Outland but visiting with visa approval. What next?

[tinpanalley]

My wife is visiting, got an extension, and shortly after we've gotten the visa approval. She's "outland" but the government knows she's here visiting. Is it going to be necessary for her to PHYSICALLY enter the country again just to activate this visa and change her status? Or is that something one can do by visiting a government office? Having to exit and re-enter is going to be a bit difficult for us, not having a car, etc so I hope it's not the only way.
Any thoughts?

 

[scylla]

You can land at a local CIC office. However sometimes it take take a number of weeks / well over a month to get an appointment.

Also depends where you're located and if there's a CIC office close by.

 

[tinpanalley]

You can land at a local CIC office. However sometimes it take take a number of weeks / well over a month to get an appointment.

Also depends where you're located and if there's a CIC office close by.

Thank you. That's good to know. I guess we just have to hope the visa comes with plenty of time to activate it. How long are you usually given to "land"?