Canadian Visitor Visa for my wife... what are the chances?

[d672]

 As many of you here know, my wife and I are currently waiting  for her immigration approval to go through so she can finally move here to Canada with me. Here in Canada we get married in her country first then apply for a spousal visa for her to come here. The way it looks the earliest she'll be here will be sometime around the end of the year.

 We were talking today on skype about how it still seems like a long time before this would happen and were planning when I would be coming to Ukraine next to see her. I then brought up the possibility of her getting a visitor visa to at least be able to come here for a month or two before the immigration was finalized, but from what I understood this was almost impossible to get.

 But I called Canada Immigration today to see what they had to say about this. The lady I was talking to told me that I actually would have a great chance of getting my wife a visitors visa while her immigration application was still waiting for approval if I sent a letter of invitation in with her application for the visitor visa. This really surprised me after all I've heard about how hard it was for FSU women to get a visitor visa for Canada. You would think that a wife waiting for her immigration application to finalize would be more of a threat to stay in country than an unmarried lady.

 So... have any of you Canucks out there had any experience with this? What are the chances that she would actually be approved for the visitor visa if we apply for one before her spousal visa is approved?

 I don't really want to get our hopes up about it but man it would be great if she could at least come here for a visit before the end of the year! I'm planning on going there in July but we are thinking that if she can get this visitor visa maybe it would work out that she can come home with me and stay for a month or two... this waiting and only seeing each other on skype and being together for a few days every 3-4 months  is really getting frustrating!          
 

[WestCoast]

Can't really tell you what the odds are that your wife will get a visitor's visa but what I can say is go ahead and send the application.  After all we all know that your wife is going to be approved for a spousal visa. It may take some time to get approved, it may be a frustrating wait but in the end it will be approved there's little doubt. 

So why not try for a visitor's visa to help pass the time, it's not going to hurt her chances of a spousal visa.  If the spousal visa is approved first, you've lost nothing. If the visitor's visa is approved first you have time together and who knows while she's already in Canada she may get her spousal visa approved.  I really don't see any downside.       

[d672]

 Yea, I asked them if applying for the visitor visa would hinder the spousal application and they said no, they were two entirely different things. So that is good news.

 I'm planning to go there at the start of July so we were thinking about meeting in Kiev and going to the Cdn embassy together and applying for it. I'll be there for about a month so that should give lots of time for their decision so hopefully we should know before I go back home. We're hoping that me being there when she applies might help. But like I said, we dont want to get our hopes up too much.

[Donhollio]

  I wish you the best in trying this D6. I spoke to Froid not too long ago about how fill out the form, believe me what he did, and how I would of done it was completely different. He got a visa.  I'll email you and we can discuss the M.O.

 BTW , have you noticed the wait times have been extended by months? Even to be approved has gone from 28 days to 75. My 8 months is now at 12. I of course am outside of the 80%,and its been 16 months and counting. 

[d672]

  I wish you the best in trying this D6. I spoke to Froid not too long ago about how fill out the form, believe me what he did, and how I would of done it was completely different. He got a visa.  I'll email you and we can discuss the M.O.

 BTW , have you noticed the wait times have been extended by months? Even to be approved has gone from 28 days to 75. My 8 months is now at 12. I of course am outside of the 80%,and its been 16 months and counting. 

 I know! Last friday it was 75 days and today it was 84. How do they lose 9 days in 7?   

 I'll look for your email... could use all the help I can get. Especially with these wait times getting longer and longer! thanks.

[Donhollio]

 I pity you and any other Canuck embarking in this search. I know if I was thinking of doing this today I simply would not have even bothered.     

[NS1]

Ask for a two or three week visa. keep in mind if they approve it. it will be for 6 months.
After its approved she can come anytime inside that six months, for any length of time.
as long as she returns before the end.

[Dogsoldier]

   I don't really want to get our hopes up about it but man it would be great if she could at least come here for a visit before the end of the year! I'm planning on going there in July but we are thinking that if she can get this visitor visa maybe it would work out that she can come home with me and stay for a month or two... this waiting and only seeing each other on skype and being together for a few days every 3-4 months  is really getting frustrating!          
 

