Inland Sponsorship processing time question - Please enlighten me!

[Sophia_N]

I've been stalking these forums for a while, finally joined up in the hope of clearing up some things I just can't seem to find the answers to via Google or the CIC call centre (seeing as I can never get through)

I've been checking the processing times for the family in Canada class sponsorship applications and stage 1 says that it is 14 months. My question is from when?

Is it 14 months from the date your application was received, or is it 14 months for the people who are currently having their application processed (currently according to the website applications from August 2013)

Because if I have to wait until it says that they're working on applications from September 2014 and THEN wait 14 months I may have to change some plans.

Please advise, many thanks.

 

[Ponga]

The `clock' starts once CIC has received the application.

Consider yourself now enlightened...albeit slightly. ;D

 

[Sophia_N]

Oh bloody hell thank goodness

I have been sitting here like just imagining if it were not the case!

 

[Rob_TO]

Long stage 1 inland times are why you should practically always consider an OUTLAND application, unless you really need the implied status to stay as a visitor (usually for those NOT visa-exempt) or to work in Canada during processing.

 

[Sophia_N]

A lawyer advised us not to send in a work visa application with the sponsorship application which I seriously considered doing because of the benefit of implied status.

So, now I wait without implied status making sure I re-enter the country every 6 months as to not over stay. No healthcare, no working, no studying. The joy of sponsorship.

 

[Rob_TO]

A lawyer advised us not to send in a work visa application with the sponsorship application which I seriously considered doing because of the benefit of implied status.

So, now I wait without implied status making sure I re-enter the country every 6 months as to not over stay. No healthcare, no working, no studying. The joy of sponsorship.

If you applied inland, then I really hope you are not using that lawyer since he sounds like an idiot. Practically everyone applying inland should be submitting an OWP app with their PR app.

Also if you applied inland, it's very dangerous to exit/re-enter Canada during processing as if you were denied for any reason whatsoever at the border, your inland app is cancelled and you have to start over again.

It's much better to apply for a visitor status extension online while staying within Canada. Often people get 12 month extensions.

 

[Sophia_N]

I really did think about (after seeing that other people had) submitting an OWP application at the same time but didn't - as I was thinking that perhaps a lawyer knew something I didn't, ha!

I do not seem to have any excessive amounts of trouble whenever I re-enter Canada as I have done so around five or so times in the past two years, although you are very right in saying that it is risky business should I encounter any trouble at the airport.

I am a bit hesitant about applying for a visitor extension, or just nervous. What if it is denied, do I tell them I am applying for PR, is 12 months going to be long enough, will they even give me 12 months, do I have to do another medical examination and pay for it after having done one for the PR application? Etc etc etc. My head is a mess.

 

[Rob_TO]

I am a bit hesitant about applying for a visitor extension, or just nervous. What if it is denied, do I tell them I am applying for PR, is 12 months going to be long enough, will they even give me 12 months, do I have to do another medical examination and pay for it after having done one for the PR application? Etc etc etc. My head is a mess.

The chance of being denied a visitor extension for a visa-exempt applicant is incredibly small. If you indicate you have already applied inland for PR and are just extending status as a formality, I don't see any reason you wouldn't get at least 12 months.

Whether you will eventually need to re-do your medical has nothing to do with your visitor status. Medical expires after 12 months, and sometimes they extend it while other times they make you do it over again. It's entirely up to the visa officer assigned to your application.

 

[scylla]

I really hope you're not from the US or UK or a similar country with short outland processing times. If so, your lawyer not only needs to be fired, but you should ask for your fees to be returned.

 

[Kayaker]

I agree with Rob_TO. You should have no problem getting an extension. I Have heard of people getting less time than they asked for, for example, someone asked for 2 years but got only 1 year. (I asked for 1 year and got 1 year). Some people get 18 months, I've heard. So ask for longer than you need, just in case. But even if they only give you a shorter time, you can always apply for another extension, so don't worry.

As for processing times, there is no guarantee that yours will be processed in 14 months. The processing time means, I believe, that the people being processed NOW waited 14 months (guess give or take a few weeks). By the time they get around to you, the processing time may be longer or shorter. It's not a prediction of what will be. I think a year (or a few months) ago the processing time was 7 or 8 months. People applied then thinking they'd have stage 1 approval and OWP by now, but the whole process slowed down and now the processing time is 14 months. I don't know what CIC is planning to do with all that backlog. That's why a lot of visa-exempt applicants, especially people from the US, are recommended to withdraw their Inland application and apply again as Outland, because they can get PR in less time than it takes to get OWP Inland. If you applied in September 2014 and you are from a visa-exempt country, I would seriously consider reapplying.

