My_question_is: Applicable to both US and Canada
Subject: Canadian and American Sponsorship
Expert: taxman at centa.com
Date: Friday October 27, 2006
Time: 12:52 AM -0400
QUESTION:
My boyfriend is American, and I am Canadian. Currently we are living in
Canada. We'd like to be able to both live and work in the same country, and
are planning to get married to help the process.
My question is, which country is it easier for one of us to immigrate to and
obtain permanent residency/green card?
We'd like to apply for whichever one is the fastest and most economical.
Is there an approximate timeline for how long it would take in each country?
Also, does it matter which country we're married in?
thank you
-------------------------
david ingram replies:
It is likely far easier and faster to sponsor your man than it is for him to
sponsor you to the US. If he intends to stay and work in Canada, he should
read the Oct 95 Newsletter in the top left hand box and the US/Canadian
Taxation section in the second box down on the right hand side at
www.centa.com. If he wants to take out Canadian citizenship, he should read
the Oct 1993 newsletter.
The following Q & A is not specific to you but does give the details of how
to sponsor your man as a common-law husband or as a spouse if you marry
officially.
---------------------------
Hi,
I was wondering if you could answer a few questions in regards to
immigrations. I was a student living in Vancouver until July. After July I
have come back and forth as a visitor, mainly to visit my girlfriend in
Langley. Meanwhile, I have been offered the opportunity to apply for a
working visa through a band in Canada who has a major label deal. However,
working through them would not allow me to make enough money to live in
Canada. Therefore, I was wondering how easy it would be to amend a
musicians visa to allow me to work another form of employment. Or, would it
be possible to live in Vancouver with my girlfriend and work in a town like
Bellingham since I have a car?
any information is greatly appreciated.
thank you,
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
david ingram replies:
I nearly threw this away because it went to a personal email which i do not
answer questions on.
However, I ran bands and got into this business bringing musicians and folk
singers into Canada in the 1960's to play in my Coffee house in Winnipeg
(called the Fourth dimension) and other clubs in Saskatoon, Regina and
Edmonton.
Entertainers like Neil Young, Burton Cummings and Joni Mitchell appeared at
our different venues as they were getting started.
Although I have not seen it, I am told that I got half a page in the book
New Young Nation.
----------------------------
Back to your question.
If you get a working visa for a band, IT IS ONLY GOOD FOR WORKING FOR THAT
BAND.
If you get the visa, you will be able to live in Canada with your lady and
commute to another job in Bellingham.
If you do not get the visa, your stay in Vancouver will be a little dicey
unless you decide to tie the knot in which case she can sponsor you into
Canada.
And, if, in fact you had been living together as a couple for a year in a
common-law relationship, she could sponsor you anyway.
If you decide to do that, the following gives you the forms necessary for
her to sponsor you to Canada.
You can start the process by going to:
1. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/guides/3910e.pdf
This is a guide for sponsoring a US citizen spouse into Canada.
Publication 3910E
2. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/forms/IMM1344EA.pdf
This is the application form to sponsor - form IMM-1344A
3. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/forms/IMM1344EB.pdf
This is the sponsorship agreement - Form IMM-1344B
4. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/forms/IMM5481E.PDF
This is the Sponsorship Evaluation Form IMM-5481
5. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/forms/IMM5409E.PDF
This is a statutory declaration of a common-law marriage - FORM IMM-5409
6. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/forms/IMM5540E.PDF
This is the Sponsor Questionnaire - Form IMM-5540
7. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/forms/IMM5540E.PDF
This is an authority to release information - FORM IMM-5540
8. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/forms/IMM5491E.PDF
This is a document Checklist - Form IMM-5491
9. http://www.canadapost.ca/tools/docp/CIC/bin/hpm-e.asp
This is where you order your official receipt
10. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/forms/imm0008egen.pdf
This is your actual Application for Permanent Residence - FORM IMM-0008GEN
11. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/forms/imm0008_1e.pdf
This is your Background Declaration - FORM IMM-008_1
12. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/forms/IMM5406E.PDF
This is your additional family information - FORM IMM-5406
13. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/forms/IMM5490E.PDF
This is your spouse or conjugal partner questionnaire -= FORM IMM-5490
14. The Above PLUS a police report from your local police station (See
the guide for details) applies to those being sponsored from the UNITED
STATES. There is a separate brochure for every country. If you are reading
this and are from any other country (Australia, Brunei, Austria, Venezuela,
etc) goto
14a http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/applications/fc.html for other country
guides.
15. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/skilled/assess/index.html
This is the self-assessment test for an individual to determine his or her
eligibility to immigrate to Canada without being sponsored by a spouse.
I know this will help you make your decision. If we can help you, remember,
that is what we do for a living. In particular you should goto
www.centa.com and click on and read US/Canada taxation BEFORE you come.
Be ALERT, the world needs more "lerts"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
David Ingram's US / Canada Services
US / Canada / Mexico tax, Immigration and working Visa Specialists
US / Canada Real Estate Specialists
My Home office is at:
4466 Prospect Road
North Vancouver, BC, CANADA, V7N 3L7
Cell (604) 657-8451 -
(604) 980-0321 Fax (604) 980-0325
Calls welcomed from 10 AM to 10 PM 7 days a week Vancouver (LA) time -
(please do not fax or phone outside of those hours as this is a home office)
email to taxman at centa.com
www.centa.com www.david-ingram.com
Disclaimer: This question has been answered without detailed information or
consultation and is to be regarded only as general comment. Nothing in
this message is or should be construed as advice in any particular
circumstances. No contract exists between the reader and the author and any
and all non-contractual duties are expressly denied. All readers should
obtain formal advice from a competent and appropriately qualified legal
practitioner or tax specialist for expert help, assistance, preparation, or
consultation in connection with personal or business affairs such as at
www.centa.com. If you forward this message, this disclaimer must be
included."
