Sponsor Spouse from within or outside Canada?

[bmore321]

Hello,

I am a Canadian Citizen living in US and wants to sponsor my spouse for PR. She just got a job in Canada and going to get a work permit soon. I got the following questions.

1. Is it better for us to wait until she gets the work permit before we apply for the permanent residency?
2. Can we apply from outside Canada even if she is living in Canada?
3. If we apply from within, how long does the process take and can she leave Canada after the application? - She has a greencard so does not need a visa.
4. Do I have to live with her in Canada if we apply from within? I am currently working in US.

Thanks

 

[Sweden]

1- it doesn't matter. THe processes are separate.
2- yes - and in your case it's probably a better option to go for outland, but she can be living in Canada
3 - 14 months, and she is supposed to stay in Canada. If you apply outland, it will be faster and she can travel in and out of Canada. As she will have a work permit already from her job, there is no reason for you to apply inland.
4- no, as you a a citizen, you can be outside of Canada when you apply for her sponsorship. However you will need to prove that you intend to move to Canada ( shouldn't be difficult, considering that your wife will be living there already!), and you will have to demonstrate that you are in a genuine relationship. If you're married, then you can be apart. If you're common-law, you must have lived at least 12 months together and show that the separation is temporary.
GOod luck,
Sweden

 

[bmore321]

How long is the process when you apply from outside Canada?

 

[bmore321]

1- it doesn't matter. THe processes are separate.
2- yes - and in your case it's probably a better option to go for outland, but she can be living in Canada
3 - 14 months, and she is supposed to stay in Canada. If you apply outland, it will be faster and she can travel in and out of Canada. As she will have a work permit already from her job, there is no reason for you to apply inland.
4- no, as you a a citizen, you can be outside of Canada when you apply for her sponsorship. However you will need to prove that you intend to move to Canada ( shouldn't be difficult, considering that your wife will be living there already!), and you will have to demonstrate that you are in a genuine relationship. If you're married, then you can be apart. If you're common-law, you must have lived at least 12 months together and show that the separation is temporary.
GOod luck,
Sweden

Thanks

 

[Sweden]

How long is the process when you apply from outside Canada?

stage 1 is approximately 1 month. Stage 2 depends on your visa office. If she's from the US (or has been living there for 1 year at least) then she would go through Ottawa most likely. Website states 12 months but quite a lot of cases are done in 7 to 8 months. So if you have a straightforward application, it should be around that time.

 

[simb]

How long is the process when you apply from outside Canada?

you check this website for processing time for applying from outside Canada.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/perm-fc.asp


If your file goes to Ottawa then its 12 months.
If in LA then 19 months.

Its just the posted time.. mostly cases are finalised before these times (if your case is not complicated)

You can check both the threads for Ottawa and LA applicants for an average.

 

[bmore321]

She is also British. Is it faster to apply from England?

I wanted to wait for the work permit to come out first before we put in the application.

Thought?

 

[bmore321]

you check this website for processing time for applying from outside Canada.


If your file goes to Ottawa then its 12 months.
If in LA then 19 months.

Its just the posted time.. mostly cases are finalised before these times (if your case is not complicated)

You can check both the threads for Ottawa and LA applicants for an average.

Where are the threads?

 

[simb]

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/-t107613.0.html

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/cppottawa-t118769.0.html

 

[Sweden]

She is also British. Is it faster to apply from England?

I wanted to wait for the work permit to come out first before we put in the application.

Thought?

Faster through England - in theory yes, I went through London and was done in 4 months in London ( + 3 months stage 1, processing was longer last year). But things can change. Currently London is listed as 10 months and Ottawa 13 I think.

Threads are somewhere on the first page of this forum. You can check the London spreadsheet in my signature if you want to have an idea. If you're asked for an interview, your wife would have to go to London though - but for visa-exempt, that's quite rare... so not much of a worry.

You can wait for the work permit if you want - but it won't change anything to your application, she could also be on a visitor visa in Canada ( if you had to move to Canada, adn she didn't get the work permit etc), so it doesn't come into play. The more you wait - the more the application is delayed. If you qualify, you can apply now, but you can wait - up to you.

Sweden

 

[simb]

As Sweden said, England is faster this time.
So it depends upon you which VO you choose.

England- 10 months
Ottawa- 12 months

as your wife is from visa exempt country, there is less chance of interview.

Goodluck

 

[bmore321]

You guys are awesome. I wish I found this site long ago. Thanks.

How do I show intent to move back to Canada before she gets the work permit?

She already got a job in Calgary.

I left Canada in about 8 years ago and currently a US citizen. I have not filed taxes since I left Canada.

 

[Sweden]

You guys are awesome. I wish I found this site long ago. Thanks.

How do I show intent to move back to Canada before she gets the work permit?

She already got a job in Calgary.

I left Canada in about 8 years ago and currently a US citizen. I have not filed taxes since I left Canada.

there are a few things that you can do. First, show that your wife has a job in Calgary ( even if she doesn't have the work permit right now, if the company has offered her the job, they will do the work permit, so that's OK) - that's a very big one. get quotes from moving companies (even if you don't have a date, so you know how much to budget for example), and include that if it's relevant in your case. If you still have a bank account in Canada, then show that. If you've discussed moving to Canada with family and friends via email, include a copy of the emails. Just spend a bit of time explaining to CIC what is your plan, and document it.

 

[bmore321]

Since she is British and has a green card, can she just apply for work permit at the border ?

 

[canadianwoman]

No.

Since you will be applying to sponsor her while you are living in the USA and she is living in Canada, expect the visa officer to be suspicious about your intentions to return. Submit a lot of proof you will be going back to Canada to live. In fact, I would suggest you move back to Canada well before the application is finalized, then submit proof that you have moved back to Canada to the visa office to be added to your file.