I can fully empathize with your predicament, although I don't have to wait as long as you, the waiting is just as frustrating. 

[d672]

Ask for a two or three week visa. keep in mind if they approve it. it will be for 6 months.
After its approved she can come anytime inside that six months, for any length of time.
as long as she returns before the end.

 Thanks Nova, I was wondering how long a period of time to apply for. Thats good news that it will be a 6 month visa, maybe she won`t have to go back if the spousal visa goes through by then!

[d672]

   I don't really want to get our hopes up about it but man it would be great if she could at least come here for a visit before the end of the year! I'm planning on going there in July but we are thinking that if she can get this visitor visa maybe it would work out that she can come home with me and stay for a month or two... this waiting and only seeing each other on skype and being together for a few days every 3-4 months  is really getting frustrating!          
 

I can fully empathize with your predicament, although I don't have to wait as long as you, the waiting is just as frustrating. 

 Yea, it really starts to wear on you after a while. Hope yours goes through with no problems and you and your wife are together soon!   

[froid]

The post of what I did is somewhere here as well but I can give the short version again...

You are attempting to use the "dual-intent" rule that CIC has.  Basically she has the intent to immigrate and is in the process of that application...and at the same time she has the intent to visit for a short term visit and return.  So two intents!

The important thing for you now is that the Visitor Visa is processed as a TEMPORARY VISA.  Remember this above all else.  It is the most important thing they consider...WILL SHE GO HOME AT THE END OF IT? 

My approach was:

In the invite letter I mentioned the spousal application and even gave the case number.  They know who you are so you might as well make it easy for them and tell them that right from the start.

I gave the reasons for her visit as the real ones.  To visit and stay with me, to meet my family, and even look around at neighborhoods, places to live, and schools.  Don't try to make it seem like a simple visit...they will see through that... be honest and just say it like it is.  And if they think the reasons to visit are not important enough they can deny the visa because the reasons are frivalous and not worth the risk of her overstaying.

Do not say anything that will make them thing it is PERMENENT move.  She is visiting.  She is NOT bringing things with her to leave here.  She is NOT bringing a load of belongings to make the move easier later.  She is NOT looking for a job.  Nothing permanent. 

The important thing is to give reasons why she will return.  Job at home... school at home... property... child at home.  Whatever helps that. 

And you have one very good reason to return...be sure to use it... "She has to return home in case of an interview or if any other communications or documentation is needed to complete the outland spousal sponsorship."  I mentioned this to show that we understand the process we are in and can at least explain why she has to be back home to follow that process. 

So three simple things...

1.  Good reason to visit.
2.  Nothing showing a permenent move.
3.  Good reason to return home.

And remember... you have already bared you life to them to get the perm visa... so don't start being shy now.  

[d672]

  Hi Froid. Ive been talking to Donny about this and he told me about you getting one before. I went over to Canadavisa and did a lot of reading about what you did.

 Th plan is to to go to the embassy in Kiev in july when I go to visit her and apply when I'm there with her. I'll bring in my invitation and we're already working on her filling out her application. I have a sister in Yellowknife who only makes it down to visit once every 2-3 years and this is one of those years. So we are thinking about having a marriage reception for my friends and family in August if she can get the visitor visa. Plus we're mentioning that it would give her a good chance to see what life would be like for her here. Im hoping that would be a good enough reason for them to give her one.

 The reason to return home shouldn't be a problem, she has a store to attend to and a house there. Plus like you said she has to be back there maybe for an interview, more paperwork, etc. We'll mention that too.

 So I hope we have all the bases covered now and we just have to go in and see what happens. Thanks for all the help!

[froid]

Not a problem, good luck.

[MBS01]

Guys:
The Canadian Visitors Visa from Ukraine (likely elsewhere as well) can now all be done via courier from anywhere in Ukraine.  There is no need for anyone to go in person any more.  Just complete alll the paperwork, pre-pay the visa fee at the required "Ukraine Bank" send off the forms and passport and await the visa in the comfort of her own home.  That was how the in-laws did it for their 2 week visit in October 2011.  No problems and no hassel!

Of course we are now looking into the new parents multi-entry 10 year visa, but it has not yet been applied for although the invites are already in Ukraine.