INLAND APPLICATIONS 2013

[Mrs_Canuck]

Quick question for everyone: I was cleaning up the other day and I came across tax forms and realized that my husband and I have yet to change our marital status with CRA or any government official. We were married in January and now I'm worried that not having changed it right away will look suspicious. :/ Since we were both technically single in the eyes of CRA until we were married this year, I know it would not effect our taxes or the way we filed them. Should we change it now even though we've been married for nearly 4 months now?

I can't believe I forgot about this...

 

[amikety]

Not a big deal. Lots of people submit "single" Option Cs and get approved just fine. CIC knows to check dates. CRA's current status will play no effect in your application.

 

[Lorelei]

Hi,
I'm reading this forum almost every day for a couple of weeks.
Husband and I are going to apply inland.

He is permanent resident for two years,were dating for six years,four and a half in our country,and last november we decided thah it is time to spend some time together,and I cam and got visitor record for 4 monts.We made sudden decision thah we want to get married and applyed for my TRV,with his letter that we are going to get married,asked for 6 months and got it. Wedding was planned and done in two days with two families of our friends.We have a lot of pictures during our relationship,and of our wedding,and after.Conversations on skype,and emails are in our language,not in english.do we have to translate those,or explanation that we can if they demand got it translated?

In both of my visitor records is said that I'm prohibited from engaging in employment unless authorized,so my question is am I eligible for open work permit? And do I have to apply for extension if aip is not done in 5-6 months?And what is cost of medical since I have to do it here in Canada?

 

[amikety]

Hi,
I'm reading this forum almost every day for a couple of weeks.
Husband and I are going to apply inland.

He is permanent resident for two years,were dating for six years,four and a half in our country,and last november we decided thah it is time to spend some time together,and I cam and got visitor record for 4 monts.We made sudden decision thah we want to get married and applyed for my TRV,with his letter that we are going to get married,asked for 6 months and got it. Wedding was planned and done in two days with two families of our friends.We have a lot of pictures during our relationship,and of our wedding,and after.Conversations on skype,and emails are in our language,not in english.do we have to translate those,or explanation that we can if they demand got it translated?

In both of my visitor records is said that I'm prohibited from engaging in employment unless authorized,so my question is am I eligible for open work permit? And do I have to apply for extension if aip is not done in 5-6 months?And what is cost of medical since I have to do it here in Canada?

If you apply Inland and include an open work permit application with your PR application and pay the fees, once Stage 1 is finished, you will get an OWP in the mail. Most people quote 6 months as the time. (Although it can take longer, so don't bank on it.)

Otherwise, there is no OWP for Canadian PR/citizen spouses.

 

[AchankengCrawford]

I have a question about finances. I'm sponsoring my common-law partner and we've both been living in his country for the past two years. I'm working there on what is essentially an honourarium. Specifically, I get a living stipend and my costs for flight home, etc... covered by the local organization here. My monthly stipend is $200, which more than covers cost of living here (Cameroon), but is nothing in Canada. I'm legally allowed to work in Cameroon and, but don't pay taxes in Cameroon or Canada (as I'm not a resident). I'm currently applying for jobs in Canada and we intend to return to Canada in June, then apply inland.

Is this going to be a problem, or should I wait to submit the forms until I get steady employment? I've heard that there's no low-income cutoff for sponsoring a common-law partner, but I'm still concerned.

 

[filipina311]

Hi, i just applied for single entry tourist visa, and I got it! I have my trv now and im planning to process my papaers as immigrant visa once im in canada with my husband.

Question though, what do you think is our best way to process my PR application while im there in canada as a tourist visa holder?inland or outland? They say outland application is faster but may i file an extension of my trv, for the reason that my outland application is in process? help please. Thanks.

 

[nrajani_99]

Well... not sure if this is a good thing, or a bad thing... but opened the mail this morning to find a letter addressed to my spouse (the applicant) requesting that we attend an interview at our Local CIC office .. on Monday... (4 days from now!!)

