Helping US wife immigrate to Canada. Trying to understand inland sponsorship process better.

[zzJehy]

Hi, I am a Canadian and just got married to my American girlfriend of 5 years. Right now we are considering our options for her to move here.

Our current living arrangements are that she lives about an hour and a half drive away from me across the border. Over the last 16 months or so we have been visiting each other back and forth for a few days out of every week.

(Correct me if I'm wrong on anything below)
I think I have a decent understanding of how an outland sponsorship works we both file a bunch of paperwork, wait about a year, keep doing what we have been doing and then fly somewhere for an interview then she gets to move here and start working, ok cool.

Then there's inland sponsorship, if we go that route my understanding is that she packs up her stuff and crosses the border with marriage licence in hand. and tells the officers that shes coming to stay with me and send in the paperwork.
Is that all she needs to do in regards to crossing into Canada? Since there's no intention to work and I will have a place for her to stay all is well? Or is there anything else that we need to show them?

Ok next, once she is here I apply to -become a sponsor- and she applys for -PR- and a -Work Permit- right?
Are those 3 things all done at once is there anything else we need apply for? I read that the amount of time it takes for her to get a work permit is 4 months or less, Is that a number that can start right now assuming all 3 are sent in at once, or is the realistic number higher because there's a timeline of other paperwork that needs to be filled out in a specific order? Does she need to apply for some kind of extension? Right now she is at 96 days L365 If she were to cross now, by the time 4 months were to pass she would be at 167 so it is still under 6 months. Does she need to apply for an extension of visitor visa too? Or would a work visa cover that. Does it help if we line up a job with an employer ahead of time? I have connections at previous jobs and could arrange that if it helps anything.

Finally is there a huge difference in cost all said and done with Inland vs Outland? What can we expect to pay once its all said and done for either.

Really appreciate anyone's help in helping my understanding with all this.
Thanks a lot
-Jason

 

[21Goose]

Then there's inland sponsorship, if we go that route my understanding is that she packs up her stuff and crosses the border with marriage licence in hand. and tells the officers that shes coming to stay with me and send in the paperwork.
Is that all she needs to do in regards to crossing into Canada? Since there's no intention to work and I will have a place for her to stay all is well? Or is there anything else that we need to show them?

No, she shouldn't pack up all her stuff and all that. She should simply attempt to enter Canada like she's been doing anyway. Once she's in Canada, you file the inland sponsorship application along with an Open Work Permit application. You'll get the work permit in ~4 months and she can start working. PR should follow a few months later.

She shouldn't pack up all her stuff because then the officer may deny her entry as you aren't suppose to immigrate on a tourist visa (no visa of course, but the purpose is still tourism/temporary visit).

When (and if) asked for the purpose of the visit, she should truthfully say she's coming to meet her Canadian husband. The officer may not ask any further questions.

If he does ask, she shouldn't lie to CBSA - if asked directly, she should tell the truth and say that she is married and you're planning to do an inland sponsorship. The officer is very likely to let her in, and if she is denied you just fall back to the outland sponsorship route.

If you show up to the border with a full UHaul, you make it difficult for the officer to allow you in.

Since you say you've both been routinely crossing the border I doubt very much that she will even be asked anything. US-Canadian couples usually face very few issues.

 

[21Goose]

Sponsorship costs are the same either way

Sponsorship Fee - $1040 CAD

If you do an Inland sponsorship, you will also have to pay the following fee (unless you decide not to apply for a work permit and just to wait for PR).

Work Permit Application - $155
Open Work Permit Holder Fee - $100

 

[zzJehy]

No, she shouldn't pack up all her stuff and all that. She should simply attempt to enter Canada like she's been doing anyway. Once she's in Canada, you file the inland sponsorship application along with an Open Work Permit application. You'll get the work permit in ~4 months and she can start working. PR should follow a few months later.

I guess I should have mentioned that right now she is living in a travel trailer parked at a RV park in USA registered and insured to me in Canada, and that trailer would also be what we would live in at an RV park in Canada.

Every time we cross they ask us pretty much the same questions. Where you going, how long, and what you bringing.

You're saying it would be better if she crosses by herself into Canada with her car and tells them shes staying for.. 4 months with her Husband? That seems like it would certainly bring them to ask if she was immigrating.

It wouldn't be hard for me however to go back into the USA and grab the trailer full of her/our stuff after though. However I'm sure I'd have to tell them something along the lines of "I'm picking up my trailer that my girlfriend used to live in"

The border crossing we use is so small that most of the border guys kind of know us by now.

 

[21Goose]

I guess I should have mentioned that right now she is living in a travel trailer parked at a RV park in USA registered and insured to me in Canada, and that trailer would also be what we would live in at an RV park in Canada.

Every time we cross they ask us pretty much the same questions. Where you going, how long, and what you bringing.

