Need advice for sponsoring my partner

[acondin]

So I've been reading through a bunch of threads, but am still a bit unsure of which route to go.

I'm in the US on a student visa, and my fiancee is an American citizen. We've been living together for 2 years now, and our wedding is in June this summer, and we want to move back to Ontario a week or two later in July, where I will hopefully be working (in the process of applying for jobs now)

I'm unsure of what the best path would be in terms of applying outland/inland, since we still have 5 months until the wedding.
If we were to apply now, I'm unsure as to whether I'd have to select common-law or it would be acceptable to choose spouse as our wedding date is coming up soon.

She would like to start working as soon as possible, so we've been trying to figure out the most efficient route to take. If anybody has some advice for us we'd be super grateful!

 

[kiwi01]

You would have to choose common law if you were to apply now, as you are not married.

 

[floomy]

outland would be faster than inland app.
she can enter Canada with you after she applied for outland and stay until she gets PR.

you can start to gather all docs now, it would be busy to do it after wedding .
it takes some time to fill out the form and you would meet numbers of question when you start.

you can send off application package after wedding (add some wedding photos and invitation etc. )
good luck.

 

[acondin]

Is there any difference in processing between common law and married?

For example would a married application get priority over a common law application?

 

[krishnalynn]

Is there any difference in processing between common law and married?

For example would a married application get priority over a common law application?

Common law requires a lot more proof. I had probably an extra 100 pages over what a married couple would have. It may take slightly longer to get approved, but no more than a month or so unless you don't include the right documents.

 

[Rob_TO]

Is there any difference in processing between common law and married?

For example would a married application get priority over a common law application?

Each is given equal priority.

The only difference is for common-law you have to submit evidence that proves you lived together at least 12 months. For some this can be just a few extra documents like a shared lease agreement, joint accounts showing common address, mail delivered to each of you at same address, letters from friends/family, etc. The general relationship proofs are pretty much the same whether you're common-law or married.