Wife was granted a Canadian Temporary - Visitor - Visa today!!!!!

[UTRO]

Yes, there is a Santa Claus!!  
My wife Svetlana was granted a 3 month Canadian Temporary Visa today, to come visit anytime between July 13th and October 13th!!!
To say the very least, it is very rare for the Canadian Embassy in Moscow to allow any young Russian Woman, especially one waiting for her Permanent Residency, to visit Canada! She has never been to Canada, so it will be a great experience for her and for us!!!!  

[Simoni]

Congrats, Utrobina!

That is GREAT news :-)))

[Misha]

My wife Svetlana was granted a 3 month Canadian Temporary Visa today, to come visit anytime between July 13th and October 13th!!!

Congratulations! That is certainly wonderful news.

[Lily]

To say the very least, it is very rare for the Canadian Embassy in Moscow to allow any young Russian Woman, especially one waiting for her Permanent Residency, to visit Canada! 

Any statistics to back this up? Young age per se is not a reason to ban someone from a guest visit. Ties with the country of residence are important, and the likeliness that the aspiring tourist is not going to overstay the visa.

[GoodOlBoy]

Yes, there is a Santa Clause!! 

Ho Ho Ho!

Congratulations Utrobina!! 


GOB

[UTRO]

Any statistics to back this up? Young age per se is not a reason to ban someone from a guest visit. Ties with the country of residence are important, and the likeliness that the aspiring tourist is not going to overstay the visa.

Well Lily... You are right. I don't have anything concrete to back up this statement.... However, go to www.Canada.ru and read about the very few successful young Women/Brides who have been granted a Temporary Visa to visit their husbands in Canada. Granted, it is even harder for a young Single Russian Woman. Canada isn't known as the easiest place for Russian tourists, in general, to visit. You see very few, aside from those who have sons and daughters living here.
Sveta was outright refused a Visa back in April. Explanation given by CIC, was that there was, "not enough evidence given that she'd return to Russia". When she reapplied a month later, her reasons for wanting to visit and why she would return were exactly the same! So why Yes now and not then?
I imagine you to be a fairly established, sucessful and mature Russian Woman Lily. I don't suppose you'd have many problems visiting any Visa restricted nations? It's very different for a 29 year old.

[Lily]

Sveta was outright refused a Visa back in April. Explanation given by CIC, was that there was, "not enough evidence given that she'd return to Russia". When she reapplied a month later, her reasons for wanting to visit and why she would return were exactly the same! So why Yes now and not then?
 

Are you sure that all her sublitted documents and all stated reasons were exactly the same?

As far as I know from publicly available sources, repeated filing for a visa may be viewed favorably and treated with a more positive result. I don't have more specifics about that, sorry.

I imagine you to be a fairly established, sucessful and mature Russian Woman Lily. I don't suppose you'd have many problems visiting any Visa restricted nations? It's very different for a 29 year old.

In my life I applied once for a tourist visa to Holland for my annual vacations. I showed all documents that were available to me to prove that I return back home. I guess my job position played, or should have played, a major role.

 Believe me or not, but I really don't see any difference in life goals, plans and aspirations between Lily at 25 yo and the present Lily. Even if I use a magnifying glass.

[UTRO]

Lily, I like you
But, I simply started this thread to share the joy that Svetlana and I are feeling right now and to celebrate our happiness. What a feeling of accomplishment and victory! Can you imagine that she will be able to visit me, my country, my friends, my relatives and her Stepchildren for the first time?!
I didn't Post to be scrutinized and challenged

You can not imagine all the hard work, late nights, expense, etc.... that I have been through to see this Visitor Visa and Svetlana's Permanent Residency Visa to fruition! Not to mention the determination of my little wife who has scurried around Kirov and Moscow getting her Passport, Birth Certificate, Work Record, University Transcripts, Police Clearance, Medical Exam, Photos, Immigration Documents etc, obtained, signed, translated and notarized into English and on her own dime. Accomplishments and disappointments, we've experienced all!

Canada is indeed one of the hardest countries for a Woman from the FSU to Visit or Immigrate to. We don't have the advantage of K-1 style Visas that the US and Australia have. Even the American Immigration Medical exam is a joke compared to Canada's, which takes 4 hours, consists of a full physical, questions, x-rays and costs $350.

