Inland vs Outland Application

[dpain250]

Looking at the processing times for family class sponsorship it appears that the outland process is much faster than inland. If I am a US citizen that is currently living in Canada am I able to apply outland and just exit/reenter the country when the process is complete? Or will they see my Canadian work experience on the application and deny it?

 

[Kayaker]

Looking at the processing times for family class sponsorship it appears that the outland process is much faster than inland. If I am a US citizen that is currently living in Canada am I able to apply outland and just exit/reenter the country when the process is complete? Or will they see my Canadian work experience on the application and deny it?

You can do exactly what you wrote, it is not a problem at all. CIC recommends applying Outland even if you are physically present in Canada.

 

[dpain250]

Okay, thanks. Would you happen to know which visa office The application would go to for the second stage?

 

[Kayaker]

Okay, thanks. Would you happen to know which visa office The application would go to for the second stage?

I believe Ottawa. Of course, it's up to CIC to decide and I suppose there's a slight chance they send it to L.A. But that's only for problem cases, so unless you think you have major issues (such as criminal inadmissibility, suspicion of marriage of convenience etc.) I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[dpain250]

Understood - I was speaking to an colleague who indicated that he completed the process in 6 weeks, something about american applications being easier for CIC to process. After looking into everything I'm starting to believe he was either full of it or remembering just the first step in the process.

 

[Kayaker]

I guess so. Anyway, processing times change, so his tale might have been from long ago...

But in general Americans do have it easier than most applicants. You could find a thread on this forum for Americans being processed in Ottawa, and that will give you a general idea of what to expect. I think 6 to 8 months is considered normal there.