Should one file a spousal Outland application while waiting for her tourist visa?

[asd1985]

Hey guys,

I got married mid Jan 2022 and arrived back in Canada on Feb 26th. I'm a PR (waiting for Citizenship) here and my wife and I thought that the best way to approach her PR is a) file for her tourist visa, and then b) once she gets here, file for an inland spousal visa application. The logic was that that at that time, inland processing time was 14 months and outland processing time was 26 months. We applied for her tourist visa onApril 19th, the biometrics were completed April 26th and since then we have not heard anything. We filled the Web form but still, nothing. It's been almost 6 months now.

Here's my question: would it be sensible to file for an outland spousal visa application while our tourist visa file is still pending? Or, should we withdraw our tourist visa application and then file for outland Spousal PR? Or, should we do nothing and waist it out? I don't want the visa to get affected via "dual intent" but I'm also frustrated with the wait and it's been almost six months since we heard back anything on this tourist visa application.

Looking for suggestions. Throw them at me please. My aim is to get her here as soon as possible. PR is secondary.

PS: She is 34 and has a masters, so another option is for her to file her PR by herself. But I'm not sure if that's going to be faster / less complicated as her score will be 464 onlu.

 

[scylla]

Hey guys,

I got married mid Jan 2022 and arrived back in Canada on Feb 26th. I'm a PR (waiting for Citizenship) here and my wife and I thought that the best way to approach her PR is a) file for her tourist visa, and then b) once she gets here, file for an inland spousal visa application. The logic was that that at that time, inland processing time was 14 months and outland processing time was 26 months. We applied for her tourist visa onApril 19th, the biometrics were completed April 26th and since then we have not heard anything. We filled the Web form but still, nothing. It's been almost 6 months now.

Here's my question: would it be sensible to file for an outland spousal visa application while our tourist visa file is still pending? Or, should we withdraw our tourist visa application and then file for outland Spousal PR? Or, should we do nothing and waist it out? I don't want the visa to get affected via "dual intent" but I'm also frustrated with the wait and it's been almost six months since we heard back anything on this tourist visa application.

Looking for suggestions. Throw them at me please. My aim is to get her here as soon as possible. PR is secondary.

PS: She is 34 and has a masters, so another option is for her to file her PR by herself. But I'm not sure if that's going to be faster / less complicated as her score will be 464 onlu.

I would have personally submitted the outland application back in Feb (as soon as you returned to Canada). I would submit that application now since you don't know the outcomes of the TRV or how long it will take.

You don't have to withdraw the TRV application to submit the outland sponsorship application. Leave the TRV application processing and hope you're approved.

 

[asd1985]

I would have personally submitted the outland application back in Feb (as soon as you returned to Canada). I would submit that application now since you don't know the outcomes of the TRV or how long it will take.

You don't have to withdraw the TRV application to submit the outland sponsorship application. Leave the TRV application processing and hope you're approved.

Thank you! At that time, the outland file was taking a long time hence we thought of trying this strategy. Looking back at it, I guess it was a bad call. It took us a while to get all her documents in order before we filed her application

One follow up question: Let's say I file for outland application and then a month later, i get her tourist visa and then we move to Canada. Now, will it make sense to keep the outland application going or will we need to withdraw it and file for an inland spousal application?

 

[scylla]

Thank you! At that time, the outland file was taking a long time hence we thought of trying this strategy. Looking back at it, I guess it was a bad call. It took us a while to get all her documents in order before we filed her application

One follow up question: Let's say I file for outland application and then a month later, i get her tourist visa and then we move to Canada. Now, will it make sense to keep the outland application going or will we need to withdraw it and file for an inland spousal application?

These decisions are difficult. I wouldn't beat yourself up over the decisions you made.

To answer your follow up question, it will be your choice what to do if the TRV is approved. You can either keep the outland application going or withdraw and apply inland. I would say part of that decision depends on when this happens. If it's many months from now, then it probably doesn't make sense to withdraw and reapply since processing times will start from scratch.

