US citizen married to Canadian citizen-outland or inland?

[super11]

Hi everyone, this will be a bit of a long winded question(s). My wife and I have been married for a couple of years now. I have always resided in the states and her in Canada. We are just now looking at me immigrating into Canada. At this point, I would like to do it as quickly as possible. Taking a look at the times, it'll take for inland, 10months of sponsorship processing, then an additional 8months for my processing (total 18months). Looking at outland, it takes 55days for sponsorship processing than 26months (los angeles) for my processing. (total processing time-forever).

1. Is what I said above correct, meaning applying inland will be quicker?

2. If I were to apply inland, how do I do that? I can't just up and move my stuff to Canada and apply inland, right? I need to go back to the US

3. If I apply inland, while waiting for the first ten months for an open work visa, can I get another visa to work while waiting or go to school?

4. If I apply outland, is there anyway I can work in Canada temporarily or go to school?

I've tried researching these questions extensively, but I am just not understanding properly to feel comfortable. Any suggestions, advice or just tips for this situation would be great. I know people have mentioned NAFTA in the past?

Thank you well in advance for anyone taking the time for reading this.
I think what I'm really getting at, is what is the easiest way for us to be together as soon as possible while I'll still be able to keep myself occupied with either school or work?

 

[katester]

Hi there! Welcome to the wonderful world of immigration! I am also American and my husband is Canadian. We just got a Decision Made yesterday! just shy of 10 months. Once I get my letter in the mail I can "land " as a PR and start working and be with my husband!!! For Americans outland is suggested for quickest approval. Since I needed heath care, we chose to be apart for the process. Although we visit as often as we can. I am working and so is he. It was a hard choice, but because of the health care it needed to happen this way. And on the positive side, we are saving money by both of us working and having insurance instead of only him working and still having to paying for travel insurance for me.

1. Is what I said above correct, meaning applying inland will be quicker?

No, many people mistake LA office for the US people, our apps will go to Ottawa, they will only go to LA if we are red flagged. So Outland is 100% faster. Check times for Ottawa!

2. If I were to apply inland, how do I do that? I can't just up and move my stuff to Canada and apply inland, right? I need to go back to the US

Dont apply inland. lol. If you do then crossing the boarder with all your stuff could get you banned. Plus if you are inland for the entire length of the process you can not travel outside of Canada,kinda lame if you ask me.

3. If I apply inland, while waiting for the first ten months for an open work visa, can I get another visa to work while waiting or go to school?

I can not really answer this. However like I said you will be Ottawa office so you could have PR in 8 or 9 months and then start living your life and get health care if you apply outland. With inland you have to wait 10 months just for the work permit still no health care or anything.

4. If I apply outland, is there anyway I can work in Canada temporarily or go to school?

Again I cant really answer this, however I am thinking no. Not until you are PR. But once your wife get approved to be a sponsor, you can go and be with her if she can pay the bills. You will need your own insurance until you are PR

 

[super11]

Hi there! Welcome to the wonderful world of immigration! I am also American and my husband is Canadian. We just got a Decision Made yesterday! just shy of 10 months. Once I get my letter in the mail I can "land " as a PR and start working and be with my husband!!! For Americans outland is suggested for quickest approval. Since I needed heath care, we chose to be apart for the process. Although we visit as often as we can. I am working and so is he. It was a hard choice, but because of the health care it needed to happen this way. And on the positive side, we are both saving money by both of us working and not just paying for travel insurance.

1. Is what I said above correct, meaning applying inland will be quicker?

No, many people mistake LA office for the US people, our apps will go to Ottawa, they will only go to LA if we are red flagged. So Outland is 100% faster. Check times for Ottawa!

2. If I were to apply inland, how do I do that? I can't just up and move my stuff to Canada and apply inland, right? I need to go back to the US

Dont apply inland. lol. If you do then crossing the boarder with all your stuff could get you banned. Plus if you are inland for the entire length of the process you can not travel outside of Canada,kinda lame if you ask me.

3. If I apply inland, while waiting for the first ten months for an open work visa, can I get another visa to work while waiting or go to school?

I can not really answer this. However like I said you will be Ottawa office so you could have PR in 8 or 9 months and then start living your life and get health care if you apply outland. With inland you have to wait 10 months just for the work permit still no health care or anything.

