Inland Spousal Sponsorship

[3utterfy]

Hello! I'm sponsoring my husband (he's from the US) and he's living with me in Canada. We're going to send out our application soon and are wondering if there's a way to pay the Open Work Permit fees now, to send in with the application? Or if we should just send the paperwork and pay when they ask?

Also, his temporary residency extension expires in April 2016, should we have it extended if we're submitting the PR package this week?

Your help is very much appreciated!

 

[3utterfy]

I found how to pay the OWP and WP fees. Now I'm just wondering if I should be extending the visitor visa or applying for temporary residence?

 

[scylla]

If your husband is from the US then you should apply outland. You could be 100% done in as little as four months rather than the three year inland wait.

 

[CanadaNS]

Yes, apply outland it is way quicker. If you don't mind taking some time to refill out applications for the outland route you'll only have to wait 4-6 months until your husbands PR is will approved. Your husband can remain in Canada while he waits just be sure he always has a valid status that allows him to stay in Canada. Also, he can come and go as he pleases he doesn't have to remain trapped in Canada until a decision has been made.

 

[Ponga]

Agreed! Don't let the lure of the OWP hypnotize you into submitting an Inland application!

 

[3utterfy]

Hey! Thanks for the replies. My husband has been in Canada over a year already and we have everything filled out and ready to go. Is it really worth the stress of filling out everything again? Also, I've already paid the OWP and other fees, so I don't think I can get a refund.

I should also specify that I'm the sole supporter. It's just me paying for everything. We don't have the money to send him back to the US if need be. I mean, if it came down to it and we HAD to, we'd find a way. But it's something we 100% want to avoid.

 

[scylla]

Hey! Thanks for the replies. My husband has been in Canada over a year already and we have everything filled out and ready to go. Is it really worth the stress of filling out everything again? Also, I've already paid the OWP and other fees, so I don't think I can get a refund.

You can get a refund on the OWP.

How does he feel about not leaving Canada for three years?

I think it's absolutely worth the stress. Americans tend to have extremely bad experiences when they apply inland due to the wait times.

 

[3utterfy]

You can get a refund on the OWP.

How does he feel about not leaving Canada for three years?

I think it's absolutely worth the stress. Americans tend to have extremely bad experiences when they apply inland due to the wait times.

He's fine with it, but would that mean he and I couldn't leave at all to visit people in the US? For example, he wants to attend a wedding in October of this year.

 

[Ponga]

He's fine with it, but would that mean he and I couldn't leave at all to visit people in the US? For example, he wants to attend a wedding in October of this year.

He can leave anytime, but the potential problem could be when he seeks re-entry. He will need to convince the CBSA officer that he still `lives' in The U.S., and may be asked for proof. He needs to understand what Dual Intent is and how it pertains to him seeking re-entry into Canada. If he's denied, his application is toast!
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/tools/temp/visa/dual.asp

It's a delicate dance; Convincing CIC that he's `living' with you in Canada, while convincing CBSA that he's `visiting' you in Canada.

 

[scylla]

He's fine with it, but would that mean he and I couldn't leave at all to visit people in the US? For example, he wants to attend a wedding in October of this year.

What Ponga said. He can certainly leave - but it's a dice roll if he will be allowed back in. If he wants to be able to come in and out of Canada, apply outland.

 

[CanadaNS]

Exactly, if you and your husband want the freedom to come and go as you please than applying outland is the best option. I experienced this whole thing as well. I wrote about my experience on another post under the Subject: Sponsoring Some one from the US (I'd provide a link but apparently this site doesn't allow it). Maybe you can take a look think things through with your husband and see what works for the both of you.

 

[Ponga]

Exactly, if you and your husband want the freedom to come and go as you please than applying outland is the best option. I experienced this whole thing as well. I wrote about my experience on another post under the Subject: Sponsoring Some one from the US (I'd provide a link but apparently this site doesn't allow it). Maybe you can take a look think things through with your husband and see what works for the both of you.

Here's your link :
http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/sponsoring-some-one-from-the-us-t398638.0.html

+1 for you.

 

[CanadaNS]

Ponga thanks haha...

 

[3utterfy]

Exactly, if you and your husband want the freedom to come and go as you please than applying outland is the best option. I experienced this whole thing as well. I wrote about my experience on another post under the Subject: Sponsoring Some one from the US (I'd provide a link but apparently this site doesn't allow it). Maybe you can take a look think things through with your husband and see what works for the both of you.

Thank you, I will definitely give it a read!

In the event that we still apply inland, should we submit an application for a temporary resident extension, since his current one expires in April 2016? I assume we would submit it along with the open work permit application.

 

[Ponga]

In the event that we still apply Inland... :-\

You can include a visitor extension if you like, but if you have a properly completed OWP application and pay the full amount (which is $255), it's not really needed.
Of course, if the Inland application is returned because of a missing or outdated form, or missing signature(s), he would then be out of status, unless you had included the visitor extension.

If you decide to submit an Outland application, you should definitely extend his status.