OUTLAND while living INLAND

[MarkGuy]

I have a few questions about OUTLAND applications while living INLAND.

Are these applications processed with the same speed as OUTLAND applications while living OUTLAND?

If so, what would the rationale be for Immigration Canada?

Surely they would know that you are living together in Canada?

If they take their time for INLAND applications, because they know you are together and feel no urgency to speed up the process because of this, how would an OUTLAND application while living INLAND be any different?

 

[Rob_TO]

Outland apps are processed at visa offices outside Canada. That is the only difference between inland and outland, and why they can be done quicker.

In the inland guide CIC even encourages people living in Canada, to apply outland instead for quicker processing times.

 

[Ponga]

You are not legally living in Canada (yet), you are only `visiting'.

As long as you have valid status, and can maintain your status, you should definitely consider an Outland application.

 

[MarkGuy]

Outland apps are processed at visa offices outside Canada. That is the only difference between inland and outland, and why they can be done quicker.

In the inland guide CIC even encourages people living in Canada, to apply outland instead for quicker processing times.

Thanks for your quick reply Rob.
I still have some questions though.

I understand that OUTLAND apps are processed outside of Canada versus INLAND apps being processed inland.

But you haven't explained WHY the OUTLAND apps can be done quicker.

Are the OUTLAND reps super humans that have special technical skills enabling them to process the apps quicker than INLAND reps who have regular human skills?

I'm interested in knowing *why* the processing times are faster for OUTLAND offices.

I'm also interested in knowing *why* OUTLAND apps for those living INLAND are treated exactly the same as OUTLAND apps for those living OUTLAND.

Thanks!

 

[MarkGuy]

You are not legally living in Canada (yet), you are only `visiting'.

As long as you have valid status, and can maintain your status, you should definitely consider an Outland application.

Thanks Ponga.
Yes I realize that one would not be legally 'living' in Canada yet, but rather visiting.

You mentioned that if you are able to, you should definitely consider an Outland application.

In what circumstances would you recommend that someone living Inland NOT consider an Outland application and apply Inland instead?

Right now, off the top of my head, I can't think of any.

In fact, I don't know why Canada doesn't simply close all their Inland offices and, by default, send any spousal sponsorship app that comes their way to the Outland office in the country where the spouse wished to emigrate from (seeing that it is the faster method).

 

[Ponga]

Thanks for your quick reply Rob.
I still have some questions though.

I understand that OUTLAND apps are processed outside of Canada versus INLAND apps being processed inland.

But you haven't explained WHY the OUTLAND apps can be done quicker.
Because most Americans (for example) have their applications processed entirely IN Canada (Mississauga for stage 1, followed by Ottawa for stage 2). I say MOST, because some are in fact routed back to the U.S. for processing (primarily those with `red flags' or criminality, or medical inadmissibility concerns), in which case their processing times could potentially be longer than an Inland applicant. I suspect these are by far the minority of applicants.

Are the OUTLAND reps super humans that have special technical skills enabling them to process the apps quicker than INLAND reps who have regular human skills?
Apparently!

I'm interested in knowing *why* the processing times are faster for OUTLAND offices.
Because CIC feels that if an applicant submits an Inland application, they are already with their family member...what's the rush?

I'm also interested in knowing *why* OUTLAND apps for those living INLAND are treated exactly the same as OUTLAND apps for those living OUTLAND.
Nobody is saying that they are treated the same. For example, a person outside of Canada would not need to maintain their status, right?

As a matter of fact, a lot of people have no idea they can submit an Outland application if they are IN Canada. The CIC website certainly doesn't make it blatantly obvious...which they should!

Thanks!

 

[Ponga]

In what circumstances would you recommend that someone living Inland NOT consider an Outland application and apply Inland instead?


In fact, I don't know why Canada doesn't simply close all their Inland offices and, by default, send any spousal sponsorship app that comes their way to the Outland office in the country where the spouse wished to emigrate from (seeing that it is the faster method).

Those without status, but apparently that `loophole' may be closing soon, since the Inland guide (that once stated that an applicant did NOT need legal status) has been changed, to remove that information.

