my wife is a canadian citizen, im an american citizen i have a few questions

[fruitball4u]

Thank you so much for clearing that up for me! I really appreciate it!

 

[rhcohen2014]

Ah, okay. Are the spreadsheets just listed in the forum or is there a specific place to check it out?

I've got pretty much everything figured out for inland, so excuse my ignorance on this next question:

I originally came over on a TFW permit, which was good for two years (it expires in June 2015). We are hoping to have my application in by the end of April (I'm dumb and didn't realize that getting fingerprints and my FBI background check would take 3-4 months, so now we have to wait on that), and I was planning on sending in an application for an OWP along with my inland application in order to receive implied status so that I can stay legally.

If I apply outland, I obviously wouldn't be able to have implied status, so how would that work? Would I have to go back to the States and re-enter on the hopes that they would let me in? I'm not concerned with working at this point - I'd prefer to be able to work, so if this whole "OWP on AOR" thing is for real and goes through, I'd definitely consider applying inland anyway, but if it isn't going to happen then I may as well apply outland and just tough it out without a job for the 6-8 months. I'm just not sure how that would affect my status and my ability to stay in Canada.

DO NOT APPLY INLAND! unless something drastic happens with inland in the new year (Which there is a rumor about) you will be making a big mistake. even then, it will take time to figure out how this "change" will affect applicants, and if it actually helps bring down the wait time for OWP. Until it actually starts happening, there is absolutlely NO reason for a us citizen to apply inland!!!!!!!!

first rule of outland... the times posted on the CIC website are misleading and do NOT reflect TODAY'S processing for US applicants. Ottawa handles other applications than just US family class pr, so what is posted as an "average" includes ALL types of applications from ALL the countries it processes. Same with LA. NY doesn't do family class pr anymore. Also, the times posted online are NOT averages. It basically represents "worst case scenarios" from the visa office.

The spreadsheet for Ottawa is in my signautre below (the blue link). I'd encourage you to take a look at it and it will show you pretty much EVERY applicant from 2014 has already been approved and landed, up until June. Of course there are a few random cases that are taking longer. The majority of US applicants are approved in 6 months, some less, some a bit longer.

IF you apply Outland there is NO implied status because you are not submitting an OWP permit. this does NOT mean you can't remain IN canada during your processing. You do not have to go back to the US. All you have to do is extend your stay as a visitor, and request 12 months to ensure you are covered for the process. IT is very rare a US PR applicant is refused an extension. It costs $100 and can be done online 30 days before your current stay/visa expires. IF you have a work permit, you would do the same thing except you would be "changing" your status to visitor.

If you apply inland, your travel is restricted because if you have problems coming back in (which is low for PR applicants from the US), then your application essentially would be cancelled out. There are no travel restrictions for outland applicants, so you can travel freely.

DO NOT APPLY INLAND!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[fruitball4u]

You are awesome. Thank you so much. I was aware of the travel restrictions - I've done a TON of research on inland but never really considered outland because the CIC website shows such long wait times. I'm really glad to know that US applicants are getting processed faster. I'm positive that ours will be an open and shut case - I have massive amounts of proof, we currently live together, and I have like twenty letters from friends and family. Plus my boyfriend and I are both incredibly meticulous, so I'm pretty positive that we'll have everything in order.

The only question I really had was about changing my TFWP to a visitor, but you answered that, so thank you. It really gives me some peace of mind knowing that I won't actually have to leave the country and take my chances at coming back in!

Random question, how did you send everything in? Just in like a manila envelope? I bought a binder and some folder dividers to keep everything organized, and we have actual hard copies of photos (we got them for free so I don't mind losing them as I know that CIC doesn't send things back) that I was going to put in photo page protectors with labels. Do they care how things are sent to them?

 

[blueangel371115]

As long as you include what they ask on the list. All I did was paperclip all the pages that correspond to each form i.e IMM 1344 1-4. IMM 5440, etc. ) together in order of the checklist all together ( not clipped together just a pile) then the proofs and my pictures in back. I didn't do any fancy dividers or color coding since they'll more than likely just pull everything apart and put it in a big pile. I'd just keep it simple, don't make extra work for yourself as long as it's all there, they'll muddle through. I honestly think it doesn't speed things up with the dividers or separate folders.

 

[spaceexp]

Random question, how did you send everything in? Just in like a manila envelope? I bought a binder and some folder dividers to keep everything organized, and we have actual hard copies of photos (we got them for free so I don't mind losing them as I know that CIC doesn't send things back) that I was going to put in photo page protectors with labels. Do they care how things are sent to them?

Make sure you don't use too many of them and don't staple anything. I read they don't allow usage of photo albums, so be careful. Reason is that they scan everything, so if it is in albums and such things it gets harder on them (and probably frustrates them). Actually, to me photo page protectors look a lot like photo album, so I would think about it...

 

[AshleyAnne]

You can still keep your work visa and work in Canada as long as it is valid while applying outland. Outland just gives you the capability to come and go, inland does not. You can go through the threads and look by month for outland applications to see who is getting approved, as I said before, June applicants are seeing a few approvals now. As long as your application is fairly straight forward it should be fine.
USA goes to Ottawa (or missisagua for over flow) and from what I've seen people are seeing approval from 5-10 months. Usually not long past 6 months. Inland is really only good for people who can't be together and need a reason to stay in the country. Since the entire process outland is so short versus 1 year just for the first half of inland? I'd strongly recommend outland. No one who applies inland seems to be happy.

