Apply from inside or outside of Canada?

[sb101]

So I am just waiting on my background check to come in the mail before my spouse and I (she is currently living in Canada and I am in the US) send in our sponsorship application.  Hopefully someone will be able to help with my questions before I start messing things up 

I was told at the border during my last trip to Canada that once we've received our marriage certificate I can move to Canada with my spouse immediately and they will issue a 6 month temporary resident visa there and as long as I apply for permanent residence within that 6 months I can keep renewing my temporary visa.

They also told me that at some point during the application I am eligible for an open workers permit.

Do I still get an open workers permit if I apply outside of Canada?

How long does it take to reach the point of an open workers permit if I apply inside Canada?

If I apply outside of Canada can I still live with her on a temporary resident visa while the application is processed?

Currently she is living in Saskatoon and that is where I am applying to live, however, she is doing an unpaid practicum at the moment and we may want to move so she can get a job in another city/province.  If my application says I am going to Saskatoon is that where I have to end up?  How long do I have to stay there after I receive my PR card?

Thanks in advance!

[computergeek]

Generally outland applications are faster; at the border they generally won't care which office is filing it.

If you file inland, then you will get an open work permit after the spousal sponsorship has been approved.  At the current time the CIC website says that it takes 11 months for them to start processing the spousal sponsorship for inland applications.  It takes 8 months after approval for them to process your application inland.

If you file outland, you won't get an open work permit.  But at the current time the CIC website says that it takes just under 2 months for them to start processing the spousal sponsorship application.  It takes 11 months after approval for Buffalo to process our application outland (that's the 80% of applications are completed time.)

So, using the current time frames if you go inland you can have a work permit in something like 12 months.  If you go outland you can have PR in about 14 months.

There are other subtle differences as well, so you may want to read about both processes, but most Americans choose to do outland processing and are quite happy with that process.

[GOGOGO]

To add on,

1) Outland allows appeal if the application got rejected.  Inland doesn't.
2) Inland - you're not supposed to leave Canada while the application is in process.

[pinklady]

For people from visa exempt countries, outland is definately the best route to choose. It gives you the flexibility to be able to come and go. You can wait out the process while in Canada, just make sure you put your mailing address as the Canadian address.
While it states that Buffalo processed 80% in 11 months, most are much much faster being completed in less than 6 months from start to finish. Stage one is currently taking 54 days, stage two 4-5 months.

Inland is not the answer for visa exempt people. First stage takes 11-12 months, this is the point the open work permit is issued. Then it can be another 10 months for stage two approval. You are not supposed to leave Canada during this process.

Choose outland and wait it out in Canada. You will be given 6 months when you enter and you can apply to extend your stay and be granted anywhere from another 3 - 24 months. It is $75 and you can apply online or in writing.

You do not get an open work permit if you apply outland. But as soon as stage 2 is complete, you 'land' and then you can get a SIN and work.

If you move from saskatoon it won't matter so long as you update your address. Unless you move to quebec then you need to apply for a CSQ. You will receive the PR card 4-6 weeks after landing and it is valid for 5 years I think. With a PR card you can live anywhere in Canada.

Hope this helps!

[AllisonVSC]

For people from visa exempt countries, outland is definately the best route to choose. It gives you the flexibility to be able to come and go. You can wait out the process while in Canada, just make sure you put your mailing address as the Canadian address.
While it states that Buffalo processed 80% in 11 months, most are much much faster being completed in less than 6 months from start to finish. Stage one is currently taking 54 days, stage two 4-5 months.

Inland is not the answer for visa exempt people. First stage takes 11-12 months, this is the point the open work permit is issued. Then it can be another 10 months for stage two approval. You are not supposed to leave Canada during this process.

Choose outland and wait it out in Canada. You will be given 6 months when you enter and you can apply to extend your stay and be granted anywhere from another 3 - 24 months. It is $75 and you can apply online or in writing.

You do not get an open work permit if you apply outland. But as soon as stage 2 is complete, you 'land' and then you can get a SIN and work.

If you move from saskatoon it won't matter so long as you update your address. Unless you move to quebec then you need to apply for a CSQ. You will receive the PR card 4-6 weeks after landing and it is valid for 5 years I think. With a PR card you can live anywhere in Canada.

Hope this helps!

Excellent summary, pinklady. My only comment is that PR card has nothing to do with where you live in Canada (you can even live in Canada with an expired PR card with no problems!), it is just official proof upon entry that you do live in Canada.

[jakesalomons]

Im on the same boat as you are, its just all so confusing
I think my spouce and i are going to apply outland, well she is in land!  just dont know if we should use her address out side the sates or my address in Canada( we are scared it would look odd applying outland well if her "address" is in canada)

[jakesalomons]

Excellent summary, pinklady. My only comment is that PR card has nothing to do with where you live in Canada (you can even live in Canada with an expired PR card with no problems!), it is just official proof upon entry that you do live in Canada.

Hey yeah AllisonVSC you really seem to know what your doing, and with the site and all these forms im still confused as balls, would it be possible to email me and talk to me one on one and really help me out and anwer some of my questions?
my email is jacobcsully @ gmail.com
id really appreciate it

[GOGOGO]

She can put her US address as her Residential Address and you Canadian address as Mailing Address.

Im on the same boat as you are, its just all so confusing
I think my spouce and i are going to apply outland, well she is in land!  just dont know if we should use her address out side the sates or my address in Canada( we are scared it would look odd applying outland well if her "address" is in canada)

[AllisonVSC]

Hey yeah AllisonVSC you really seem to know what your doing, and with the site and all these forms im still confused as balls, would it be possible to email me and talk to me one on one and really help me out and anwer some of my questions?
my email is jacobcsully  @  gmail.com
id really appreciate it

Hi. I sent you a private message.
Allison