Another Inland VS Outland scenario

[3000miles]

Hi everyone,

First of all, our apologies for repeating any previous questions that may be similar to ours. I currently live in Canada (citizen), and my soon-to-be wife, whom I will be sponsoring, lives in New Hampshire. We are getting married on August 20th, and my wife will then be coming with me back to Canada. We will have all paperwork complete, and fees paid in time for us crossing the US border into Canada after the wedding. We will finalize any last loose ends and send in our package as soon as we arrive back home (in Canada). So here are our questions:

1. What precautions do we need to take to ensure she can get the maximum stay in Canada while her visa is being processed? Ideally we would like for her not to have to leave again.

2. Will either an Inland or Outland application give us any advantage?

Essentially we don't care so much about the processing time, our main concern is that we get to live together in Canada while her visa is being processed. Obviously it would be nice to be able to travel to the US during that time to visit her family, but it is not a deciding factor. Travelling to the US for an interview is not a challenge for us either - we will do whatever it takes to be together.

Thank you in advance!

Stephanie & Courtney

 

[avocadosandcheese]

hi!

1) Make sure you bring all evidence with you to the border, including the application printed out, proof of fees paid, proof that you were just married, any ties your wife may still have to the US, etc. They should issue her a 6 month record (as is the usual) and then she can apply for a visitor extension once her time has elapsed: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/extend-stay.asp

2) outland is much faster and she can come and go to us as she pleases (assuming the border guards let her in...its always at their discretion).

happy wedding and good luck on finishing up the app!

 

[3000miles]

Thank you very much avocadosandcheese! So I guess our main question is... does our choice of either inland or outland affect either of the following (keeping in mind we'll have the 'almost complete' application with us when we return):


1. The decision at the border to let myself and my wife in & the length approved for her?

2. The decision to approve her visitors extension?


Thanks again!!


Stephanie & Courtney

 

[kandc]

Thank you very much avocadosandcheese! So I guess our main question is... does our choice of either inland or outland affect either of the following (keeping in mind we'll have the 'almost complete' application with us when we return):


1. The decision at the border to let myself and my wife in & the length approved for her?

2. The decision to approve her visitors extension?


Thanks again!!


Stephanie & Courtney

It shouldn't make any difference at the border. BUT... *cue cautionary tale*

Be aware that, while you are married and fully intend to file an application for PR, the border officer still may not let her in. My husband and I crossed the border together with our entire application ready to send with the exception of his FBI check (he'd sent in his fingerprints, we were just waiting for the clearance letter), along with the receipt from when I paid our application fees. The border officer questioned him for almost 2 hours about his intentions in Canada and his ties to the US and they FINALLY let us through on a 2 month visitor visa AFTER we paid them a bond and on the condition that our app would be filed by the time the visa expired. As a result, we must return to the border on Saturday with proof that our app has been filed, at which point the officer will decide whether or not my husband can remain in Canada or not.

I have the feeling we were just hugely unlucky to get the officer we got but be prepared for the worst. Make sure you have evidence of her ties to the US, that seemed to be our biggest problem (hubby is a freelance musician, so no steady job with a single employer to go back to, he rented with a roommate who had no problem taking over the whole rent, etc.)

Hope for the best, prepare for the worst and best of luck to you and your wife!

 

[avocadosandcheese]

i don't think it makes any difference on getting through the border or getting the extension. just be honest and up front, and have all your proof with you.

from all i have read and seen, outland seems the way to go. MUCH faster, and she can come and go.

any more questions, let us know!

 

[ladyjess]

I have also read on here not make it look like you are moving permanently at this time. Trying to bring furniture and things like that with you will let the officer know that your wife may not have intentions of returning to the US...

 

[3000miles]

That sounds great, thanks everyone! So what kind of proof can we use exactly to prove ties to the US? All of my (soon to be) wife's family is in the US, but we're not sure how to prove that. She has a US checking and savings account, but won't have a job once we come back to Canada.

You guys are great!

 

[avocadosandcheese]

She could have her family members write letters stating that she will be able to live with them (or that they will support her financially or otherwise), bring bank statements showing she has money to go back to the US. I know its hard when you are trying to have her come here, and therefore, there wouldnt be many ties in the US. Anything she may still have, like a car, or a letter from her employer that she will still have a job there if she isnt let in....

I think the main thing is that you're sending in the application and will have the fees paid on that. Have you two done much back and forth at the border though out your relationship? If so, i think that works in your favor because it shows that you have a history of doing things by the book, leaving on time, etc....

 

[3000miles]

We can definitely get a letter from a family member willing to support her! We'll have bank statements and can possibly have a letter from an employer. We won't be bringing any furniture or anything like that, she'll be leaving those things with family - just brining necessities like clothing and sentimental items.

We have crossed the Canada/US border 4 times together over the course of our relationship, each time honouring our promised down to the day. Hopefully that will all help!

Thanks everyone you have been a great help


That all being said - I'm finding a hard time seeing any benefits to an inland app... but for some reason feel like it will help us to live together in Canada until she recieves PR? Maybe I am mistaken.

 

[CharlieD10]

She does not need to file Inland to have that. She may visit with you while having an application processed Outland.

 

[3000miles]

Thank you! So are we correct that the only benefit to applying inland is if and when your applicable outland processing centre has a longer processing time?

Does anyone have any other situations where inland would be beneficial?

 

[Isometry]

If you apply inland, and end up requiring an interview, I'm pretty sure you attend the interview in Canada. If you apply outland, you have to travel to wherever your application is being processed.

So if travel is too expensive/dangerous/other for your partner to travel, and your partner is living in Canada, then you might apply inland.

Overall, I'd recommend outland, though. Especially since she's from the US, and (anecdotal evidence) US citizens are rarely calls to interview anyway.

 

[CharlieD10]

Persons who are in Canada without status (for whatever reason) may apply Inland, because they might be in a situation where they can't go home. Others with no financial constraints and no issues about timing may want to go that route. For some it might be faster than applying Outland, because their home visa offices take a long time to process applications in any case (there are a number of offices with timelines upwards of 20 months, but it should always be remembered that the times quotes for Outland offices represent 80% of cases, some may be processed in less).

 

[AnaMaria]

I think you are already seeing outland application more beneficial to your case. Just to add... Quicker status would mean quicker access to benefits, like medical (and eventually work/income if she wants). Particularly if you are planing start family, child bearing can be costly without medical benefit.

 

[OhCanadiana]

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding

....my soon-to-be wife, whom I will be sponsoring, lives in New Hampshire...

You mentioned your fiancée lives in New Hampshire - is she also an American citizen (or citizen of another visa-exempt country)? The advice on this thread so far is implicitly assuming she is and I figure it's worth explicitly confirming this assumption