MargoS said:
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!
I just have a few questions more...
I will be coming to Canada in April 2013 and my husband will come in May...is there anyway he could get an extention on how long he can stay before becoming a PR? (more than the 6 months he is allowed?)...can he find a job in the meantime aswell?
I will be applying from Greece (outland), and you have written in your post that it is a more speedier process that way. Can you give me any other advice?
Does he need to include finger prints with his police record?(his record shows that he has zero/nothing)
PLEASE give me any advice you think is helpful
Thank you in advance,
MargoS
Whether inland or outland is faster depends on the processing time for Greece vs. the inland time. The inland time is currently getting shorter. The inland time is currently 6 months for first stage approval and open work permit and 8 months for the rest, see http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/perm-fc.asp
Outland currently 35 days in Mississauga to approve you as a sponsor, see http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/perm-fc.asp and for Greece, the applications are processed in Rome, Italy where they can take up to 14 months, see http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/perm/fc-spouses.asp#europe For the average time, you might have something like 8 to 9 months. However, outland you can apply now while inland you would have to wait until he is in Canada.
If you are able to send in your outland application say December 1st, he might have his PR already at the end of August or September. That way, he would not need an extension for his visit visa. If his PR is not in sight at the time his visit visa is about to expire, he could simply apply to extend, see http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/visitor.asp
If you applied inland, he would be able to get an open work permit at first stage approval after about 6 months. For outland, there is no open work permit. He would however have the same right as anybody else to talk to employers and try to get them to apply for a labour market opinion for him. This is needed in order for the employer to prove that they could not find a Canadian for the job. With a positive labour market opinion, he could apply for a work permit.
Another option.. you say he works for Pepsi. It is possible that Pepsi could transfer him to Canada with a intra-company transfer work permit. They would have to claim that his expertise will help them in Canada too.