Need help! Apply abroad or in Canada?

[sklin88]

Hope someone can help me here, really apperciate!

My situation is: I am a Canadian, I am getting marry in January abroad. I am planning to move back to Canada in March, and obviously I want to bring my wife back to Canada.

Now, Should I just submit the application abroad in January?
Or, should I just apply after we both enter into Canada?

Which option is better? What is the difference?


Thanks for your feedback!!

 

[scylla]

Where is your wife from?

 

[DuberBlue]

You would not be able to submit an inland application in January if your wife is not IN the country.

You COULD, I believe, do an outland application at that time, before you return, but when you bring your wife to Canada with you in March she will have NO status in Canada, and so you must make sure she states that she is coming to visit, and the border officer must be satisfied that she will leave after the maximum allowable period of 6 months (which you can apply to extend).

Conversely, if you choose to wait, and assuming your wife is allowed into the country with you (still satisfying the border guard as above), you could apply either inland or outland. With an inland application your wife will be given Implied Status which will allow her to remain for the entire duration of the process, but must stay in the country. If for any reason she is denied re-entry into Canada, the application is lost. With the outland app, your wife will have more freedom of movement, but must always ensure she maintains legally that visitor status and extends it as necessary.

 

[DuberBlue]

Just to add to the above, I want to stress that, based on what I have read here, do not say you are bringing your wife into Canada so that she can apply inland (if indeed you choose the inland route over the outland route). That is tanatamount to convincing the border officer to let your wife in indefinitely, which is not cool with them

Perhaps I am wrong here and other people might have different experiences, but that seems to be the prevailing sentiment here. Your wife is here to visit you. When she is inside, you may then proceed with whatever route you choose.

 

[sklin88]

My wife is from Taiwan and I am currently in Taiwan.

Hi BurberBlue,
I was thinking, if I apply inland, I just apply after I got back to Canada in March.(Bring all the proofs, wedding photos and marriage certificate from Taiwan) but the drawback is she cannot leave Canada anytime before the application result come out, which it could take up to 1 to 2 years? correct me if I am wrong.

If I apply out side of Canada, the advantage is she is free to enter/leave Canada whenever she wish to, provide that it's visa exempt(she can stay in 6 months and extend later on) but the drawback is since we submit the application to Hong Kong office, that means if they need to interview us, my wife and I will need to fly all the way to Hong Kong? Or it's possible to select to get the interview done in Toronto, Canada?



Thank you so much for your feedback!

 

[DuberBlue]

My wife is from Taiwan and I am currently in Taiwan.

Hi BurberBlue,
I was thinking, if I apply inland, I just apply after I got back to Canada in March.(Bring all the proofs, wedding photos and marriage certificate from Taiwan) but the drawback is she cannot leave Canada anytime before the application result come out, which it could take up to 1 to 2 years? correct me if I am wrong.

That is correct, including the processing time, unfortunately. Right now it seems closer to two years than one, although after the Stage 1 approval of an inland app (11 months is the number thrown around here a lot) your wife COULD apply for a work permit here.

If I apply out side of Canada, the advantage is she is free to enter/leave Canada whenever she wish to, provide that it's visa exempt(she can stay in 6 months and extend later on) but the drawback is since we submit the application to Hong Kong office, that means if they need to interview us, my wife and I will need to fly all the way to Hong Kong? Or it's possible to select to get the interview done in Toronto, Canada?

Does your wife require a visa to enter Canada? The CIC site gives different answers for China and Taiwan. If so, I don't know how the process changes if you wish to extend that particular document. I was thinking solely about visa-exempt countries....the process may be similar for you but I cannot say with any certainty.

As for the interview location, yes, if the processing office is in Hong Kong your interview would be there, and I do not believe you get any say to have it anywhere else. Now, if your case happens to be transferred to, say the Ottawa Case Processing Pilot, I don't know for sure if that also means your interview might be done there as well, but somehow I'm doubtful....simply because that assumed your wife was actually allowed to COME to Ottawa, by virtue of being allowed into the country.

 

[sklin88]

Hi BurberBlue,

so what you mean here is that even though the application is in progress, she can still get the working permit in Canada first?

And I don't think she require a visa to enter into Canada, it's Visa exempt for Taiwan's citizen, so she just review every 6 months.

In term of apply inland or outland, which one will take short time to get the application done?

Thanks again!

 

[DuberBlue]

Hi BurberBlue,

so what you mean here is that even though the application is in progress, she can still get the working permit in Canada first?

For an inland app, yes, but only after the Stage 1 processing is complete. This is that 11 month thing I mentioned. I'm not as much informed on the details of inland apps but this is how it goes as I understand.

And I don't think she require a visa to enter into Canada, it's Visa exempt for Taiwan's citizen, so she just review every 6 months.

In term of apply inland or outland, which one will take short time to get the application done?

Outland is quicker 99% of the time. That does NOT mean your wife can't be in Canada throughout that time, but she WILL need to maintain her Visitor Status while she does.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Hong Kong is one of the fastest VO's, currently 80% of apps are processed in 9 months; the straightforward apps go through much quicker. Applying outland, you would have PR before even having Stage 1 approval if you applied inland. You can get the app ready and then submit it from Taiwan as soon as you have the marriage certificate.

Not knowing much background of your relationship and any potential red flags, I can't comment on the chances of your wife being called for an interview. The chance of an interview is already lessened due to her being visa-exempt.

If you submit an outland app in January, you should have sponsor approval by the time you guys come to Canada in March. It is quite common for visa-exempt to come wait out the processing in Canada, so you should have no troubles at the border. Tell the border officers you have a PR app in process, show them the sponsor approval letter, explain that your wife is only visiting Canada while waiting for PR approval. Have some proof of finances showing you can support her extended visit as well, just in case they ask.

If the PR app isn't approved before her 6 months expires, she will need to extend her stay.