Svetlana has been to Finland, USA, UK, Germany(2), Czech Republic, Turkey, Egypt(2), Jamaica, Dominican Republic(2) and Hungary. Of all those countries Canada was the most difficult. I should also mention that I failed to get her a Transit Visa through Toronto in 2007.

Of the 45 people standing in front of the Canadian Embassy in Moscow Friday morning waiting pick up their Passport, to see if it contained a Canadian Visa, only 6 were successful. Svetlana was the only young Woman. The others were older businessmen and babushkas.

Thanks,
Dave

[Lily]

Dave, it was not my intention to challenge, not at all. Sorry if I appeared like something similar to this.

I CAN imagine all the hard work that you did, moreover, I am doing the same right now! I am in contact with Organization for Migration that translates my docs and will bring my full set of application to the embassy soon.  Again and again, I review my certificates, police clearances, etc etc. Also I share my experience and knowledge that I gain throughout my own immigration with other asriring immigrants from Ukraine and Russia.

But may I humbly tell a point of view of an independent immigrant that Canada is one of the few countries that promotes independent immigration. The opposite may be true for sponsored fiancees, however...

My sincerest congrats to you!

[UTRO]

Hi Lily, Thanks for the explanation

I think you are referring more to applying to Immigrate to Canada as a Skilled Worker, Professional or Entrepreneur? In that case you are correct about that type of Visa. CIC (citizenship and immigration canada) does indeed promote this and encourages it. Hell knows that Canada being the largest country on this planet after Russia, with a population of only 35 million, desperately needs to 'grow' it's numbers through immigration. The problem is that many would be 'Good European Immigrants' give up on Canada because of the length of time it takes for approval. The wait can be up to 2 years in length! http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/international/02a-skilled-fed.asp Actually looking at the chart, Russians comparatively don't do too bad.... it can take the same Immigrant from the Ukrainian almost 7 years, the UK 3 1/2!!

The problem that CIC has with granting a Visitor Visa to girlfriends and wives of men in Canada, is that once they land they kinda' sorta' don't have to leave We could apply to have her Visa extended until a final decision is made on our Spousal/PR Visa. Even if we didn't, no KGB, FKS, CIC or CSIS officer is going to drag her away to the airport and put her on a plane back to Russia. Especially if there has been an application submitted for a Spousal Visa. Svetlana will be going back to Russia in mid September. We don't want to ruffle any CIC feathers

So far CIC has been quite fair. In fact our Spousal/PR application was approved on July 7th. This is the Canadian portion of the application. CIC has determined that I, "have met the requirements for eligibility as a sponsor". Now the application (20 pound file box!) has been forwarded to the Canadian Embassy in Moscow where they do background checks on Sveta. Hopefully our case won't gather dust!

Wishing you Best of Luck with your Migration plans Lily! What country are you applying to? Is it Spousal?? If you have any questions, Svetlana is somewhat of an expert now and is a member on here

Thanks,
Dave

[Lily]

Wishing you Best of Luck with your Migration plans Lily! What country are you applying to? Is it Spousal?? If you have any questions, Svetlana is somewhat of an expert now and is a member on here

Thanks,
Dave

Thank you for you kind invitation to ask Dave! I am applying to the embassy in Moscow under the Federal Skilled Workers Program. Not a spousal visa. I think I probably go on my own, being single as I am, land some job, and probably find a good Canadian man for me to love 

[SANDRO43]

Thank you for you kind invitation to ask Dave! I am applying to the embassy in Moscow under the Federal Skilled Workers Program. Not a spousal visa. I think I probably go on my own, being single as I am, land some job, and probably find a good Canadian man for me to love 

Wow Lily, that's quite a plunge to take . If not too prying, may I ask what made you take such a momentous decision?

Best of luck anyway, you know we're all rooting for you here .

[UTRO]

Thank you for you kind invitation to ask Dave! I am applying to the embassy in Moscow under the Federal Skilled Workers Program. Not a spousal visa. I think I probably go on my own, being single as I am, land some job, and probably find a good Canadian man for me to love 

Great Lily! I'm sure you'll do well with both goals!!
Here is a Blog from a Russian guy in NN who is going through the final steps of the Federal Skilled Workers Program to Canada with his wife. Although the Blog is a little sketchy, he might be a good source for you to ask questions of? I've contacted him myself and he seems like a good guy who's pretty positive about the whole experience BTW, his name isn't Erik. It's Evgeny.

http://immigrationtocanadafromrussia.blogspot.com/

We'll welcome you here with open arms!