We are asked to bring with us:
- his passport
- letter from previous, present employer indicating length of employ, salary etc. (which he does not have as he is not able to work)
- copy of last filed Income Tax or Notice of Assessment (don't have that either, he is not Cdn and has never filed taxes)
- proof of relationship (i'm assuming bring some the same things we sent in with our original application, plus more?)
- our marriage certificate
- "other" ... a note on the bottom reads: The purpose of this interview is to determine if your relationship with your sponsor meets the requirements of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. You are counselled to bring any documentation that you would like considered that demonstrates that you are cohabiting with your sponsor in a conjugal relationship. Failure to attend the interview will be construed as a lack of interest in continuing with your application for PR and may lead to the refusal of your application. Any questions call the call centre..

-----

Sooo... any ideas? Is this our "interview" to see if our relationship is genuine? We do not have AIP yet, our application was rec'd in Vegreville on Feb 15th, then we rec'd a letter stating our file was transferred to Vancouver CIC the next day (we are from Ontario btw) I was informed that Vancouver CIC was the "overflow office". Now, we are receiving a letter to attend an interview at our Local office (not Vancouver).

I would say the "red flags" on our application are:
- My husband has been out of status a little over 2 years now (work visa expired end of 2010)
- We are 9 years difference in age (but have been in a relationship since 2004, and living together since end of 2010)
- I am disabled and collect 'partial' ODSP benefits (ontario disability)since 2009, but I do have other income as well

Some other things have been happening also...

> last week, I noticed i did not receive my CCTB as usual (I have a son from a previous relationship) when I called to inquire I was informed that it was because I filed my income tax for 2012 as married, but did not indicate a SIN for my spouse (becuz he does not have one). They requested that I write a letter to the tax centre to explain this in order for it to get sorted out.

> last week, we also had an interview with the disability office because they need to add my spouse to my file (I informed them last october 2012 that we got married). At the meeting we expressed our concerns with adding him to my benefits as we did not want to jeopardize our sponsorship application in any way (ie, if they were to increase my allowance because another person was living in our household, would immigration deem the additional monies as my spouse collecting "social assistance" and disqualify our application)... we left the office with my spouse being added, but we refused the additional money to be added for him to be safe becuz we are getting conflicting information from different sources .. or at least until we can get a firm answer from immigration (however, becuz we refused addtl money to be added to my disabilty income, now they are actually deducting $150 from my benefits.. not sure why, still trying to figure it out, we're told it's just how the system calculated it). I was speaking with my worker yesterday and she mentioned that someone from immigration had called her to ask if I had notified them that I was married. So it looks as though they have started working on our file, even tho e-cas is still only showing as "Application Received" (not - in process)

my head is spinning... not sure what to expect... it seems too soon for us to be getting a local interview already ... i'm nervous, scared, and excited all at the same time! opinions welcome.. is this good or bad?

Dawles I hope your interveiw goes well.. keep us posted.. GOOD LUCK!

 

[AchankengCrawford]

Hi, i just applied for single entry tourist visa, and I got it! I have my trv now and im planning to process my papaers as immigrant visa once im in canada with my husband.

Question though, what do you think is our best way to process my PR application while im there in canada as a tourist visa holder?inland or outland? They say outland application is faster but may i file an extension of my trv, for the reason that my outland application is in process? help please. Thanks.

Hi filipina13,

If you're in Canada when you apply, you must apply inland. If you apply inland you can also apply for an open work permit at the same time, which gives you "implied status" meaning you an stay in Canada even if your trv expires. You won't be able to work or study for at least six months though.

You could also apply outland before you leave for Canada, but then you cannot apply for a open work permit. I've also heard that if you have an outland application in process, they might refuse you entry at the border because they suspect you're planning on staying past your visa. I don't know how true that is though.

Also, if, when you're entering on your tourist visa, they suspect you're planning on applying inland, they can refuse you at the border.

Hope that helps.