Just go through the forum, look at family class and pull up and read through any applications from March 2014 outland and forward, you see A LOT of approvals to those applying to Ottawa office (Which is where you would apply) and then look over the inland applications, a lot are still from 2013 or 2012 where they are finally seeing some movement.

 

[rhcohen2014]

Random question, how did you send everything in? Just in like a manila envelope? I bought a binder and some folder dividers to keep everything organized, and we have actual hard copies of photos (we got them for free so I don't mind losing them as I know that CIC doesn't send things back) that I was going to put in photo page protectors with labels. Do they care how things are sent to them?

i woldn't go crazy with binders, tabs and such. apparently, what they do is take all your papers and reorganize them based on their needs, so all your hard work gets undone as soon as it's opened. my application was very simple. i used paperclips and 1 manila envelope. i color printed my pictures out on regular paper and copied my relationship proof items at staples, so i didn't have anything loose. i clipped all the sponsor stuff together, the applicant and proof of relationship stuff together, and clipped both piles togehter with a binder clip. put it in the envelope, and mailed it out.

 

[AshleyAnne]

Honestly?
My husband and I had three large plastic envelops, our stuff would not fit into manila ones. They were the envelopes with the ropes on the front and clear.
I used another forums poster as a guide line. we had over 200 pages and hard copies of photos as well. I spent money on binder clips and made tables of contents as well as a lot of page covers and labels so that extended question answers were labeled properly. Here is an idea, remember the more you show and do now the easier it is later on.


http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/how-im-organizing-my-application-t232046.0.html


I used an even better one that had pictures and such too but this one is great also.
Just remember do NOT use staples haha

 

[fruitball4u]

Wow, that is awesome. I'm impressed. Perhaps I'll rethink the photos - we got them printed for free so I was hoping to just use those as we don't have a colour printer and I wasn't particularly wanting to print out a hundred plus colour pages at Staples, haha. But, it may just be easier that way.

I saw that you had notarized letters from people - do you think this was necessary? I have letters from like ten different people (parents/close friends/landlords) but none of them are notarized.

 

[rhcohen2014]

Wow, that is awesome. I'm impressed. Perhaps I'll rethink the photos - we got them printed for free so I was hoping to just use those as we don't have a colour printer and I wasn't particularly wanting to print out a hundred plus colour pages at Staples, haha. But, it may just be easier that way.

as long as the pictures are clear, and the officer can understand what they represent, you don't have to go crazy making tons of color copies.

I saw that you had notarized letters from people - do you think this was necessary? I have letters from like ten different people (parents/close friends/landlords) but none of them are notarized.

letters do not have to be notarized. it is just an extra step people take. it is not required. your letters are fine the way they are.

 

[AshleyAnne]

Don't worry about the format of the photos, a lot of people just print lots of pictures on one page, then they include short descriptions along the bottom or on the back. You just need some sort of explanation for the pictures is all.

As for notarized, I just showed a link that is an example of how someone else did their application. Each application is as individual as the couple it is for.
I had a letter from both in laws and one from my closest friend in Canada (Who introduced us) just showing that our relationship was known by many. Notarized was just extra proof so they don;t think you forged the letter, we just had them sign the letter in blue ink and then sent them in.

 

[spaceexp]

Wow, that is awesome. I'm impressed. Perhaps I'll rethink the photos - we got them printed for free so I was hoping to just use those as we don't have a colour printer and I wasn't particularly wanting to print out a hundred plus colour pages at Staples, haha. But, it may just be easier that way.

I didn't go crazy organizing it too much, I just took a few plastic file folders, labeled them "before wedding", "wedding", "honeymoon" etc, and put everything inside. I didn't write any explanations on pictures. I didn't have a table of contents either. I just used paper clips to separate each form, put checklist on top, and then forms and documents in order showed on the checklists, and everything into one large envelope. They never complained or asked for anything in addition.

I did use red and white paper clips though - to show my Canadian spirit

 

[AshleyAnne]

Yes, everyone is different. It made ME feel better knowing they wouldn't have questions about the relevance of something. Our envelopes were;

Application to sponsor

Application for Permanent Residence

Evidence of Relationship

We had a lot of evidence and our applications were both at least 30 pages, if not more.

 

[spaceexp]

Yes, everyone is different. It made ME feel better knowing they wouldn't have questions about the relevance of something. Our envelopes were;

Application to sponsor

Application for Permanent Residence

Evidence of Relationship

We had a lot of evidence and our applications were both at least 30 pages, if not more.

Yeah, you are right, we all do it differently. I was just showing my example

And it made me feel better too to organize it in a way (I ALMOST did make a table of contents, and even reference everything onto it - auditor in me , but I gave up the last second before sending it)

 

[AshleyAnne]

Hahah
Yes my anxiety and nerves were what made me go organization crazy! Plus my mother in law has OCD and my hubby is a neat freak.... so that also led to me making sure I was organized since they both helped with some of it. haha
If i hear good news soon I'll know it paid off