingerprints.
Although not mandatory, use of a trained expert (an RCIC Registered Canadian Immigration Consultant) is worth the extra fees compared to the cost of fouling up the application.
Oh yes, the fees. The Canadian government has some, and then the RCIC has theirs. But of course few things in life are truly all-inclusive.
We have to have a new photograph of Husband, that meets the Canadian passport specs (not the same as the US).
The required “ORIGINAL Police Certificates for country of nationality and all countries where you have lived for more than 6 consecutive months since turning 18 years of age” for Husband is the FBI ‘rap sheet’, available for US$18. Fingerprinting to acquire that report are available at selected Post Offices, for US$50 they’re done electronically.
This is in addition to the set he got done for the Canadian government- that’s included in the fees already paid.
Although his current US Passport Card is valid for entry into Canada when we drive up, he had to get the more-expensive US Passport Book for his PR Application. Additional fees and a new passport photo.
The required physical exam wasn’t exhaustive but the closest registered physician was far enough away that it was an overnight trip. Plus blood work and a chest x-ray- his insurance covered most of the lab fee- not the Doctor’s fee. At least Husband’s working in the Hospitality Industry gets us a break on hotel stays.
As you can see here, (click to enlarge) we’re just over US$4k for immigration paperwork. Then there’s the cost to actually move our household. Some very initial figures are included- we will sell off/give away plenty of things that don’t make sense to pay to ship. But we won’t be in a position to buy very much when we arrive; first because we may be living with each of my loving family members for as long as they can stand it. And then we’ll rent a place and sign up for utilities without any recent Canadian credit history. I moved down to the USA in 1996.
And in the spirit of full disclosure (if not TMI) we did ‘splurge’ and held our wedding off-site from City Hall. We incurred minimal expenses with both the Reception and Photography donated by family and friends. No pre-parties or rehearsal dinner. And perhaps a honeymoon (in Newfoundland?) at some future anniversary.
This is not primarily a request for financial assistance (although visit Supporting Me if you’re so inclined) as it is making clear the process of moving to another country (even one with adjacent border) is neither quick nor easy.