4. If I apply outland, is there anyway I can work in Canada temporarily or go to school?

Again I cant really answer this, however I am thinking no. Not until you are PR. But once your wife get approved to be a sponsor, you can go and be with her if she can pay the bills. You will need your own insurance until you are PR

You are fantastic! Thank you!!! We are going to start the process by this December, such a relief!

 

[katester]

You are fantastic! Thank you!!! We are going to start the process by this December, such a relief!

Best of luck to you! Its a long drawn out process. Make sure you read all the documents carefully and fill them out carefully. Once mistake, one misses signature and your entire packet will be send back and you have to redue it all by now you will be a month or more behind schedule. Send nice pictures of your wedding and some from visits, but remember its quality over quantity. And prove that you are willing to work (by showing degrees or certificates) so they wont think you will go on welfare. My husband is in the Canadian Military and they still thought I was going to go on welfare because the month we applied for PR I was unemployed. So it delayed my application by having to send in further proof I wast a leach. But, I guess less than 10 months, I still fall close to the intended timeline even with all the hoops they made us jump through.

 

[Rob_TO]

4. If I apply outland, is there anyway I can work in Canada temporarily or go to school?

You can apply to work/study in Canada, completely separate from your outland PR app.

Study permit is easy to get if you just enroll/pay for tuition in a course. Some courses less than 6 months in length don't require a permit

To work you have basically 3 options
1. Look at jobs you could qualify for under NAFTA
2. Get a working holiday OWP via the SWAP program
3. Find an employer willing to go through LMO process and hire you on a closed work permit (by far the most difficult)

In practically all cases it's better for US citizens to apply outland and be processed at CPC-Ottawa.

 

[DKBUS-CA]

Hi Super11,

I also just received my COPR yesterday. I am also American and my wife Canadian and we had got married 1 year ago. Just before marrying I moved with my wife back to Canada after school and since then I have lived in Canada as a visitor. Because of that I could apply inland or outland. Everyone on the forums and when talking to CIC told me that outland is the quicker of the two options.

I choose outland and applied to Ottawa and they received my application on December 1st, 2013 and a decision was made June 2nd, 2014 with me receiving my COPR on the 13th of June.
- We did not use a lawyer for this, although we spent a lot of time preparing the application (3 months), medicals, security check, calling CIC to clarify questions, searching Canadavisa.com and proof reading our application. So I would definitely look into what you might need and save your emails and all types of communications with your spouse. Because I was thankful that I had most of my communications saved whether it be instant message, emails or facebook.

1. Is what I said above correct, meaning applying inland will be quicker?
No, apply through Ottawa

2. If I were to apply inland, how do I do that? I can't just up and move my stuff to Canada and apply inland, right? I need to go back to the US
If you were to apply inland you could get a visitor record as I did, and live up to 6-12 months with your wife (unable to work) and then apply for an open work permit after sponsor approval of inland app.
Or
Try to apply for a work permit (then apply outland or inland), this was difficult for my occupation as my occupation is not a NAFTA occupation, persons with NAFTA occupations can apply for a work permit upon crossing the border and if permitted can work in that field by finding a job after.
Whereas non-NAFTA occupations usually need a LMO (labor market opinion - process in which they determine if your adversely affecting Canadian jobs aka taking a job from a Canadian) which takes about 2 months followed by entry into Canada and hope they issue you a work permit.

3. If I apply inland, while waiting for the first ten months for an open work visa, can I get another visa to work while waiting or go to school?
I believe you must wait until the sponsor is approved (step 1 of inland) until you can apply for a work permit which then takes ~ 1 month.

4. If I apply outland, is there anyway I can work in Canada temporarily or go to school?
Yes, if you first are able to get a work permit (If you consider this look into dual intent [basically if they see you have intent to live permanently, it may effect your application to work there temporarily, i believe])

I hope this helps, I would definitely like to share my experiences as it is a tough process to understand completely.
Also, can someone let me know how to add my application timelines to my messages or profile, so it displays when I post.

Thanks and good luck

 

[katester]

Also, can someone let me know how to add my application timelines to my messages or profile, so it displays when I post.

Thanks and good luck

I also just received my CPR in the mail today! But I've been waiting much longer than you. So wtg on a quick processing time!

As for the info, to the very top of this page and on the top right click "Profile" (next to search and inbox) Then when you are there, on the left hand side you will see a section that says "Modify Profile" the second link should say "Forum Profile Info" click on that and fill out the sections you want!