Canadian sponsoring Japanese spouse

[daijoeboo]

Hi all

I have searched and read through this forum and wish to confirm a few things.
The newest thread which answered my questions was from last year, and according to the CIC website some things have changed recently.

I am a Canadian citizen. I have just gotten married to a Japanese national.
I would like to bring her back with me next spring/summer, which is my planned arrival time in Canada.

I understand there is inland and outland processing, with Japanese processing now taking place in Manilla Philippines.
Outland processing takes place in Alberta.

Inland takes longer and both individuals must be in Canada and cannot take any vacations.
Outland apparently doesnt take as long, however, the website currently says there is a wait of 1 year (?!?!)



My questions are as follows:

1) Is the wait time really that long or is that the worst case scenario for people whose applications get returned etc.

2) From what I can see, bringing her to Canada for a standard 180-day travel visa and starting the process inland via the Alberta office is not illegal, is this the case? This seems all too convenient and sneaky to me, why even bother applying outland? Are there hidden pros and cons here?

3) Leading to this question - Is it possible that our inland application will be rejected and she will have to return to Japan? I understand appeals are only possible via outland processing. Neither of us has a criminal record and our relationship is well documented via pictures and bills showing the same address for a period of over one year, and can be backed by both families, and we have a legal marriage certificate from the government in Japan here. We of course would be residing together as per the new rules and I would be supporting her financially, I cannot see a reason why she'd be deported.

Any and all help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you very much

 

[canuck_in_uk]

1) Is the wait time really that long or is that the worst case scenario for people whose applications get returned etc.

2) From what I can see, bringing her to Canada for a standard 180-day travel visa and starting the process inland via the Alberta office is not illegal, is this the case? This seems all too convenient and sneaky to me, why even bother applying outland? Are there hidden pros and cons here?

3) Leading to this question - Is it possible that our inland application will be rejected and she will have to return to Japan?

Hi

1. Current posted processing time for Manila is 14 months. That is how long it takes CIC to process 80% of apps, so many go through quicker than that. You must also add one month for the initial sponsor approval.

2. Perfectly legal for her to come to Canada as a visitor and then apply inland. Outland is usually faster, applicant is able to leave Canada if needed, option to appeal if denied and don't have to be living in Canada to apply (if sponsor is Canadian citizen).

3. Provided you have solid proof of your relationship, chances of rejection are very low.

In your situation, outland is a better option, as you can submit the application while still living in abroad. It usually takes at least a month to get everything together, so I'd advise you to start now and get your app submitted ASAP. If you can get it submitted soon, you will be halfway through the process by the time you actually arrive in Canada instead of only just starting

 

[chala]

If I were you I would go the outland route for the reasons the previous poster indicated. You should have sponsorship approval before you even arrive in Canada. Given that your wife is from a visa exempt country, she can accompany you as a visitor. If her PR is not completed by the time her 180 days in Canada have expired, she can apply for an extension of an additional 6 months, which most likely will be granted . This is what we did and had no problem getting the extension. Good luck with the process.

 

[daijoeboo]

Hello all and thank you for the prompt replies.

So to confirm:

- Outland processing is better than inland in my case because Japan is a non-visa country and we are free to come home together next spring even if the outland process I've started here in Japan hasn't been completed yet.
- It is better than inland because it allows us more freedom - freedom to travel together while waiting, freedom to appeal an unsatisfactory decision, etc.
- It is also 'faster' (at 14 months hah!) than inland.

Again, just to be really clear and beat that dead horse a little more - so we are basically free to come to Canada anytime regardless of progress in the application process because Japan is a non-visa country?? Is there no overlap or any problem when we arrive at the border next spring? Or is that just a catch that relates to foreigners trying to enter/re-enter while in the midst of inland processing?

And so, the main plus is that with outland we will already be far along in the process vs. starting after arriving.

Therein I have a question - should there be a hiccup along the way or should she be called for an interview will it really be necessary to go all the way to the Philippines or an interview? That seems just ludicrously inefficient if the parties involved are in the country in question already, that is, already in Canada. Flying out to Alberta even for outland processing interviews seems more reasonable.
Would the CDN gov't really force us to do that?

Thanks so much

 

[ksin86]

Just following up on this topic. My common-law partner and I are applying outland from Japan and then heading to Canada in a couple months. She'll be on visitor and I'll be coming back just as a citizen. Planning to extend visitors visa or heading back to Japan for vacation. From what I've read in this topic and many others, you should be alright!

 

[Rob_TO]

Therein I have a question - should there be a hiccup along the way or should she be called for an interview will it really be necessary to go all the way to the Philippines or an interview?

Any potential interview for Japanese citizens would be held in Japan. For an outland app you can NOT do an interview in Canada.

Though as mentioned the chance of interview for visa-exempt applicant is quite low.

 

[ksin86]

Any potential interview for Japanese citizens would be held in Japan. For an outland app you can NOT do an interview in Canada.

Though as mentioned the chance of interview for visa-exempt applicant is quite low.

I've read this all over the board too.

 

[cdnmom]

Hello

Just remember even if you are from a visa exempt country you can still be denied entry into Canada
Make sure you indicate your spouse is only coming to visit... not moving here yet
You can advise them you have a PR application in process

Good luck getting your application together

 

[bankerguy]

My girlfriend is from Japan. She has been living in Canada for like 8 years. She's currently on a post graduate work visa.

We have been living together for close to 3 years.

I am sponsoring her for PR through family class / Common -law partner.

We applied INLAND... we applied just a few months ago.... We recently got AOR ..acknowledgement that they have received our application. total time is 19 months.... but I have a feeling that it will probably take about 12 months. .. we'll see !

 

[daijoeboo]

Hi thanks for all the replies, sorry I didnt check back sooner, been a lil busy!

cdnmom - so it would be good to be honest at the border, present all the paperwork and clearly indicate the process up until that time vs. just kinda waltz in and hope no one notices?
I am not trying to do anything sneaky but I would just like to do the most trouble-free thing.
Worst nightmare would be getting turned away at the border.


kisin - are you moving back home? or just visiting Canada?

edit: One more question
Here:
cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/fc.asp

are part 1 and 2 submitted together or is part 2 for after Ive been cleared as a sponsor?

 

[MilesAway]

Everything gets submitted together to Missisauga (if you're applying outland)

 

[daijoeboo]

Everything together, got it thanks!

 

[yumeryuu]

Hey Daijoeboo, I am sponsoring my husband who is a Japanese national. I was accepted as a sponsor in September, 2012, and his application process began in December of that year. It is being processed in Manila, and after two medical checks (because they only last 12 months), and submitting his passport to them in May, 2013, we haven't heard back and haven't had any word since...

We are waiting in Nova Scotia at the moment, and he just renewed his visitor visa for a second time. I don't know how much longer we have to wait...

 

[daijoeboo]

yumeryuu

Thanks for the reply.
In terms of what the government says they will or wont tell you regarding the process, are you currently in a position where you can call and find out whats happening? And you are just being patient? Or is there currently no one you can speak to about this?
Do you think you would have been better off going with an inland process?

 

[daijoeboo]

Everything gets submitted together to Missisauga (if you're applying outland)

Was looking at this thread again...
I think you mean inland, if its Alberta.
Outland goes to Manilla.