You're saying it would be better if she crosses by herself into Canada with her car and tells them shes staying for.. 4 months with her Husband? That seems like it would certainly bring them to ask if she was immigrating.

It wouldn't be hard for me however to go back into the USA and grab the trailer full of her/our stuff after though. However I'm sure I'd have to tell them something along the lines of "I'm picking up my trailer that my girlfriend used to live in"

The border crossing we use is so small that most of the border guys kind of know us by now.

I remember you now - you were asking about conjugal sponsorship. Congratulations on the impending nuptials.

Yes, she should come by herself. Yes, she should tell them the truth .. but she doesn't have to say 4 months, she can say "visiting". Don't lie, but don't volunteer extraneous information.

If you are bringing in her trailer, you won't be asked questions by immigration. You're Canadian. Even if they ask, and you told them you're bringing in her trailer, it doesn't make any difference to your inland application. She'll be in Canada legally, there's nothing wrong with what you're doing.

However, you may want to check on the Customs rules before bringing the trailer in. You may conceivably have to pay duty or something like that. It's in your name in Canada, right? Did you have to pay duties when you took it to the US?

Just double check on that. I don't think you need to pay anything when you bring it back, but worth finding out.

 

[zzJehy]

I remember you now - you were asking about conjugal sponsorship. Congratulations on the impending nuptials.

Yes, she should come by herself. Yes, she should tell them the truth .. but she doesn't have to say 4 months, she can say "visiting". Don't lie, but don't volunteer extraneous information.

If you are bringing in her trailer, you won't be asked questions by immigration. You're Canadian. Even if they ask, and you told them you're bringing in her trailer, it doesn't make any difference to your inland application. She'll be in Canada legally, there's nothing wrong with what you're doing.

However, you may want to check on the Customs rules before bringing the trailer in. You may conceivably have to pay duty or something like that.

The trailer already has a Canada plate and insurance, and was bought in Canada I'm not too worried about that.

I get what you're saying about "dont ask dont tell", but I do know that 9/10 times they ask how long that the visit is for and when the answer is for immigration that will probably all get brought up.

What about going over 6 months? Does one of those forums extend the visitor visa so that she isn't technically overstaying her welcome?

 

[21Goose]

The trailer already has a Canada plate and insurance, and was bought in Canada I'm not too worried about that.

I get what you're saying about "dont ask dont tell", but I do know that 9/10 times they ask how long that the visit is for and when the answer is for immigration that will probably all get brought up.

What about going over 6 months? Does one of those forums extend the visitor visa so that she isn't technically overstaying her welcome?

Yes, you can apply for an extension once she's in.

 

[zzJehy]

Yes, you can apply for an extension once she's in.

Ok so as soon as she arrives we apply for the PR package, Work Permit, and a visitor visa extension. Anything else? Nothing needs to be done before she arrives?

 

[canuck_in_uk]

(Correct me if I'm wrong on anything below)
I think I have a decent understanding of how an outland sponsorship works we both file a bunch of paperwork, wait about a year, keep doing what we have been doing and then fly somewhere for an interview then she gets to move here and start working, ok cool.

More likely wait about 6 months, no need to fly anywhere because there is pretty much no chance of an interview.

 

[21Goose]

Ok so as soon as she arrives we apply for the PR package, Work Permit, and a visitor visa extension. Anything else? Nothing needs to be done before she arrives?

You don't need to ask for the extension immediately. Wait 5 months.

 

[zzJehy]

You don't need to ask for the extension immediately. Wait 5 months.

ok so the work permit doesn't in it's self add any extension to the duration of time she can stay, only the extension does, right?

What happens if the visitor extension is denied? Wouldn't that mean shes overstaying her welcome and get herself in trouble with everything?

 

[Hurlabrick]

ok so the work permit doesn't in it's self add any extension to the duration of time she can stay, only the extension does, right?

What happens if the visitor extension is denied? Wouldn't that mean shes overstaying her welcome and get herself in trouble with everything?

My understanding is that once the OWP is granted (4 - 5 months after you apply), she will then have 'implied status' for the duration of the OWP. Others may confirm.....

 

[canuck_in_uk]

ok so the work permit doesn't in it's self add any extension to the duration of time she can stay, only the extension does, right?

What happens if the visitor extension is denied? Wouldn't that mean shes overstaying her welcome and get herself in trouble with everything?

The OWP maintains status. If she applies for PR/OWP as soon as she gets here, she won't need to apply for a visitor extension.

 

[zzJehy]

The OWP maintains status. If she applies for PR/OWP as soon as she gets here, she won't need to apply for a visitor extension.

Okay, do we need to consider how much time she has spent in Canada over the last year or is it just 6 months from the date she enters Canada?

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Okay, do we need to consider how much time she has spent in Canada over the last year or is it just 6 months from the date she enters Canada?

Canada doesn't have a cumulative rule. Status resets on each entry. Unless CBSA limits her stay, she gets 6 months.