 

[asd1985]

These decisions are difficult. I wouldn't beat yourself up over the decisions you made.

To answer your follow up question, it will be your choice what to do if the TRV is approved. You can either keep the outland application going or withdraw and apply inland. I would say part of that decision depends on when this happens. If it's many months from now, then it probably doesn't make sense to withdraw and reapply since processing times will start from scratch.

Understood, thanks! I was thinking along similar lines. But if its an outland application, and she ends up getting her tourist visa and subsequently moving to Canada, can that adversely affect her Outland spousal file as she is technically in Canada now? That's my main concern. Will she need to be outside of Canada until a decision is made on the Outland spousal application? Can she move in and out without adversely impacting her file? Sorry for the laundry list of queries; I'm trying ti make up for lost time

 

[scylla]

Understood, thanks! I was thinking along similar lines. But if its an outland application, and she ends up getting her tourist visa and subsequently moving to Canada, can that adversely affect her Outland spousal file as she is technically in Canada now? That's my main concern. Will she need to be outside of Canada until a decision is made on the Outland spousal application? Can she move in and out without adversely impacting her file? Sorry for the laundry list of queries; I'm trying ti make up for lost time

There's no impact. Many of us here have applied outland while our spouses have been phsically in Canada.

 

[canuck78]

Hey guys,

I got married mid Jan 2022 and arrived back in Canada on Feb 26th. I'm a PR (waiting for Citizenship) here and my wife and I thought that the best way to approach her PR is a) file for her tourist visa, and then b) once she gets here, file for an inland spousal visa application. The logic was that that at that time, inland processing time was 14 months and outland processing time was 26 months. We applied for her tourist visa onApril 19th, the biometrics were completed April 26th and since then we have not heard anything. We filled the Web form but still, nothing. It's been almost 6 months now.

Here's my question: would it be sensible to file for an outland spousal visa application while our tourist visa file is still pending? Or, should we withdraw our tourist visa application and then file for outland Spousal PR? Or, should we do nothing and waist it out? I don't want the visa to get affected via "dual intent" but I'm also frustrated with the wait and it's been almost six months since we heard back anything on this tourist visa application.

Looking for suggestions. Throw them at me please. My aim is to get her here as soon as possible. PR is secondary.

PS: She is 34 and has a masters, so another option is for her to file her PR by herself. But I'm not sure if that's going to be faster / less complicated as her score will be 464 onlu.

Posted estimated processing times are often incorrect. Due to so much variability during Covid and backlogs you are seeing some outdated processing times. There is also a lot of variability between locations. Some are getting sponsorship in less than a year while others have been over 2 years. Whether you need an interview, need TB testing, etc all create a longer processing time.

 

[asd1985]

Posted estimated processing times are often incorrect. Due to so much variability during Covid and backlogs you are seeing some outdated processing times. There is also a lot of variability between locations. Some are getting sponsorship in less than a year while others have been over 2 years. Whether you need an interview, need TB testing, etc all create a longer processing time.

Thanks for your comment and yes, i am seeing this as well. I guess i was playing safe by not doing both visas at the same time but now it seems that people who are applying via outland spousal are getting PR within a 1 (in some cases) lol

 

[canuck78]

Thanks for your comment and yes, i am seeing this as well. I guess i was playing safe by not doing both visas at the same time but now it seems that people who are applying via outland spousal are getting PR within a 1 (in some cases) lol

The estimsted processing times were supposed to be a guide so that people wouldn’t contact IRCC but unfortunately steely be are expecting processing by that day or not factoring in that these are just estimates and many are getting answers both before and after the estimated processing time. The government’s goal is to return to 80% of spousal sponsorship applications completed in a year.

 

[asd1985]

Hi everyone,

My wife's application got rejected on the 15th. Now, we will be filing for Outland spouse application. Would it be wise to follow up that application with another TRV application to get her to Canada while the Outland application is being processed?

The TRV application that just got rejected was done so as the agent wasn't convinced that my wife will leave Canada (given that she is my wife) after her visa expired.