Since Feb 2005, those in Canada without status have been eligible to apply with an INLAND application, provided they had an eligible sponsor. I have no idea what, if anything, is going to change now.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

I'm interested in knowing *why* the processing times are faster for OUTLAND offices.

I'm also interested in knowing *why* OUTLAND apps for those living INLAND are treated exactly the same as OUTLAND apps for those living OUTLAND.

A year or 2 ago, many inland apps were approved in a year or less; 1st stage was taking around 6 months and many received PR soon after AIP. There wasn't really much difference between the average inland processing time and most outland processing times. In fact, inland was (and still is) faster than some of the slowest outland offices. However, in January of this year, all new inland apps started to be routed to CPC-M instead of Vegreville and all current apps were transferred there as well. This created a huge backlog for inland and slowed things down considerably.


As for your second query, VOs look certain set criteria when reviewing an app; where in the world the applicant is living is NOT one of those criteria, so it has no effect on the app.

 

[MarkGuy]

Ponga:

'But you haven't explained WHY the OUTLAND apps can be done quicker.'

Because most Americans (for example) have their applications processed entirely IN Canada (Mississauga for stage 1, followed by Ottawa for stage 2). I say MOST, because some are in fact routed back to the U.S. for processing (primarily those with `red flags' or criminality, or medical inadmissibility concerns), in which case their processing times could potentially be longer than an Inland applicant. I suspect these are by far the minority of applicants.

Ponga, you are assuming I know a lot more about this process than I actually do.
I don't know what is so special about Americans, nor about why they prefer to process their apps in Canada instead of the U.S.

I am more interested in non-American apps really.

'Are the OUTLAND reps super humans that have special technical skills enabling them to process the apps quicker than INLAND reps who have regular human skills?'

Apparently!

I was hoping my guess would be wrong.

'I'm interested in knowing *why* the processing times are faster for OUTLAND offices.'
Because CIC feels that if an applicant submits an Inland application, they are already with their family member...what's the rush?

And this is exactly why I asked the question about OUTLAND apps by people living INLAND! What does CIC feel for those cases, in terms of rushing?

'I'm also interested in knowing *why* OUTLAND apps for those living INLAND are treated exactly the same as OUTLAND apps for those living OUTLAND.'
Nobody is saying that they are treated the same. For example, a person outside of Canada would not need to maintain their status, right?

Maintaining status has nothing to do with the processing times.
We are assuming that status IS maintained while living Inland.

...As a matter of fact, a lot of people have no idea they can submit an Outland application if they are IN Canada. The CIC website certainly doesn't make it blatantly obvious...which they should!

This does not surprise me for one second.

 

[MarkGuy]

Those without status, but apparently that `loophole' may be closing soon, since the Inland guide (that once stated that an applicant did NOT need legal status) has been changed, to remove that information.

Since Feb 2005, those in Canada without status have been eligible to apply with an INLAND application, provided they had an eligible sponsor. I have no idea what, if anything, is going to change now.

OK thanks Ponga, I didn't know about this reason to apply INLAND.

 

[MarkGuy]

A year or 2 ago, many inland apps were approved in a year or less; 1st stage was taking around 6 months and many received PR soon after AIP. There wasn't really much difference between the average inland processing time and most outland processing times. In fact, inland was (and still is) faster than some of the slowest outland offices. However, in January of this year, all new inland apps started to be routed to CPC-M instead of Vegreville and all current apps were transferred there as well. This created a huge backlog for inland and slowed things down considerably.

Thanks canuck! This bit of recent history is helpful for me.

As for your second query, VOs look certain set criteria when reviewing an app; where in the world the applicant is living is NOT one of those criteria, so it has no effect on the app.

But this seems to contradict what Ponga said about OUTLAND offices wanting to move faster to get the couple together again, versus INLAND, where they are already living together.
I guess that is just a myth then.

 

[Ponga]

Ponga:

'But you haven't explained WHY the OUTLAND apps can be done quicker.'

