Inland vs Outland London in 2015?

[GerNatUKRes]

Thought to bring this up being aware others may wonder which process to choose since the increased processing times for London.

Where to best apply for Spousal Sponsorship?

I just checked the given times again and wonder what best to do? I included the Vienna office, as I am German but last lived in the UK, so maybe would have both options for Outland. I am aware that people who already have their application being processed could be impacted differently as supposed to new applications entering now.

Processing times: 11 Feb 2015 update:
Inland: 17 months plus 8 months (= 25 months)
Outland: 89 days plus 11 months (London) (= 14 months)
Outland: 89 days plus 17 months (Vienna) (= 20 months)

Processing times: 15 Mar 2015 update:
Inland: 17 months plus 8 months (= 25 months)
Outland: 78 days plus 29 months (London) (= 31 months 18 days)
Outland: 78 days plus 17 months (Vienna) (=19 months 18 days)

I noticed that the times given as processing times rarely represent the actual time it takes.
I am visiting Canada at this time, with expiry of TVP (visa exempt) on May 6th 2015 with a lot of other specific questions.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

As has been HEAVILY discussed on the London thread, the increased processing times for London aren't relevant to the majority of applicants. The times increased due to the transfer of the 2011-2013 Islamabad backlog. Straightforward visa-exempt apps are still averaging around 8 months.

Understand that the processing times posted by CIC are NOT averages. As stated at the top of the webpage, they are the times that it took to process 80% of apps; this means that 79% of apps were processed faster, many significantly faster.

You don't have the option of applying through London if you aren't actually living in the UK. Your outland app would be sent to Vienna.

 

[GerNatUKRes]

Thank you canuck_in_uk!
Your response is much appreciated!
I last lived in the UK (residing there since 1996). And since 2012 I have been on very long visits to my boyfriend / fiance / common-law (I assume we count as common-law as I am on the rental agreement for 2 years (by the end of March 2015)). I entered Canada as a visitor with 6-8 weeks gaps every 6 months.
My very part-time online and offline business is also based in the UK.
So I believe I could apply through London (especially since I am considered a visitor in Canada).

 

[scylla]

You need 12 months of continuous living to qualify as common law. While it's ultimately up to the visa officer who processes your application 6-8 weeks is quite possibly too long a break for your living together to be considered continuous and therefore qualify as common law.

 

[GerNatUKRes]

I understand. Thank you scylla.

We would like to get married also.
So I take it it will also help the application to get married prior?
We have dated for over 4 years now.
The breaks were as long because I thought it would help me when re-entering Canada again as a visitor... and also because I tried to visit family and work while in Europe. As you said, up to the officer I guess.

===
When asking for an extension to my visit, is the requirement to prove finances to support yourself more strict than in the actual spouse-sponsorship process? My partner is self-employed with a new business.

Alternatively: Getting a different person / friend / relative with better finances involved for the purpose of getting the extension only, would look pretty bad on the spouse-sponsorship application I would think!?

 

[canuck_in_uk]

I last lived in the UK (residing there since 1996). And since 2012 I have been on very long visits to my boyfriend / fiance / common-law (I assume we count as common-law as I am on the rental agreement for 2 years (by the end of March 2015)). I entered Canada as a visitor with 6-8 weeks gaps every 6 months. My very part-time online and offline business is also based in the UK. So I believe I could apply through London (especially since I am considered a visitor in Canada).

CIC can choose to process your app in your country of nationality VO or your country of residence VO. You no longer reside in the UK, regardless of your online business being based there. In the PR app, it asks for your country of residence; this is Canada, even though you are here as a visitor.

As scylla said, it must be 12 months of continuous cohabitation. There is a very good chance that 6-8 weeks would be considered a break in that cohabitation.

 

[GerNatUKRes]

Thank you both again.

I will post my other questions as a new topic regarding "extending and proving finances to support yourself prior spouse-sponsorship application"

When asking for an extension to my visit, is the requirement to prove finances to support yourself more strict than in the actual spouse-sponsorship process? My partner is self-employed with a new business.

Alternatively: Getting a different person / friend / relative with better finances involved for the purpose of getting the extension only, would look pretty bad on the spouse-sponsorship application I would think!?