Canadian Permanent Resident - Sponsor inland or outland, fiance in Dubai!

[Tomdubai]

Hello ,

I am a canadian permanent resident and I've been living in toronto since March 2008.. Before that i lived in Dubai for 15 years and this is where i met my finace who still lives there at the moment! in the past 3 years ive travelled back and fourth to see her.

We are getting married in March 2011 in dubai so i was wondering if i should come back alone and apply for an outland sponsorship application, or get her back here with me on a visitors visa (Which we hope she gets) and do an inland application.. Ive heard that the waiting times are unpredictable and it depends on each case.. We've been in a long distance relationship for the past 3 years and we're just sick of it! What do you recommend?

 

[kiwikris]

Here are the timelines for countries outside or Canada
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/perm/fc-spouses.asp
I believe you would have to apply through Abu Dhabi for outland? It shows 25 months for PR but this could be less and may be an average or a max time frame. I'm not sure what kind of visa your wife would need to come to Canada but if a TVR and she does get it then she can come and stay in Canada and try to extend her visa, this way she can also leave the country. Someone else may have appled from there and be able to tell you their experience?

Applying inside Canada takes approx 18 months in total. It is not advised to leave the country as she may not be let back in at the border especially if she needs a TVR. Plus she would not be able to work for the first 8-9 months for first stage approval. You should send in an OWP with the application so you would receive this when you get first stage approval and can start looking for work straight away.
Is there a work visa she can get first, come to Canada and then apply for PR.
Depends on what works best for you both.

Good luck and congratulations!

 

[Tomdubai]

Thanks Kiwikris!

She will need a TVR to come to canada, she will apply for that next week (Hopefully she gets it)..

Will it be easy for her to extend her visa while she is here? and is there a chance they wouldn't extend it even if our application is in progress?
and if they didn't extend it im guessing that means she has to leave canada!?

 

[kiwikris]

As far as I know once you have applied inland you can apply for extension easy enough, just put in the comments that you have applied inland. I have not had to apply for one though so someone else may have more information.