Because most Americans (for example) have their applications processed entirely IN Canada (Mississauga for stage 1, followed by Ottawa for stage 2). I say MOST, because some are in fact routed back to the U.S. for processing (primarily those with `red flags' or criminality, or medical inadmissibility concerns), in which case their processing times could potentially be longer than an Inland applicant. I suspect these are by far the minority of applicants.

Ponga, you are assuming I know a lot more about this process than I actually do.
I don't know what is so special about Americans, nor about why they prefer to process their apps in Canada instead of the U.S.

I am more interested in non-American apps really.

'Are the OUTLAND reps super humans that have special technical skills enabling them to process the apps quicker than INLAND reps who have regular human skills?'

Apparently!

I was hoping my guess would be wrong.

'I'm interested in knowing *why* the processing times are faster for OUTLAND offices.'
Because CIC feels that if an applicant submits an Inland application, they are already with their family member...what's the rush?

And this is exactly why I asked the question about OUTLAND apps by people living INLAND! What does CIC feel for those cases, in terms of rushing?

'I'm also interested in knowing *why* OUTLAND apps for those living INLAND are treated exactly the same as OUTLAND apps for those living OUTLAND.'
Nobody is saying that they are treated the same. For example, a person outside of Canada would not need to maintain their status, right?

Maintaining status has nothing to do with the processing times.
We are assuming that status IS maintained while living Inland.

...As a matter of fact, a lot of people have no idea they can submit an Outland application if they are IN Canada. The CIC website certainly doesn't make it blatantly obvious...which they should!

This does not surprise me for one second.

Perhaps you could tell us where you are from, so that you can get `better' answers. ;D

And, I did in fact explain WHY Outland applications can be done faster; because CIC knows that the `family' is already united together in Canada, so if they submit an INLAND application, there's no sense of urgency to reunite said family.

 

[Rob_TO]

I'm interested in knowing *why* the processing times are faster for OUTLAND offices.

Other than CIC putting more emphasis on fast outland apps to unite families that are separated, i would also guess
- more visa officers per applications received.
- visa officers working in specific regions, are better suited to process applicants from those same regions and are more familiar with the local culture and in doing background checks with local government

I'm also interested in knowing *why* OUTLAND apps for those living INLAND are treated exactly the same as OUTLAND apps for those living OUTLAND.

Outland is outland. Where the applicant is actually residing is irrelevant to the processing time.

In what circumstances would you recommend that someone living Inland NOT consider an Outland application and apply Inland instead?

If someone needs implied status. i.e. if someone's closed work permit is expiring in a few months, submitting an inland app w/OWP will give them implied status so they can continue working with same employer after visa expires. Also if someone's visitor visa is almost expired and they may not be successful in getting an extension, implied status would allow them to stay in Canada

 

[MarkGuy]

Hi Rob,

Thanks for helping out!

Other than CIC putting more emphasis on fast outland apps to unite families that are separated, i would also guess
- more visa officers per applications received.
- visa officers working in specific regions, are better suited to process applicants from those same regions and are more familiar with the local culture and in doing background checks with local government

OK thanks, these two make sense, if in fact there are more visa officers at any given OUTLAND office vs. the INLAND office.

Outland is outland. Where the applicant is actually residing is irrelevant to the processing time.

Here's where we seem to be going in circles.
Some say the processing time is not related to where the applicant is residing.
Others say if the couple is together (INLAND) and applying OUTLAND, then they will take their time with the app because they will think it is not urgent. After all, the couple is together, right?
Some say the time for an INLAND/OUTLAND app is not the same time
as for an OUTLAND/OUTLAND app. Some say it is.... and on and on we go.

If someone needs implied status. i.e. if someone's closed work permit is expiring in a few months, submitting an inland app w/OWP will give them implied status so they can continue working with same employer after visa expires. Also if someone's visitor visa is almost expired and they may not be successful in getting an extension, implied status would allow them to stay in Canada

OK thanks for this!

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Others say if the couple is together (INLAND) and applying OUTLAND, then they will take their time with the app because they will think it is not urgent. After all, the couple is together, right?

Those who say this have no idea what they are talking about.