Inland Spousal Sponsorship Taking A Long Time...

[McKee]

Hi,

I'm looking for some feedback from anyone else who is experiencing what seem to be long delays (maybe I'm wrong?). Filed in May 2015, received notice that my application to sponsor my husband who is living here in Canada was being assessed July 23, 2015. Since then I have heard NOTHING.

This was supposed to be the quickest part I thought. Any thoughts on what the average wait time is for the assessment of the sponsor for inland applications ?

Thanks in advance,

Cheryl

 

[mikeymyke]

I believe the assessment of sponsor for inland is around 17 months or so, this was before CIC decided to change the way processing times are viewed. So if that's true, don't expect a response until October

I'm wondering why you guys decided to apply inland as an American rather than outland, because if you had applied outland, you would've gotten PR visa around Jan-Feb of this year. With inland, now you'll have to wait about another year or so.

 

[scylla]

What you're experiencing is perfectly normal. The first stage of the inland process takes around 16-17 months. So you shouldn't expect to hear anything until then.

Did you submit an open work permit along with your application?

 

[McKee]

Yes, we submitted an OWP with the application which he got in Aug. 2015. We were advised that the OWP program for spousal sponsorship was a limited time offer (pilot project) so if we didn't want to wait two years to be together this was the best option.

We regret taking that option in some ways. We are happy that we are able to be together but its very difficult to find full time work without a PR card.

Cheryl

 

[scylla]

You could have applied outland while in Canada. You wouldn't have qualified for an OWP - but it's quite likely / possible you would have had PR by now (some Americans are getting through the outland process in as little as four months these days). Outland is almost always the better option for Americans.

Having said that, what's done is done. You still likely have a year and a half ahead of you before you have PR through the inland route. If you're finding it really frustrating, you could withdraw your inland application and apply again through outland.

 

[McKee]

FML. Unfortunately being able to afford the whole process again and the fact that his visitor status has long expired does not make the outland option a viable one now.

Now we have to figure out what to do about his car (he's from Indiana) and we haven't imported it because of his status.

Oh the joys...

 

[km9203]

FML. Unfortunately being able to afford the whole process again and the fact that his visitor status has long expired does not make the outland option a viable one now.

Now we have to figure out what to do about his car (he's from Indiana) and we haven't imported it because of his status.

Oh the joys...

If you look at the Inland timeline, people are getting PR within 14 months it seems. They are currently working on Jan/Feb 2015 apps. Hold tight.

 

[McKee]

I can no longer see the link to where you can see the "where are they now" info. Would you happen to have that ?

Cheers,

Cheryl

 

[km9203]

This is the spreadsheet you want to take a look at. Click on the 2015-2016 application timeline sheet and you will see that they have started approving Jan/Feb/(some)March 2015 applications...and right now the whole process seems to be taking 14 months. Let's hope they stay on track. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Yn3BFzI4q4xAy4EW3pG4CgQz9o3EzF5b18_tcSJwBhA/edit#gid

 

[McKee]

That awesome!! Thank you so much!

Cheryl

 

[Johninsask]

Hey Cheryl,

If you don't mind me asking, what trouble has he had finding work because of not having a PR card? For what it's worth, I've experienced zero resistance (I'm a US Citizen on an Open Work Permit). I applied the same time as you. I might add, to anyone wondering, we went the inland route because my spouse/sponsor was pregnant, so we needed to make sure I could work... and it's good thing, because he came two weeks early.

John

Yes, we submitted an OWP with the application which he got in Aug. 2015. We were advised that the OWP program for spousal sponsorship was a limited time offer (pilot project) so if we didn't want to wait two years to be together this was the best option.

We regret taking that option in some ways. We are happy that we are able to be together but its very difficult to find full time work without a PR card.

Cheryl

 

[km9203]

Hey Cheryl,

If you don't mind me asking, what trouble has he had finding work because of not having a PR card? For what it's worth, I've experienced zero resistance (I'm a US Citizen on an Open Work Permit). I applied the same time as you. I might add, to anyone wondering, we went the inland route because my spouse/sponsor was pregnant, so we needed to make sure I could work... and it's good thing, because he came two weeks early.

John

I also got job interviews/a job no problem. And I feel very lucky given the work situation in Calgary. He shouldn't get any resistance with his work permit.