Applying from Within Canada vs from Outside

[Wlind9999]

Hello everyone,

I am trying to determine what is the best step for me to immigrate from the United States to Canada. I am married to a Canadian Citizen and the problem I am seeing is that if I apply from inside of Canada the wait time for them to look at her sponsorship application is 11 months vs 55 days from outside. This not including the processing time of my application afterwards. The total time from the Immigration site has my application at 19 months from inside vs roughly 1 year from outside. I don't want to have to move back to the states for a year and barely see her because I want to be able to work and contribute to our household here in Canada. Does anyone know if there is a chance I would get a temporary resident card and be able to work during the application process and if so roughly how long would that take.

I have already done my medical in Toronto and have my FBI background check in hand but when I looked at the from Outside Canada paperwork it contained a "For Outside Canada only" on the medical section. Am I going to have to redo my medical paperwork as well if I send the application from outside?

 

[scylla]

Start by reading the first post in the following thread. It will probably answer most of your questions. (As an American, it's definitely better to apply outland and you can do so from within Canada.)

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/spousal-sponsorship-t46995.0.html

If you have any additional questions, post them to the Family Class section of this forum. That's where all the discussions are about sponsoring spouses:

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/family-class-sponsorship-b5.0/

 

[Wlind9999]

Thanks, reading about these hurdles and filing from outside seems to be the way to go. My Visa is good till August 2012 so I just need to renew it once more. I just need to talk to Immigration tomorrow about the medical since it was done inside Canada by one of the doctors they recommended.

 

[scylla]

Doesn't matter where the medical was done.

My husband (also America) applied outland while visiting me long term in Toronto and also had his medical done here.

 

[Wlind9999]

Thanks again, that had me worried since I don't have the spare funds to go and get another medical done right now.

 

[Wlind9999]

Any tips on the proof of visits? I am living here with my Wife right now and have my visa up to date but for the maintaining contact question not sure how to phrase that. I do drive back down to the states to visit my son and they don't stamp my passport going either direction.

 

[SenoritaBella]

They say it is unlikely that they would have records of travel at a land border, but it may be worth making a request anyway: https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/976/~/record-of-my-travel-in-and-out-of-the-united-states,-foia

For travel records from Canada: http://cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/agency-agence/reports-rapports/pia-efvp/atip-aiprp/req-dem-info-eng.html
Also request a) CBSA ICES Traveler Passage Report (Individual report)
b) CBSA ICES Traveler History - Highway Passage Report (Vehicle Report)
Hope this helps.