 

[Sophia_N]

I am from the UK.

You all make sense, but the idea of withdrawing and heading back to England now seems so daunting. We just got over the years of distance, you know?

My application was received September 2014, so the way I see it I have 12 months estimated until I get AIP. If I withdraw and re apply outland, I'm looking at a similar time frame by the time the paperwork is done and given in (time frame until I am able to work in Canada), etc

It's six of one and half a dozen of the other at the moment, no?

Also, what I meant was (perhaps I was not clear enough, apologies) if I have already had a medical completed for my PR application and apply for a visitor extension also, can I use the paperwork from the first examination or would I have to complete a second medical specifically for the visitor extension?

 

[Ponga]

I am from the UK.

You all make sense, but the idea of withdrawing and heading back to England now seems so daunting. We just got over the years of distance, you know?

My application was received September 2014, so the way I see it I have 12 months estimated until I get AIP. If I withdraw and re apply outland, I'm looking at a similar time frame by the time the paperwork is done and given in (time frame until I am able to work in Canada), etc

It's six of one and half a dozen of the other at the moment, no?

Also, what I meant was (perhaps I was not clear enough, apologies) if I have already had a medical completed for my PR application and apply for a visitor extension also, can I use the paperwork from the first examination or would I have to complete a second medical specifically for the visitor extension?

Daunting or not, you really should withdraw your Inland application!

The processing time is SUBSTANTIALLY faster for those from the UK and you can [likely] remain in Canada the entire time! You need to maintain your status, but with proof of a sponsorship application, it seems relatively easy.

Many people do not realize that they can be IN Canada with an Outland application.

 

[Sophia_N]

Daunting or not, you really should withdraw your Inland application!

The processing time is SUBSTANTIALLY faster for those from the UK and you can [likely] remain in Canada the entire time! You need to maintain your status, but with proof of a sponsorship application, it seems relatively easy.

Many people do not realize that they can be IN Canada with an Outland application.

The process may be faster all in all, but all I care about is being able to stay here with my husband, work and have healthcare as soon as possible, which are the factors which weigh up about the same in terms of time frame..

Realistically, I'm looking at the same amount of time until I can continue some sort of lifestyle in Canada whether I re-apply outland or not. The difference being if I re-apply outland, that I may have to fly to England at short notice for an interview. Surely I would also have to go back in order to complete the application in the first place. That gives me two sets of travel expenses, plus the expenses for the new application before we get a refund for the old (if we do)

 

[brucem]

The process may be faster all in all, but all I care about is being able to stay here with my husband, work and have healthcare as soon as possible, which are the factors which weigh up about the same in terms of time frame..

Realistically, I'm looking at the same amount of time until I can continue some sort of lifestyle in Canada whether I re-apply outland or not. The difference being if I re-apply outland, that I may have to fly to England at short notice for an interview. Surely I would also have to go back in order to complete the application in the first place. That gives me two sets of travel expenses, plus the expenses for the new application before we get a refund for the old (if we do)

Hi Sophia,

I would tend to agree with what everyone has said about withdrawing, some people from the UK are being processed outland in 4 months as the applications are getting kept in Mississagua. The chances of you being called to interview are virtually nil. Your life is going to be in limbo for the best part of two years whereas with a bit of work you could be done and dusted in 6 months. I know its daunting given the amount of time and work that goes into these applications but it might be worth it in the end. You only have to puruse the inland threads to see how angry and depressed people get and the wait times are only getting longer. And no you dont have to go back to complete an outland application you can do it from Canada.

 

[rhcohen2014]

The difference being if I re-apply outland, that I may have to fly to England at short notice for an interview.

a majority of uk applicants have their interview waived, i believe. generally, interviews are only called because of issues with relationship validity, criminality, and nonaccompanying dependant issues.

Surely I would also have to go back in order to complete the application in the first place.

only to retrieve your belongings if you have any. otherwise, no, this assumption is not correct. your COPR (approval paper) can be mailed to you in canada. it is not required for an outland applicant to use a foreign address for correspondence. in order to land, you can go to a us border by car and do what's called "flagpoling".