ADVICE REQUIRED: Current outlook.

[Maine2862]

I hoped by now this would all be done! BUT HERE I AM!

My name is Alex, I'm 25. My wife is from Prince Edward Island. We got married 18 months ago in the UK. Me and my wife were living in the UK and applied for my PR to Canada. It was an outland sponsorship application. My wife was approved as sponsor in little more than a month. Since then I have had a request for further information due to lack of previous address and previous employment details. I filled out the form again and sent it in. A few months later I was asked to get an RCMP check completed, I've done that but it has not turned up in the post yet. I've contacted RCMP but they say it can take up to 120 days to process. I've been bouncing in and out of the country because I wish to spend my time with my wife, not thousands of miles away.

So here is the current timeline:
- Applied 1st week of February.
- Wife approved to sponsor 1st week of March.
- Medicals received.
- Applied for RCMP Criminal Record check in September. Not turned up yet.

When we applied we were still in the UK but about 7 months ago, we packed up, boxed all our belongings and me and my wife went to PEI. She now has a full time job here on the Island and we purchased some land to build a house in the near future. So here are my questions and I'm sorry if these have been answered before. I have trailed this website quite a few times for info.

1. I've been coming in and out as a visitor for years now. Since I put in my application, when I come in I tell them I'm in the middle of PR application, they don't question me, they stamp me, I come in... Do I have to go home every six months if I have an outland application in process? Could I apply for an extension? (My next six months would be up the 1st week of Jan 2014)

2. Those that know, PEI is rural. I cannot drive here. Is there anyway to apply for a licence before PR? I considered going home and taking tests but its a long route and hard to do without spending so much time away. I currently hold a UK provisional.

3. Is there anyway to get a temp work permit without screwing up my current application. I had hoped to have been done now. I think cancelling the application at this stage would be a very bad idea. Is it possible to swap from outland to inland?

Thank you for your help. I know there are many out there in limbo right now!

 

[NZ2AB]

I hoped by now this would all be done! BUT HERE I AM!

My name is Alex, I'm 25. My wife is from Prince Edward Island. We got married 18 months ago in the UK. Me and my wife were living in the UK and applied for my PR to Canada. It was an outland sponsorship application. My wife was approved as sponsor in little more than a month. Since then I have had a request for further information due to lack of previous address and previous employment details. I filled out the form again and sent it in. A few months later I was asked to get an RCMP check completed, I've done that but it has not turned up in the post yet. I've contacted RCMP but they say it can take up to 120 days to process. I've been bouncing in and out of the country because I wish to spend my time with my wife, not thousands of miles away.

So here is the current timeline:
- Applied 1st week of February.
- Wife approved to sponsor 1st week of March.
- Medicals received.
- Applied for RCMP Criminal Record check in September. Not turned up yet.

When we applied we were still in the UK but about 7 months ago, we packed up, boxed all our belongings and me and my wife went to PEI. She now has a full time job here on the Island and we purchased some land to build a house in the near future. So here are my questions and I'm sorry if these have been answered before. I have trailed this website quite a few times for info.

1. I've been coming in and out as a visitor for years now. Since I put in my application, when I come in I tell them I'm in the middle of PR application, they don't question me, they stamp me, I come in... Do I have to go home every six months if I have an outland application in process? Could I apply for an extension? (My next six months would be up the 1st week of Jan 2014)
You can apply for an extension, or if you are eligible we have crossed the border into the US for a day to renew visitor visas despite our outland application.
2. Those that know, PEI is rural. I cannot drive here. Is there anyway to apply for a licence before PR? I considered going home and taking tests but its a long route and hard to do without spending so much time away. I currently hold a UK provisional.
If you want a license in Canada you'll likely have to start the licensing process from the beginning, especially if you have a provisional. You can get a driver's license before PR though. Consult the governing body for licensing in PEI for details.

3. Is there anyway to get a temp work permit without screwing up my current application. I had hoped to have been done now. I think cancelling the application at this stage would be a very bad idea. Is it possible to swap from outland to inland?
You cannot swap though I have heard that outland is often much faster. There are a number of permits you can get but you have to qualify for them OUTSIDE of your PR application.

Thank you for your help. I know there are many out there in limbo right now!

 

[Maine2862]

What sort of permits? Are you suggesting I can apply for a work permit alongside my PR application?

Thanks,
A

 

[NZ2AB]

You can, it would be separate from your PR app. You can get a student visa too, for example.

 

[Maine2862]

I had looked into a work permit before but I was under the impression that you could only get a job if it was something that they felt "No other unemployed Canadian could fill". I also assume its a time consuming process?

 

[Becki567]

I had looked into a work permit before but I was under the impression that you could only get a job if it was something that they felt "No other unemployed Canadian could fill". I also assume its a time consuming process?

Knowing PEI and the economic situation there. I find the odds of you getting another type of work permit through an LMO at close to 0%

Inland used to be faster but they are currently only approving people for AIP (Stage 1) after 11 months! I would imagine your outland visa will be finished before then

 

[Maine2862]

Knowing PEI and the economic situation there. I find the odds of you getting another type of work permit through an LMO at close to 0%

Inland used to be faster but they are currently only approving people for AIP (Stage 1) after 11 months! I would imagine your outland visa will be finished before then

Well thats what I figured... I guess it boils my blood a little when I know there are factories minutes from where I am employing dozens of people from Thailand and I have to sit on my hands.

 

[Becki567]

Well thats what I figured... I guess it boils my blood a little when I know there are factories minutes from where I am employing dozens of people from Thailand and I have to sit on my hands.

I totally agree. Just try and hang on to the end. Hopefully RCMP clearance will come much quicker. I honestly think it will do you no good to cancel and do inland.

As for your drivers license, my husband was only able to drive while on his IEC visa but once that expires he wont be able to drive anymore

 

[Maine2862]

I totally agree. Just try and hang on to the end. Hopefully RCMP clearance will come much quicker. I honestly think it will do you no good to cancel and do inland.

As for your drivers license, my husband was only able to drive while on his IEC visa but once that expires he wont be able to drive anymore

So I guess my only question is about the 6 month... I'm not sure if outland applications have the right to stay more than six months... or if I have to apply for an extension.

 

[MilesAway]

An outland application does not give you any special status, you still need to apply for an extension if you wish to stay beyond the 6 months.

 

[Maine2862]

An outland application does not give you any special status, you still need to apply for an extension if you wish to stay beyond the 6 months.

I was expecting that. Almost wish I had applied Inland but it's meant to take longer. Right now it feels like forever anyway. I hope my medicals etc don't expire!

 

[Canuckluvus]

I was expecting that. Almost wish I had applied Inland but it's meant to take longer. Right now it feels like forever anyway. I hope my medicals etc don't expire!

are u a US citizen? My wife is and her most recent extension was for 14 months even though she only requested 6 months.

 

[Maine2862]

are u a US citizen? My wife is and her most recent extension was for 14 months even though she only requested 6 months.

No I'm from the UK. I think my next move will be to apply for an extension.