processing time, help!!

[jnb845]

I'm from South Korea. I currently live in Ottawa, Canada and have been here for a year. I'm staying in Canada with a study permit also I have been living with my Canadian girlfriend for about 8 months. My study permit is valid until beginning of December so before expired, I would like to be my girlfriend's common-law partner and immigrate to Canada to be a permanent resident.

I know that I should live with my girlfriend for at least a year continuously but I'm just curious about processing time of sponsorship and immigration. As you know, applying inside Canada takes too long but if I apply in another country such as Korea is short.

So my question is that can I apply application in Korea for just applying even though I live with my girlfriend? For example, I could visit Korea for a month or over 42 days and apply these things there. Or isn't there any option but applying inside Canada when I'm here?

Please help me...

[CharlieD10]

You have the opportunity to apply Outland even when you are residing in Canada.  Doing so preserves your right to appeal in the event of a denial, and in some cases the processing time is shorter.

The Outland application is assessed in two stages - currently it takes 42-45 days to assess the sponsor at Case Processing Centre-Mississauga, then the file is transferred, on approval of the sponsor, to the embassy responsible for persons of the applicant's nationality.  Currently South Korea has an average of 7 months for 80% of cases, a very fast time.  Compare this to 9-10 months for first stage assessment (approval in principle, AIP) for Inland processing, and you will see it is to your advantage to go Outland.

Since you are living together for 8 months, you can apply as common-law after being able to prove 12 consecutive months of cohabitation.  I suggest in the meanwhile until you gain the 12 months, you concentrate on gathering evidence of this conhabitation and other information on your relationship, as well as applying for your police certificates from countries you have resided in 6 months or more since you were 18.  Remember the certificates can be no more than 3 months old when your application is submitted to CPC-M.

If you haven't already done so, read Leon's first post in the first thread.  Then start reading (together) the forms and guides on CIC's website, and educate yourself about the process, so you can prepare a thorough, well-documented application.  Good luck!

[jnb845]

Thank you so much for information.

By the way should I only apply in South Korea? It looks a lot faster in Beijing, China than Seoul.

Am I entitled to apply in another country?

And could you link the post of Leon?

Thank you.

[scylla]

Leon's post is here:

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/spousal-sponsorship-t46995.0.html

Do you hold Chinese citizenship as well? If so, then yes - you can apply through there. If not - then no.

[jnb845]

I see, I'm Korean so there is no option then.

What if I apply my documents in Canada(applying outland process), should I send them to Visa office in Seoul with mail or fax? What about Medical check? Can I check this in Canada and send to Seoul office?
And i think i need criminal or background record in my country of course, right?

Thank you so much....

[scylla]

The entire application is sent to Mississauga first. Once Mississauga has approved the sponsor, they will forward the package to Seoul.

Yes - you must do the medicals in advance. You will also need police certificates for every country you have lived in for six months or longer since the age of 18.

[eletyl]

I'd suggest getting the police/background checks first, since they take the longest to get back.  while you are waiting on those, put the rest of your application together.  save the medical exam as the very last thing you do before you send in your application, because it can expire after a year, and then some people have to redo them if their application takes too long to process.  so you don't want to do it too far in advance.

[May Ann]

Thank you so much for information.

By the way should I only apply in South Korea? It looks a lot faster in Beijing, China than Seoul.

Am I entitled to apply in another country?

And could you link the post of Leon?

Thank you.

hi! here's what my husband's friend did. his gf who is now his wife had a student visa. she's from Korea too. after marriage, she went back to Korea and did the application there. they processed the application for 7 or 8 months. now she's coming to Canada in a few months. she had her medical here in the Philippines for they don't have DMP's in Korea

[geekneeo]

hi! here's what my husband's friend did. his gf who is now his wife had a student visa. she's from Korea too. after marriage, she went back to Korea and did the application there. they processed the application for 7 or 8 months. now she's coming to Canada in a few months. she had her medical here in the Philippines for they don't have DMP's in Korea

There are several DMP's in Korea. Most are in Seoul but there are a few in Busan.  You just have to search Designated Medical Practitioner on the cic.gc.ca site.

[May Ann]

There are several DMP's in Korea. Most are in Seoul but there are a few in Busan.  You just have to search Designated Medical Practitioner on the cic.gc.ca site.

are u sure? when i last checked, there's none. and that's what my husband's friend told my husband that's why his Korean wife had her medical here..wait...i'll check again

[geekneeo]

are u sure? when i last checked, there's none. and that's what my husband's friend told my husband that's why his Korean wife had her medical here..wait...i'll check again

positive as my fiance had his done in South Korea in April.  

[May Ann]

positive as my fiance had his done in South Korea in April.  

yeah you're right. maybe she's from People's Democratic of Korea...thanks for the correction