inside or outside?

[Lambeen]

I have been on the phone with cic on and off today. I am a visitor here but have spent most of the time here since 2012 since i got remarried. I was thinking about applying from outside of Canada for sponsorship etc because i was advised that it would be alot better to cross the border that way without any problems After talking to cic they said that you can still cross the border, even if you are applying from within as long as you are admissible each time. I also can apply for an open work permit too if i applied from inside which is a plus! of course i could not make that application from outside of Canada. As far as what i could tell their is not much to worry about as far as me going back and forth if needs be as long as i am admissible each time. If for some reason i was not admissible then it could negatively impact my application if i am applying from within, where as if i apply from outside it would not affect it. This is what they told me, while telling me they cant really predict the outcome in any given situation. I want to have the option to see my family now and again and from what they are saying its okay to cross the border if you apply from within as long as you are admissible without any problems affecting my application.
sorry this is long just wondering if anyone here has tried to cross the border while applying from within canada? Thanks everyone

 

[Rob_TO]

It is not up to the call centre agent you talked to if you are allowed into Canada each time you try to enter... it is entirely up to the individual border security officer you happen to get. Despite being "admissible" in general, CBSA could also deny you for other reasons such as thinking you are really living in Canada and are not just a visitor, if they think you will work illegally, or if there is any other small answer you give that they don't like and they happen to be having a bad day and want to take it out on someone. There are enough horror stories out there of people's experiences at the border, and US citizens getting turned back for one reason or another.

So yes it's probably a small risk that you would be denied, and many people do cross back and forth with an inland app in progress, but each time is still a risk. Just be aware, and submit your app accordingly.

Oh and with an inland app you won't get an open work permit until around 8-9 months from submitting. With an outland app through CPP-Ottawa, your entire PR could be approved in around that time based on others experiences through CPP-O. Each app is different though of course, and no guarantees on times.

 

[Lambeen]

Thanks for the response. Seems to me like its a crap-shoot either way