Hi there! After spending a day and a half reading through the posts on this board, I finally found this thread and realized I that an outland application was even an option for me. However, I'm not entirely sure if my situation merits using the outland process...
Here's my situation:
1) I'm a U.S. citizen, but have been living in Canada for the past 5 years on a study permit while I work on my PhD. Because I live in BC and will eventually have a graduate degree in biology, I will be eligible for permanent residence on my own once I receive my PhD; and this has been my intention for a few years now.
2) Two years ago I met my (now) husband, who is a Canadian citizen. We were married last September, and now we're slogging through the family-class permanent-resident application since I can apply for it before I finish my PhD.
3) The catch is that, as I understand it, the outland application process does not allow the sponsored spouse to get a work permit to stay in the country, while the inland process allows the inclusion of an open work permit application with the permanent residence application.
4) However, because I'll have a graduate degree from a BC university, I'm eligible for a 3-year open work permit as soon as I finish my PhD. This will hopefully happen this October.
Here's my question:
If I apply for permanent residency using the outland application process but while waiting for it to be processed, my study permit expires and I apply for a work permit (based on my graduate degree, not on my husband being a citizen here), does this change my ability or chances of getting the work permit?
I ask this because I have heard of other people applying for a visitor visa during the outland application process, and being reject because the permanent resident application clearly indicates their intention to stay in Canada beyond the length of their visitor visa. Does this concern about "intent to remain in Canada" also apply to applications for temporary status such as study or work permits? Given my circumstances, would it be better to apply using the inland application process?
Thanks in advance!