Inland or Outland?

[julchen_79]

Hi,

I know this question has been asked many times, but I'd like your opinion in my personal circumestances. I have all the paperwork together etc. and could theoretically send the application out next week. Now I am still pondering whether to go outland or inland...i have a flight booked to Germany to visit family for two weeks, have a valid work permit until June 2010. Will it be easier to get  back in outland/ inland? The other issue is, we are getting married in Mexico January 2010. If I decide to go Outland (Buffalo) and they happen to request my passport shortly before that...can I postpone sending them the passport until after my wedding? I would hate to miss it ;-)

Those are the possible scenarios...I am just trying to figure out what is MY best option. I was just told by an immigration consultant that the processing times have sped for inland quite a bit, however going by general information the outland process still seems to be faster.

Thanks,
Julie

[Leon]

With inland, the official time to get first stage approval and open work permit is 6 months and PR something like 12 to 18 but some people get it much faster.  There was a couple on here who got PR in 10 months with inland and another couple at the same time was waiting 17 months already with no news.

Since you are German but are legally residing in Canada, you would have the option to get your outland processed in Germany or in the US.  If you did it through Germany, it would take a month first for sponsorship application to be processed and then your file would go to Germany and stay there for 7 to 16 months, see http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/international/05-fc-spouses.asp#europe but if you got it processed through the US, it would take 1 month plus 4 to 9 months, see http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/international/05-fc-spouses.asp#west

I would go with outland application through Buffalo. You will have your PR before your work permit expires.

[julchen_79]

Thanks for the info. That is exactly what I am leaning towards to.

Do you know how risky it will be to get back at the end of May (after visiting family for 2 weeks in Germany)? - I should maybe mention I was once refused entry because I left the country while waiting for an extension (wrong informed back then) so they pull me out now everytime. Should I mention the PR when they do that again?

Also, what if Buffalo requests my passport just before we want to go to Mexico for our wedding? Would they accept that I send it after? (wedding etc is all booked) How long does it take to get the passport back?

Thanks again.
Julie

[Leon]

I do not know how risky it is.  It's just generally not adviced to travel while you have an inland in process.  I think they would see in their system if you have an inland in process but I have no idea if that affects your return or not.

As for the passport, again, I don't know how long they give you to send your passport.  Hopefully somebody else can provide that information.

[julchen_79]

No problem. Thanks again.

I think I will definetely go Outland as it overall seems to be faster and the risk might be less when I come back from Germany in May.