 

[nrajani_99]

Hi filipina13,

If you're in Canada when you apply, you must apply inland. If you apply inland you can also apply for an open work permit at the same time, which gives you "implied status" meaning you an stay in Canada even if your trv expires. You won't be able to work or study for at least six months though.

You could also apply outland before you leave for Canada, but then you cannot apply for a open work permit. I've also heard that if you have an outland application in process, they might refuse you entry at the border because they suspect you're planning on staying past your visa. I don't know how true that is though.

Also, if, when you're entering on your tourist visa, they suspect you're planning on applying inland, they can refuse you at the border.

Hope that helps.

AchankengCrawford .. just a small correction.. outland can be applied from inside canada, actually anywhere in the world. it just for landing and interview purposes she would have to leave canada and re-enter. My friend did that with her husband applciation, he was in canada when she applied but left now for landing purposes.

A

 

[computergeek]

If you're in Canada when you apply, you must apply inland.

Sorry, but this is never true if you are a legal temporary resident of Canada. If you are without status in Canada then this is your only option.

A temporary resident of Canada is a "visitor" and may apply through their home visa office. I've done it, as have many other people - I was living in Canada legally on a work permit, but my application was processed as an Outland application. I lived in Canada the entire time the application was in process (we could have done it either way, but at the time the Inland process was 19 months and the Outland process 13 months.)

 

[amikety]

Just to add to what computergeek is saying....

CIC advises to apply to an outside Visa Office whenever possible as many of them have quicker processing times than Inland. So not only is it okay, but CIC encourages it.

 

[dawlex]

We had our interview this morning... and we were verbally told by the immigration officer that we are being approved (AIP) !!! YAAAY!!

After the interview, we were told we should receive our AIP in the mail within 2 weeks, with the OWP we applied for as well.. (we brought it with us today)
The interview went very well. They separated us and asked me (sponsor) questions for about 1 hr and 15 mins... and then my husband (applicant) went in and they asked him questions as well for about 30 mins. Then called both of us back in and told us they are approving the application.

As for his lack of status.... I asked during my part of the questioning how it is going to be dealt with and was told that if our answers match each others and he believes we are a genuine couple that he will be approving us and he will be coming home with me today, if not, he will be arrested and our application would be refused. It has to be dealt with because there is an immigration warrant out for his arrest, so we have to return tomorrow when they will arrest him and then immediately release him, likely with some conditions (ie. notify of any address change, he may even have to report to an office until he gets his PR). But because we are being approved, it is going to go away and not be hanging over our heads any longer.

We are soooo sooo happy! All the worrying and stressing is over. You have no idea how relieved we both are that this part is over with. Things have been pretty tense around here since that letter came in the mail last week asking for us to attend an interview.. we thought it HAD to be a bad thing becuz it was happening so fast (we got AOR on Feb 15th) .. and we assumed it most likely was becuz of his lack of status. Ive been mentally preparing myself for the worst case scenario all weekend. But what a relief.. it could not have turned out any better.

I hope everyone else on this board has a quick decision too! Thank you all for your support and advice. We still need to wait for his background, medical and security checks to be completed before he gets his PR.. but the officer said that would likely come a few months after we get our AIP letter (in about 2 weeks from now) provided there are no problems.. which there wont be. Btw ... our e-cas still shows as application received...lol.

 

[salsal31]

We had our interview this morning... and we were verbally told by the immigration officer that we are being approved (AIP) !!! YAAAY!!

After the interview, we were told we should receive our AIP in the mail within 2 weeks, with the OWP we applied for as well.. (we brought it with us today)
The interview went very well. They separated us and asked me (sponsor) questions for about 1 hr and 15 mins... and then my husband (applicant) went in and they asked him questions as well for about 30 mins. Then called both of us back in and told us they are approving the application.