[brucen36]

Congratulations.  Please keep detailed records on how you succeeded, because I may be asking you for some advice in the near future for the same situation.

[UTRO]

Congratulations.  Please keep detailed records on how you succeeded, because I may be asking you for some advice in the near future for the same situation.

Anytime Brucen. I have to say that the Invitation Letter I wrote was a thing of Beauty! 

Thanks,
Dave

[Lily]

Wow Lily, that's quite a plunge to take . If not too prying, may I ask what made you take such a momentous decision?

Best of luck anyway, you know we're all rooting for you here .

Thanks Sandro. I think my thought of finding a man was a certain kick-off for my decision to immigrate. If WM go to Russia to find a wife, why shouldn't I do the same?

Utrobina, thanks for posting link on this blog. I have seen it, along with another one in Russian where a woman from Far East shares the same experience, in particularly, how she learned French from zero in order to score higher on immigration points. She has not left Russia so far, but already got her visa.

Besides, I am active on two other Canada immigration related fora, and a reader on two more of them. It seems to be a huge amount of aspiring immigrants in Ukrai8ne and Russia!

[UTRO]

You're welcome Lily and don't forget www.Canada.ru

[Lily]

You're welcome Lily and don't forget www.Canada.ru

Utrobina, I have a question. Why do you find the source canada.ru more useful than the other immigrants oriented Canadian sources?

What do you say about http://www.russiantoronto.com/adviser/immigrationguest.htm , the place where an immigration attorney Ms. Ryabinina answers the questions online? Archives very recommended for reading.

[docetae]

Great Lily! I'm sure you'll do well with both goals!!
Here is a Blog from a Russian guy in NN who is going through the final steps of the Federal Skilled Workers Program to Canada with his wife. Although the Blog is a little sketchy, he might be a good source for you to ask questions of? I've contacted him myself and he seems like a good guy who's pretty positive about the whole experience BTW, his name isn't Erik. It's Evgeny.

http://immigrationtocanadafromrussia.blogspot.com/

We'll welcome you here with open arms!

Hello,

I want to congrat you again for the visa of your wife. Lily, if you need infos about skilled worker programs in Canada, perhaps I can help you, I moved here with this one.

[Ade]

Congrats on the visitors visa Utrobina. I hope your permanent residency application doesn't take too much longer to reach a successful conclusion.

Lily, good choice on Canada; it's an awesome country and I came very close to emigrating there myself 10 years ago before I opted for Norway. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly for you.

[UTRO]

Well Svetlana stayed with me for 2 months. The visit went very well   I'd be a liar if I said there were no hang ups, but most were minor and all were sorted out quickly The one concern I had before the visit was my children and how that would all pan out. This never even became an issue. The kids were crazy about Sveta and although she has no children of her own, she was quick to return their affection and spent many happy hours with them. Now that she is back in Russia she is very sad and misses them a lot.
I tell you, this wife of mine sure likes to walk! She spent a lot of time discovering my city on her own while I worked. She didn't bother to get an international license while she was here.
To say she is frugal is an understatement! She now knows the price per kilogram of every meat, vegetable and fruit, that there is and at all the different grocery stores, which of course I never bother with   My kids gave her a $50 gift certificate on her Birthday to use at a local mall. I dropped her off at 10am and picked her up at 3pm. She had bought a pair of jeans, a pair of slacks, a skirt, a top and some other little things and still came back with change! This is a fairly high end mall!! So proud she got a $75 pair of jeans for $12

Anyhow, last week we applied for yet another Visitor Visa to have her here by Christmas. Today we found out it was refused
The original Visitor Visa was good for 6 months. In hindsight she probably should have remained the duration. It would have taken her into January and by then she  would most likely have been called to Moscow for her interview regarding her PR Visa. She went back primarily to make sure her Papa was doing okay. He was widowed in February
So now maya Slatskaya sits in her Kirov flat today quite upset and feeling down, as do I