Outland application- change of situation

[uwecavok]

Two months ago, we applied for an Outland Spousal sponsorship for my wife. I am returning to Canada in the Fall as a returning citizen as I have a job offer. Our Plan A, which we came up with long before the pandemic, was that my spouse would continue to work in the country where we live (we are both under employer-sponsored work visas) until her PR application was approved, as she wanted to continue practicing her profession and prevent a large gap in the employment period. We had planned visits to each other whenever either of us had vacation periods, fully recognizing that the processing time could take a year or so.

Of course, COVID has affected things drastically. Besides the slower CIC processing times (CIC has not even acknowledged our application yet) and the difficulty in traveling and spending vacations together, we are concerned now for her employment security; she has already survived two rounds of job cuts at her employer, but economically it doesn't look like any kind of an economic rebound will happen soon.

So our Plan B is for her to come to Canada (she has a Temporary Resident- Visitor) visa if she loses her job, perhaps after visiting her family briefly in her home country. I just wanted to confirm the following:

• Would she be allowed to stay in Canada as a visitor while her Outland visa application continues to be processed?
• How long would she be able to stay in Canada as a Temporary Resident, given that she is applying for her PR?
• Would she have to depart Canada, such as for the Medical Exam in the country which we applied from, or can she do this in Canada when the time comes?
• As a "Temporary Resident" of Canada, would she be able to convert her Driver's Licence and avail of the Provincial Medical Plan?

 

[armoured]

She can travel to and stay in Canada. Typically they give six months at the border, and can be extended towards the end of each period. Likely it would be possible for her to stay until the process is completed. Medical exams etc can be done in Canada. The only thing she would likely have to go back to home country for is interview, but these are not done in most cases.

Medical plan is most important to look into. As I understand depends on province. She also wont' be able to get work permit during this period.

Note, some of these things are changing with covid (i.e. for a while medical exams some places were not being done in Canada, don't know current situation). Quarantine plans etc.