As for his lack of status.... I asked during my part of the questioning how it is going to be dealt with and was told that if our answers match each others and he believes we are a genuine couple that he will be approving us and he will be coming home with me today, if not, he will be arrested and our application would be refused. It has to be dealt with because there is an immigration warrant out for his arrest, so we have to return tomorrow when they will arrest him and then immediately release him, likely with some conditions (ie. notify of any address change, he may even have to report to an office until he gets his PR). But because we are being approved, it is going to go away and not be hanging over our heads any longer.

We are soooo sooo happy! All the worrying and stressing is over. You have no idea how relieved we both are that this part is over with. Things have been pretty tense around here since that letter came in the mail last week asking for us to attend an interview.. we thought it HAD to be a bad thing becuz it was happening so fast (we got AOR on Feb 15th) .. and we assumed it most likely was becuz of his lack of status. Ive been mentally preparing myself for the worst case scenario all weekend. But what a relief.. it could not have turned out any better.

I hope everyone else on this board has a quick decision too! Thank you all for your support and advice. We still need to wait for his background, medical and security checks to be completed before he gets his PR.. but the officer said that would likely come a few months after we get our AIP letter (in about 2 weeks from now) provided there are no problems.. which there wont be. Btw ... our e-cas still shows as application received...lol.

Thank God everything worked out for you guys, Congrats.......I was actually thinking of you guys. Thank you for keeping us informed, I guess you are the first 2013 applicants to be approved yaaay I hope we all start getting our first stage approved soon.

 

[salsal31]

We had our interview this morning... and we were verbally told by the immigration officer that we are being approved (AIP) !!! YAAAY!!

After the interview, we were told we should receive our AIP in the mail within 2 weeks, with the OWP we applied for as well.. (we brought it with us today)
The interview went very well. They separated us and asked me (sponsor) questions for about 1 hr and 15 mins... and then my husband (applicant) went in and they asked him questions as well for about 30 mins. Then called both of us back in and told us they are approving the application.

As for his lack of status.... I asked during my part of the questioning how it is going to be dealt with and was told that if our answers match each others and he believes we are a genuine couple that he will be approving us and he will be coming home with me today, if not, he will be arrested and our application would be refused. It has to be dealt with because there is an immigration warrant out for his arrest, so we have to return tomorrow when they will arrest him and then immediately release him, likely with some conditions (ie. notify of any address change, he may even have to report to an office until he gets his PR). But because we are being approved, it is going to go away and not be hanging over our heads any longer.

We are soooo sooo happy! All the worrying and stressing is over. You have no idea how relieved we both are that this part is over with. Things have been pretty tense around here since that letter came in the mail last week asking for us to attend an interview.. we thought it HAD to be a bad thing becuz it was happening so fast (we got AOR on Feb 15th) .. and we assumed it most likely was becuz of his lack of status. Ive been mentally preparing myself for the worst case scenario all weekend. But what a relief.. it could not have turned out any better.

I hope everyone else on this board has a quick decision too! Thank you all for your support and advice. We still need to wait for his background, medical and security checks to be completed before he gets his PR.. but the officer said that would likely come a few months after we get our AIP letter (in about 2 weeks from now) provided there are no problems.. which there wont be. Btw ... our e-cas still shows as application received...lol.

Why the immigration arrest warrant? Will this not affect his application?????

 

[dawlex]

The warrant was issued becuz he had overstayed a work visa (by two years actually) thats another long story.. but it all worked out in the end. Anyone who overstays past 90 days a warrant is automatically issued. From what I understand, they dont really come looking for you unless they have reason to .. but, if you get yourself into any trouble, or even are innocently pulled over or questioned by police, you are done.

Since there was an immigration warrant issued for my husband for his overstay, it needs to be dealt with, and the only way to do that is to execute the warrant. However since the IO told us today that we are being approved he has the authority to fix that for us. Tomorrow, we have to return to the immigration office and they will arrest my husband, then he will be immediately released afterwards. They said they may impose some conditions on his at that time too. (ie. notify them of any address change, possibly report to an office until his PR comes) Once we get the OWP (they said within 2 weeks, it will arrive with our AIP letter) that puts him back into status again.