Application awaiting processing. Can applicant find work? and other questions...

[foxlove]

My fiance and i have been on this immigration journey for over 2 years now. Our application for sponsorship (common-law) should begin processing in April.  He's been living here off of extended visitors permits for the past 2 years, and during this time I've been the only one working because he doesn't have any paperwork yet. 

I am wondering if there is something he can get in the meantime which will allow him to work, or do we have to wait until all of these applications are approved?

I got a little confused on the CIC website when I checked the processing times chart... since we applied with him living in canada, it says it takes 9 months to begin processing (april will be our 9 months), and now there is a "step 2" column that i never saw before that says "Medical, security, background checks and other verifications for person being sponsored" also takes 9 months. Is this an ADDITIONAL 9 months after the application begins processing, or is this part of the initial 9 month wait time?  If it's an additional 9 months, that will be a total surprise to me as we were hoping he could start working in the upcoming next few months if everything is approved.

We also have a wedding to plan, however we did not want to get married until everything was secured with his immigration. i really hate this whole process... it stinks because he is a US citizen, I am canadian, and he only lived a couple hours away right across the border.

[doctorkb]

If you applied for an OWP (Open Work Permit) along with your inland application, that is usually approved at the same time as Step 1 is done and you receive AIP ("Approval in Principle").

Did you apply for an OWP?

[RobsLuv]

He didn't have to apply inland - people visiting in Canada (especially those who are visa-exempt like US citizens) can apply through the embassy in their home country even while they remain legally in Canada with temporary status.  He would not have been any worse off and his application would be in process by now.  Hopefully you included an extension application WITH the inland PR application - with an initial work permit requested, and the $150 fee paid so that he will be automatically issued an OWP when he gets first stage approval.  That will be at the 9-10 months mark.  Then it's another 3-8 months or more to finalize the application through second stage before he gets final approval and his landing interview is scheduled.  Overall timeline for inland aps is 12-18 months.