Inland Sponsorship processing time question - Please enlighten me!

[Rob_TO]

There is no medical check required for a simple visitor status extension of a visa-exempt applicant.

All necessary docs for a UK outland application can be obtained while one is still in Canada. There is pretty much no reason you would have to leave to the UK at any time, only in the very tiny chance an interview is required. Of course the vast majority never require interview.

Also applying outland gives you the freedom to leave Canada for vacation as you wish, and not have to worry about re-entry to Canada and possibly having your PR app cancelled on you.

 

[Sophia_N]

Okay, so..

If I were to withdraw the inland application to file an outland, would the fees be refunded/how long would it take for that?

I'm not sure how I would go about filing an outland application whilst IN Canada. Surely they must see that as a bit dodgy?

Also, thank you everybody so far, for the first time during this process I feel like I'm getting actual constructive advice.

 

[brucem]

Okay, so..

If I were to withdraw the inland application to file an outland, would the fees be refunded/how long would it take for that?

I'm not sure how I would go about filing an outland application whilst IN Canada. Surely they must see that as a bit dodgy?

Also, thank you everybody so far, for the first time during this process I feel like I'm getting actual constructive advice.

I think it can take a couple of months. I seem to remember another thread where there was some debate about whether you could submit an outland app before the inland was cancelled, maybe the senior members can shed light on that. It's not dodgy as long as you keep legal status in Canada, for whatever reason CIC are just grinding to a halt with inland apps so it makes sense.

 

[Ponga]

Okay, so..

If I were to withdraw the inland application to file an outland, would the fees be refunded/how long would it take for that?

I'm not sure how I would go about filing an outland application whilst IN Canada. Surely they must see that as a bit dodgy?

Also, thank you everybody so far, for the first time during this process I feel like I'm getting actual constructive advice.

Others have been able to simply use the same receipt (since the fees are the same) when reapplying with their Outland application; they didn't need to wait for a refund (which could take up to 16 weeks, apparently).

Since your Inland application is < 2 months old, this should be plenty of notice for CIC to cancel that application.

 

[Rob_TO]

I'm not sure how I would go about filing an outland application whilst IN Canada. Surely they must see that as a bit dodgy?

If you actually read your inland instruction guide, you'd see that CIC even recommends to people to apply outland instead of inland for quicker processing.
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/guides/5289ETOC.asp
The family class is aimed at faster processing of spouse or common‑law partner applications from applicants outside Canada.
Processing times for spouses or common‑law partners in Canada are generally longer.
The person being sponsored can apply to a visa office outside Canada to take advantage of the family class processing standard. Processing times for applications processed in Canada are posted on our Web site.

 

[Kayaker]

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)

If staying with your husband is the one and only important thing - continue with the Inland app. If being able to work and have healthcare is ALSO a priority, reapply as Outland. UK citizens get their PR in less than 6 months, it seems - some as quickly as 3 months. Your chances of an interview are extremely small, as others have said.

No, you can file an Outland application while being physically present in Canada, and you can list your Canadian address. There's absolutely nothing dodgy about that, unless you are in Canada illegally.

And when you get your COPR, you can drive to the US and then drive back in to Canada (it's called flagpoling) to re-enter Canada as a PR. The only reason you'd need to go back to the UK is to see family and friends, and to get your stuff. You'd do that anyway even with an Inland app.

You should also remember that the 14 month processing time applies to people who are being processed now. The fact that someone who applied in September 2013 is being processed now is not an indication of what Your application wait time will be. Let's say you arrived at a bank. The person at the teller says he waited 1 hour to see a teller. But if there are 200 people in line after him, your wait time will probably be much longer than his. (Or if there's no one after him, you could wait less.) Unfortunately no one knows how many people applied between September 2013 and September 2014, so I would not rely on 14 months when making your plans. If the current trend continues, it could be much, much longer than 14 months. If CIC suddenly decides to divert its human resources to getting rid of the backlog, it could be much shorter. Only you can decide what is more likely to happen.

 

[Sophia_N]

If staying with your husband is the one and only important thing - continue with the Inland app. If being able to work and have healthcare is ALSO a priority, reapply as Outland. UK citizens get their PR in less than 6 months, it seems - some as quickly as 3 months. Your chances of an interview are extremely small, as others have said.

No, you can file an Outland application while being physically present in Canada, and you can list your Canadian address. There's absolutely nothing dodgy about that, unless you are in Canada illegally.

And when you get your COPR, you can drive to the US and then drive back in to Canada (it's called flagpoling) to re-enter Canada as a PR. The only reason you'd need to go back to the UK is to see family and friends, and to get your stuff. You'd do that anyway even with an Inland app.

