Hi kfier,
Have you added up your husband's score to see if he would qualify for
Canadian immigration as a skilled worker? That would be the first step
to take.
Skilled Worker Self-Assessment
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/skilled/assess/index.html
How points are awarded
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/skilled/qual-5.html
If he has at least 67 points, he qualifies to submit an application to
officially immigrate to Canada and become a permanent resident (the
first step before becoming taking the oath of citizenship).
How to Apply
"Applying to immigrate as a skilled worker is not difficult. Follow
the steps described below.
Before you start your application, print out all the forms you need.
Read the instructions carefully. The guide will help you fill out your
application."
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/skilled/how-1.html
Whether he he as 67 points or not, he needs to renew is work permit
*now* to keep in legal status. The original permit should have his
length of stay on it. When that expires, he can apply to renew his
permit every year by sending in an "Application to Change Conditions
or Extend Your Stay in Canada as a Visitor".
How to Extend Your Stay in Canada
"You are allowed to stay in Canada for only a certain length of time
when you come to visit, study or work. The length of time you are
allowed to stay is written in your visa or passport. If you need to
stay longer than you planned, you must apply to stay longer.
If you stay longer than you are allowed, you will lose your temporary
residence status.
You must apply to extend your stay 30 days before your permission to
stay runs out."
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/extend.html
Application to Change Conditions or Extend Your Stay in Canada as a Visitor
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/applications/visitor.html
GUIDE
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/guides/5551E.PDF
I was glad to work on this for you and I hope the news is good and
your husband has at least 67 points (let me know!). If you have any
questions, please post a clarification request and wait for me to
respond before closing/rating my answer.
Thank you,
hummer
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I have experience and knowledge of Canadian immigration. |
Request for Answer Clarification by
kfier-ga
on
05 Oct 2005 06:31 PDT
I had this information, the problem we have is, we are Americans. My
husband is a Engineer, so his skilled worker total is fine, but we
have been in Canada for 8 yrs on his work visa. This is the problem,
....
How many years can you stay in Canada on a work visa for
professionals? Is there a cap? Have we gone over the time limit?
Sorry if my question was too vague before. Thanks for all your help.
Kim
|
Clarification of Answer by
hummer-ga
on
05 Oct 2005 07:26 PDT
Hi Kim,
Thank you for you clarification, I'm sorry if we've had a misunderstanding.
There is no time limit as long as your husband renews his visa in a
timely manner. The original visa should have an expiry date on it (I'm
assuming it was for 8 years). From that point onward, your husband is
required to renew his visa every year as per the link I already gave
you. There are no guarantees that the renewals will be approved, it's
on a year to year basis which take into account any changes in your
situation. Don't forget that he must get the application in early (no
less than 30 before the expiry date).
You said "We would like to become duel citizens" in your original
question and that is why I gave you information on immigrating to
Canada. If your husband has enough points to immigrate, and you want
to, then that would certainly be the way to go. Once you are permanent
residents, renewing the visa would no longer be required and you would
have most of the rights and privileges that all Canadians enjoy
(including health care). Both Canada and the U.S. recognize dual
citizenship so eventually becoming Canadians would not jeopardize your
U.S. citizenship in any way.
I have called the CIC Call Centre in the past and have found them very helpful.
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/contacts/call.html
Please let me know if you need further clarification.
hummer
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