U.K. Citizen inland or Outland spousal visa

[CB1995]

I am an uk citizen and my girlfriend is a Canadian citizen. We are not yet married but plan to get married very soon. Would we be better off getting married in England or Canada? Should we apply inland or Outland and why?

 

[canadianwoman]

Getting married in either place is fine. I would apply outland because it is generally much faster. With inland you can get an open work permit, but you won't get it until 4 or 5 months after applying. For someone applying from the UK, it would not take much more time than that to get your PR.
With inland, you are advised to stay inside Canada for the length of processing, which could be 2 years. If you leave, and are not let back in, the application is over. With outland, you do not have to be in Canada. You can still visit here if you want, though.

 

[CB1995]

Thanks! If I apply from England will my wife need to be there with me at any point in the process? I understand it is probably very difficult to put a time frame on it, but approximately how long would you think I'd be waiting before I could live in Canada permanently?

 

[canadianwoman]

Your wife does not have to be in England with you to sponsor you, but she can be if she wants as she is Canadian citizen. A citizen can sponsor while living outside of Canada, but a PR has to be in Canada to sponsor. If there is an interview, it will just be for you, the applicant.

It is hard to say how long it might take. I would guess under a year. Keep in mind you can go to Canada and stay there as a visitor while you are waiting.

 

[CB1995]

Would she be applying to sponsor me from England or would I be applying to be sponsored as I will be in England?

 

[canadianwoman]

She applies to sponsor you, and you apply to immigrate. All the forms go together in one package to the visa office in Canada.

 

[CB1995]

I see! Now that makes a lot more sense.
If I go to Canada and get married, will I be able to stay there until I get my PR? If not what would stop me?

 

[canadianwoman]

Yes, you could get married in Canada and then stay in Canada while the application is processed. Note you can do this, and apply inland or outland. You would come in as a visitor. Usually someone from a visa-exempt country would be given 6 months. You can apply to extend this stay about one month before it expires.

The only reason you wouldn't be able to stay is if you did not extend the time given and had applied outland, or if you committed a crime. In these cases, the government could deport you.