You should also remember that the 14 month processing time applies to people who are being processed now. The fact that someone who applied in September 2013 is being processed now is not an indication of what Your application wait time will be. Let's say you arrived at a bank. The person at the teller says he waited 1 hour to see a teller. But if there are 200 people in line after him, your wait time will probably be much longer than his. (Or if there's no one after him, you could wait less.) Unfortunately no one knows how many people applied between September 2013 and September 2014, so I would not rely on 14 months when making your plans. If the current trend continues, it could be much, much longer than 14 months. If CIC suddenly decides to divert its human resources to getting rid of the backlog, it could be much shorter. Only you can decide what is more likely to happen.

3-6 months for the outland seems ridiculously optimistic, the processing times say around a year?

Everything you have said makes complete sense, this is what is going through my head though-

My inland application was received two months ago, so I according to current estimations I have around a 12 month wait left until I am able to work and get some healthcare, I can apply for a visitor extension and I'm fine and dandy in Canada.

I can cancel the inland, gather everything I need to complete the outland application and get that sent in, I'm guessing that will take me around a month and let that process start rolling. They will probably take a fortnight to receive my application and then it begins and I'm waiting for what COULD be 3-6 months or COULD be 12 months regardless until I get to a result which means I can work and get healthcare.

With the inland I'm waiting around 12 months and with the outland I could be waiting 12 months. By the time my outland application is received I would be three and a half months in to the 14 month inland process. See what I'm trying to say?

 

[Ponga]

I can certainly understand your `disbelief' in how quickly most from the UK complete the entire process.

While it is true that there are no guarantees, if you have a solid application (meaning complete and with strong evidence of your relationship, as well as no inadmissibility issues), you really could get through the entire process soooooo much faster.

Even after the ~ 12 months for the Inland application to reach AIP, who knows how much longer it would be after that to actually land and become a PR...trapped in Canada the entire time. Ok...trapped is a rather harsh word, but most people would agree that leaving Canada while an Inland application is in-process is risky.

 

[Kayaker]

Well, you could go find the thread for UK applicants going through the London VO and ask around.

Only 20% of cases take 12 months or longer at London office. Those 20% would be people with criminal or medical issues, dependents, suspected marriage of convenience, and also people living in the UK who are not UK citizens, possibly.

I see what you mean about having waited 2 months already... but even people who waited 6 months are reapplying Outland now.

The chances of you waiting 12 months or longer for Inland - probably pretty high.

The chances of you waiting less than that for Outland - far less than 20%, unless you have issues (aforementioned) that CIC would flag.


If you're interested, probably the best thing you can do now is to ask around at the London VO thread to see how UK applicants are faring. That would probably be the best in terms of making an informed decision. You could also go to the 2013 Inland applicants' thread or the 2014 Inland applicants' thread and ask around, too. Once you talk to both sides you might find it easier to decide.

 

[Sophia_N]

So guys, looked in to the visitor extension. I do have to complete a medical examination for it. Does anybody know whether or not the medical examination that I have already had (for my PR app around 2 months ago) can be used? Say if I get proof of its completion? Or.. Will I have to go and get myself another exam?

 

[canuck_in_uk]

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/medical/medexams-temp.asp. Only those who have spent 6 consecutive months in a risk country in the past year are required to complete a medical for a visitor extension.


As all of the others have said, withdraw the inland app and apply outland through London. You will have no issues extending your stay in Canada while the app processes, there is practically no chance of being called for an interview unless you have some red flags and your app will most likely be done before you get AIP from your inland app.

Understand that the outland processing times are NOT averages. They are how long it took to process 80% of apps, which means that 79% are processed faster, many significantly faster. London actually averages around 8 months, with 30% of apps done within 6 months.

Also, inland processing times have only been increasing for many months now, so do consider that the current posted time of 14 months (which in actual fact is nearly 15 months because they are currently working on apps from Aug 17th) may very well continue to increase.

 

[Kayaker]

So guys, looked in to the visitor extension. I do have to complete a medical examination for it. Does anybody know whether or not the medical examination that I have already had (for my PR app around 2 months ago) can be used? Say if I get proof of its completion? Or.. Will I have to go and get myself another exam?

Yes, you can use the same medical. Do you still have the page(s) they gave you at the clinic? It has your photo on it, and a number and/or barcode. You can scan it and send it.

 

[yvr1234]

To add more information for you in deciding to stay "inland" or "outland", it's not easy to get medical coverage in some province with just AIP. It took us (and HR of my office) a while to fight for my husband's medical coverage. By the time we knew for sure he got it covered, it's past AOR.

 

[Ponga]

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/decision-made-too-early-im-so-lost-and-worried-t250827.0.html

This person from the UK may be the first [of many] to get through this process at record speed!

 

[alicia13]

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?

I applied through the London visa office and have lived here in Toronto for the entire duration of the process; you don't need to leave Canada to apply Outland! Inland is an utter nightmare now and for almost all cases Outland is the obvious choice. Can't believe your lawyer advised you to apply Inland But you know your situation best, if you're not in a hurry to get your PR then remaining on implied status may work fine for you. But keep in mind that if you leave the country, even for a week on holiday or something, you lose your implied status!