Be ALERT, the world needs more "lerts"
This from "ask an income tax and immigration expert" from www.centa.com or
www.jurock.com or www.featureweb.com. David Ingram deals on a daily basis
with expatriate tax returns with:
multi jurisdictional cross and trans border expatriate problems for the
United States, Canada, Mexico, Great Britain, United Kingdom, Kuwait, Dubai,
Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, China, New Zealand, France,
Germany, Spain, Italy, Russia, Georgia, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia,
Scotland, Ireland, Hawaii, Florida, Montana, Morocco, Israel, Iraq, Iran,
India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Mali, Bangkok, Greenland, Iceland, Cuba,
Bahamas, Bermuda, Barbados, St Vincent, Grenada,, Virgin Islands, US, UK,
GB, and any of the 43 states with state tax returns, etc. Rockwall, Dallas,
San Antonio Houston
Denmark, Finland, Sweden Norway Bulgaria Croatia Income Tax and Immigration
Tips, Income Tax Immigration Wizard Antarctica Rwanda Guru Consultant
Specialist Section 216(4) 216(1) NR6 NR-6 NR 6 Non-Resident Real Estate tax
specialist expert preparer expatriate anti money laundering money seasoning
FINTRAC E677 E667 105 106 TDF-90 Reporting $10,000 cross border transactions
Grand Cayman Aruba Zimbabwe South Africa Namibia help USA US
international non-resident cross border income tax help assistance expert
preparation & immigration consultant david ingram, experts on rentals mutual
funds RRSP RESP IRA 401(K) & divorce preparer preparers consultants
New York, Boston, Sacramento, Minneapolis, Salem, Wheeling, Philadelphia,
Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Pensacola, Miami, St Petersburg, Naples, Fort Myers,
Cape Coral, Orlando, Atlanta, Arlington, Washington, Hudson, Green Bay,
Minot, Portland, Seattle, St John, St John's, Fredericton, Quebec, Moncton,
Truro, Atlanta, Charleston, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego,
Sacramento, Taos, Grand Canyon, Reno, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Sun City, Tulsa,
Monteray, Carmel, Morgantown, Bemidji, Sandpointe, Pocatello, Bellingham,
Custer, Grand Forks, Lead, Rapid City, Mitchell, Kansas City, Lawrence,
Houston, Albany, Framingham, Cambridge, London, Paris, Prince George, Prince
Rupert, Whitehorse, Anchorage, Fairbanks, Frankfurt, The Hague, Lisbon,
Madrid, Atlanta, Myrtle Beach, Key West, Cape Coral, Fort Meyers, Berlin,
Hamburg
Warsaw, Auckland, Wellington, Honolulu, Maui, Kuwait, Molokai, Beijing,
Shanghai, Tokyo, Manilla, Kent, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Regina, Red Deer, Olds,
Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, Moose Jaw, Brandon, Portage La Prairie, Davidson,
Craik, Edmonton, Calgary, Victoria, Vancouver, Burnaby, Surrey, Edinburgh,
Dublin, Belfast, Glasgow, Copenhagen, Oslo, Munich, Sydney, Nanaimo,
Brisbane, Melbourne, Darwin, Perth, Athens, Rome, Berne, Zurich, Kyoto,
Nanking, Rio De Janeiro, Brasilia, Colombo, Buenos Aries, Squamish,
Churchill, Lima, Santiago, Abbotsford, Cologne, Yorkshire, Hope, Penticton,
Kelowna, Vernon, Fort MacLeod, Deer Lodge, Springfield, St Louis, Centralia,
Bradford, Stratford on Avon, Niagara Falls, Atlin, Fort Nelson, Fort St
James, Red Deer, Drumheller, Fortune, Red Bank, Marystown, Cape Spears,
Truro, Charlottetown, Summerside, Niagara Falls, Albany Zimbabwe
David Ingram expert income tax help and preparation of US Canada Mexico
non-resident and cross border returns with rental dividend wages
self-employed and royalty foreign tax credits
Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona,
California, Colorado, Connecticut,
Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida,
Garland, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois,
Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky,
Louisiana, Maine, Maryland,
Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota,
Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska,
Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey,
New Mexico, New York, North Carolina,
North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon.
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Rockwall,
South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee,
Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia,
West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming,
British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan,
Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec City,
New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island,
Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Yukon and
Northwest and Nunavit Territories,
Mount Vernon, Eumenclaw, Coos Bay
and Dallas Houston Rockwall Garland
Texas Taxman and Tax Guru and wizzard
wizard - consultant - expert - advisor -advisors consultants - gurus - Paris
Prague Moscow Berlin
Lima Rio de Janeiro, Santaigo Zimbabwe
David Ingram gives expert income tax & immigration help to non-resident
Americans & Canadians from New York to California to Saudi Arabia to Mexico
to China or Chile - Cross border, dual citizen - out of country investments
are all handled with competence & authority.
What's Related