Apply In Canada or In the USA

[Socrates-Johnston]

Hello all.

I am a Canadian citizen, and would like to sponsor my wife, who is a US citizen, for PR in Canada.

Currently, she is visiting me, and within her permitted 6 month visitor period.

I understand that PR applications are processed either inland (in Canada), or outland (in the USA); but I am curious which option would be best for us? As a result, I have a few questions regarding inland processing:

-If we apply inland, am I correct in understanding that my spouse may apply for an open work permit once I have been approved as a sponsor? (further, must we also apply to extend her visitor visa while the application is being processed?)

-It is my understanding that she would not be permitted to leave Canada while the application is being processed... would it be okay for her to fly home to the US for a week, and return to Canada? Or would this cause problems at the border...

Cheers everyone!

 

[MilesAway]

Don't apply inland if you are from the USA!!! Inland takes up to 2 years, whereas outland applicants have been going through in 3 to 7 months.

Inland applicants can get a work permit after stage 1, which is currently 11-12 months. (Or double the time it would take you to become a PR if you apply outland).
Leaving Canada is not usually recommended because of the possibility of being refused at the border. If you are refused, then you no longer meet the requirement of living in Canada. Some people have done it.

 

[Ponga]

Excellent advice...especially the first sentence.

Even when you submit the Outland application, it's possible for her to be with you (in Canada) as a `visitor'. She can simply apply to extend her visitor status, should the process go beyond her stay, which is generally no problem for an American.

Good luck!

 

[Socrates-Johnston]

Thanks for the quick response!

I guess my follow up question is this:

-if we apply to extend her stay while the PR application is being processed in the US, can we also apply for an open work permit?

 

[Ponga]

OWP is only available with an Inland application.

 

[rhcohen2014]

and on that note, the ability to apply for an OWP is NOT a valid reason for a US citizen to apply inland. Most likely, when applying outland, you would be approved and legally allowed to work way before getting the owp as an inland applicant.

Outland US citizens are currently being approved in about 6 months time.

Feel free to check out the Ottawa visa office (where us applications are processed) spreadsheet in my signature to get an idea of the realtime "trends" for us applicants.


APPLY OUTLAND APPLY OUTLAND APPLY OUTLAND!!!!!!