Moving to Toronto, Canada?

Question

I'm a New Yorker who is married to a Torontonian. We are planning to move to his hometown of Toronto next year. Where do I go about obtaining a spouse visa so that I can have permanent residence status in Canada?

And slightly off topic, how is the fashion in Toronto!?

Answer 1

Your spouse has to sponsor you.

No, you do not need to goto the nearest Canadian consulate.

You can download the forms for spousal sponsorship online and it's actually faster if he sponsors you while you are OUTSIDE of Canada, instead of from within Canada.

The forms are here:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/applications/fc.html

You and your spouse fill out the forms and submit them and the required fees to the case processing centre in Mississauga, Ontario. Since you are married, there is no minimum financial requirement that you have to meet.

Answer 2

Contact the Canadian Embassy, you'll find their number in the phone book in the government section, or better yet, find it online. The Canadian government is very helpful, and since you're married to a Canadian, it should be quite easy. Just be sure to have all of your paperwork: birth certificate, marriage certificate, passport, driver's license (in case they ask for two forms of ID). Bottomline, you're an American, so it should be a cakewalk.

In terms of fashion, Toronto used to be light years ahead of the US and Toronto was the most fashionable of all-- very european. As mentioned, it's a cosmopolitan city with a great night life, fine restaurants, shopping...it's like a miniature NYC.

But during the past few years, I've noticed that Toronto fashion has fallen behind the US, because of Hollywood dictating what's IN and 'trendy'. The Lohans, Hiltons, Olsen twins and Simpsons style of dress hasn't caught on fire up there. You won't see too many bug eye sunglasses, 80's style shirts with big belts wrapped around, knee high leather boots, pashminas or scarves (wrapped over funky tshirts!), leggings, skinny jeans paired with stiletto heels etc. Torontonians seem to dress more conservatively these days (I was surprised to see that they were still wearing thick heeled boots last winter). And I hardly saw anyone wearing ballet flats when they were all the rage down here. But anything goes, and since you're a New Yorker, I'm sure you'll look be looking like quite the fashionista!

Good Luck!

Answer 3

I don't know about the visa situation, but Toronto is as cosmopolitan and fashionable as New York. It's also cleaner. Make your first stop Eaton Center. Then continue along Yonge Street. You will find something for every taste and pocketbook on Yonge Street.