US Resident living in CAN - Inbound or Outbound

[carsonb]

Hi All-

My husband and I married last October and now we have all our paperwork and photos together. Our only question is if you think we should file outbound or inbound with the work permit? I'm living her permanently, but I know if I file inbound I'm unable to leave Canada until my application is processed.

Thanks!!

 

[scylla]

Outbound. No-brainer for Americans.

 

[kimt487]

Sorry but it wouldn't be a no-brainer if she posted the question. Why is it imperative for Americans to apply outland? Can someone please explain this?

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Sorry but it wouldn't be a no-brainer if she posted the question. Why is it imperative for Americans to apply outland? Can someone please explain this?

Inland can take up to 2 years or more and the applicant is advised to not leave Canada during that time.

Outland for Americans takes 6 months or even less, with many applicants being approved in 2-4 months, and there is no risk in leaving Canada.

Definitely a no-brainer.

 

[mikeymyke]

Sorry but it wouldn't be a no-brainer if she posted the question. Why is it imperative for Americans to apply outland? Can someone please explain this?

Americans can get PR extremely quickly with outland, they literally have the easiest path to PR out of all the countries in the world. They also can enter Canada extremely easily with no visa and a significant majority have no issues entering. Also since US is literally next to Canada, US applicants have very short flight times to go see their spouses. Outland applicants can also stay in Canada as a visitor while having PR app processed. It's a luxury Americans and many other visa exempt nationals have, unlike for most people from poorer countries who are usually refused a visitor visa and forced to live apart.

Inland is a horrific choice, as it would force Americans to wait almost 2 years for PR, they would not be able to leave the country for any reason, even for family emergencies or vacations. Inlanders are essentially "trapped" in Canada.

Any American applying inland is making a terrible mistake.

Even for my wife's application, we didn't want to go inland despite her country having an average processing time of 2 years for OUTLAND. It was a terrific decision, as she got her PR in 6 months with outland, rather than waiting 2 years in Canada.

I just noticed that you're actually an American who tried applying inland. In a way, maybe this refusal is good for you, because at least you can start over and go outland this time. You will become a PR in 3-6 months this way, and you don't even need to be away from Canada while going outland. You can just enter as a visitor and apply outland.

 

[scylla]

Sorry but it wouldn't be a no-brainer if she posted the question. Why is it imperative for Americans to apply outland? Can someone please explain this?

We've seen lots of people get through the outland process as Americans faster than it takes just to get an OWP with inland. Inland takes far too long and has too many limitations (e.g. ability to freely travel without impacting the app., no appeal). The few Americans who go inland tend to deeply regret this decision. So we try to stop as many people as possible from making this mistake.

 

[kimt487]

I am starting to deeply regret my mistake applying inland. When I checked the processing times for the Los Angeles immigration center it said 28 months. So I thought instead of being apart from my husband for 28 months I can go to Canada and apply inland since it is 26 months processing time. 2 months less and at least I get to live with him. So I quit a job I loved that paid well to move here and make little money occasionally babysitting half the year and the other half working at a coffee shop. Now one of you is saying I could've applied outland and still be able to live here?? Why would it be considered outland if I am not physically in the US most of the time?

Do any of you know if I can still apply outland from inside Canada and still work with my current work permit while I wait for the PR application to be processed? I guess the only problem I see is that the medical exam and probably some of the police checks would need to be redone in the US. The medical exam in the US is about $500 versus $150 here. But it would still be worth it if I can.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

When I checked the processing times for the Los Angeles immigration center it said 28 months.

Now one of you is saying I could've applied outland and still be able to live here?? Why would it be considered outland if I am not physically in the US most of the time?

Do any of you know if I can still apply outland from inside Canada and still work with my current work permit while I wait for the PR application to be processed? I guess the only problem I see is that the medical exam and probably some of the police checks would need to be redone in the US. The medical exam in the US is about $500 versus $150 here. But it would still be worth it if I can.

LA stopped accepting spousal apps many years ago. American apps are processed in Ottawa. Only apps requiring interviews or more investigation are transferred to LA.

I know the IRCC website isn't very clear but yes, you can be in Canada while an outland processes. Outland refers to where the app is being processed, not where the applicant is (though it sounds contradictory, Ottawa is the outland office for the US).

You can still apply outland while here and your OWP will remain valid. There is no need to return to the US; you can do the medical here and apply for the FBI certificate from here. As an American, you can apply for the PCC through a chaneller, which is significantly faster than applying directly to the FBI.

 

[km9203]

LA stopped accepting spousal apps many years ago. American apps are processed in Ottawa. Only apps requiring interviews or more investigation are transferred to LA.

I know the IRCC website isn't very clear but yes, you can be in Canada while an outland processes. Outland refers to where the app is being processed, not where the applicant is (though it sounds contradictory, Ottawa is the outland office for the US).

You can still apply outland while here and your OWP will remain valid. There is no need to return to the US; you can do the medical here and apply for the FBI certificate from here. As an American, you can apply for the PCC through a chaneller, which is significantly faster than applying directly to the FBI.

Are you sure that if she cancels her inland app her OWP will be valid? I thought it only stayed valid if you apply Inland and if you cancel the app to apply Outland instead, it voids the OWP as you are no longer an Inland applicant?

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Are you sure that if she cancels her inland app her OWP will be valid? I thought it only stayed valid if you apply Inland and if you cancel the app to apply Outland instead, it voids the OWP as you are no longer an Inland applicant?

A work permit remains valid until IRCC formally revokes it. There have been others in similar situations and IRCC has not done anything to their OWPs. If they were going to revoke it, I imagine they would have notified her when they sent the PR refusal to make her aware of the loss of her status.